representative democratic French overseas collectivity, whereby the President of French Polynesia is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the Assembly of French Polynesia (the territorial assembly). Political life in French Polynesia has been marked by great instability since the mid-2000s. On September 14, 2007, the pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru, 63, was elected president of French Polynesia for the 3rd time in 3 years (with 27 of 44 votes cast in the territorial assembly).[13] He replaced former President Gaston Tong Sang, opposed to independence, who lost a no-confidence vote in the Assembly of French Polynesia on 31 August after the longtime former president of French Polynesia, Gaston Flosse, hitherto opposed to independence, sided with his long enemy Oscar Temaru to topple the government of Gaston Tong Sang. Oscar Temaru, however, had no stable majority in the Assembly of French Polynesia, and new territorial elections were held in February 2008 to solve the political crisis. The Assembly of French Polynesia. The party of Gaston Tong Sang won the territorial elections, but that did not solve the political crisis: the two minority parties of Oscar Temaru and Gaston Flosse, who together have one more member in the territorial assembly than the political party of Gaston Tong Sang, allied to prevent Gaston Tong Sang from becoming president of French Polynesia. Gaston Flosse was then elected president of French Polynesia by the territorial assembly on February 23, 2008 with the support of the pro-independence party led by Oscar Temaru, while Oscar Temaru was elected speaker of the territorial assembly with the support of the anti-independence party led by Gaston Flosse. Both formed a coalition cabinet. Many observers doubted that the alliance between the anti-independence Gaston Flosse and the pro-independence Oscar Temaru, designed to prevent Gaston Tong Sang from becoming president of French Polynesia, could last very long.[14] At the French municipal elections held in March 2008, several prominent mayors who are member of the Flosse-Temaru coalition lost their offices in key municipalities of French Polynesia, which was interpreted as a disapproval of the way Gaston Tong Sang, whose party French Polynesian voters had placed first in the territorial elections the month before, had been prevented from becoming president of French Polynesia by the last minute alliance between Flosse and Temaru's parties. Eventually, on April 15, 2008 the government of Gaston Flosse was toppled by a constructive vote of no confidence in the territorial assembly when two members of the Flosse-Temaru coalition left the coalition and sided with Tong Sang's party. Gaston Tong Sang was elected president of French Polynesia as a result of this constructive vote of no confidence, but his majority in the territorial assembly is very narrow. He offered posts in his cabinet to Flosse and Temaru's parties which they both refused. Gaston Tong Sang has called all parties to help end the instability in local politics, a prerequisite to attract foreign investors needed to develop the local economy. High Commission of the French Republic. Despite a local assembly and government, French Polynesia is not in a free association with France, like the Cook Islands with New Zealand or the Federated States of Micronesia with the United States. As a French overseas collectivity, the local government has no competence in justice, education, security and defense, directly provided and administered by the French State, the Gendarmerie and the French Military. The highest representative of the State in the territory is the High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia (French: Haut commissaire de la République). French Polynesia also sends two deputies to the French National Assembly, one representing the Leeward Islands administrative subdivision, the Austral Islands administrative subdivision, the commune (municipality) of Moorea-Maiao, and the westernmost part of Tahiti (including the capital Papeete), and the other representing the central and eastern part of Tahiti, the Tuamotu-Gambier administrative division, and the Marquesas Islands administrative division. French Polynesia also sends one senator to the French Senate. French Polynesians vote in the French presidential elections and at the 2007 French presidential election, in which the pro-independence leader Oscar Temaru openly called to vote for the Socialist candidate Ségolène Royal while the parties opposed to independence generally supported the center-right candidate Nicolas Sarkozy, the turnout in French Polynesia was 69.12% in the first round of the election and 74.67% in the second round. French Polynesians voters placed Nicolas Sarkozy ahead of Ségolène Royal in both rounds of the election (2nd round: Nicolas Sarkozy 51.9%; Ségolène Royal 48.1%).[15] Administration Between 1946 and 2003, French Polynesia had the status of an overseas territory (French: territoire d'outre-mer, or TOM). In 2003 it became an overseas collectivity (French: collectivité d'outre-mer, or COM). Its statutory law of 27 February 2004 gives it the particular designation of overseas country inside the Republic (French: pays d'outre-mer au sein de la République, or POM), but without legal modification of its status. Administrative divisions Main article: Administrative divisions of French Polynesia French Polynesia has five administrative subdivisions (French: subdivisions administratives): Windward Islands (French: (les) Îles du Vent or officially la subdivision administrative des Îles du Vent) (the two subdivisions administratives Windward Islands and Leeward Islands are part of the Society Islands) Leeward Islands (French: (les) Îles Sous-le-Vent or officially la subdivision administrative des Îles Sous-le-Vent) (the two subdivisions administratives Windward Islands and Leeward Islands are part of the Society Islands) Marquesas Islands (French: (les) (Îles) Marquises or officially la subdivision administrative des (Îles) Marquises) Austral Islands (French: (les) (Îles) Australes or officially la subdivision administrative des (Îles) Australes) (including the Bass Islands) Tuamotu-Gambier (French: (les) (Îles) Tuamotu-Gambier or officially la subdivision administrative des (Îles) Tuamotu-Gambier) (the Tuamotus and the Gambier Islands) Geography Map of French Polynesia Main article: Geography of French Polynesia The islands of French Polynesia have a total land area of 4,167 square kilometres (1,622 sq. mi) scattered over 2,500,000 square kilometres (965,255 sq. mi) of ocean. There are around 130 islands in French Polynesia.[16] It is made up of six groups of islands, the largest and most populated of which is Tahiti. The island groups are: Austral Islands Bass Islands often considered part of the Austral Islands Gambier Islands often considered part of the Tuamotu Archipelago Marquesas Islands Society Islands (including Tahiti) Tuamotu Archipelago Aside from Tahiti, some other important atolls, islands, and island groups in French Polynesia are: Ahe, Bora Bora, Hiva `Oa, Huahine, Maiao, Maupiti, Mehetia, Moorea, Nuku Hiva, Raiatea, Tahaa, Tetiaroa, Tubuai, and Tupai. Economy Main article: Economy of French Polynesia The GDP of French Polynesia in 2006 was 5.65 billion US dollars at market exchange rates, the fifth-largest economy in Oceania after Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and New Caledonia.[4] The GDP per capita was 21,999 US dollars in 2006 (at market exchange rates, not at PPP), lower than in Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia, but higher than in all the independent insular states of Oceania.[4] French Polynesia has a moderately developed economy, which is dependent on imported goods, tourism, and the financial assistance of mainland France. Tourist facilities are well developed and are available on the major islands. Also, as the noni fruit from these islands is discovered for its medicinal uses, people have been able to find jobs related to this agricultural industry. The legal tender of French Polynesia is the CFP Franc. Agriculture: coconuts, vanilla, vegetables, fruits. Natural resources: timber, fish, cobalt. In 2008 French Polynesia's imports amounted to 2.2 billion US dollars and exports amounted to 0.2 billion US dollars.[17] The major export of French Polynesia is their famous black Tahitian pearls which accounted for 55% of exports (in value) in 2008.[17] Demographics Main article: Demographics of French Polynesia Tahitian girls, 1860-1879. Total population on January 1, 2009 was 264,000 inhabitants,[2] up from 259,596 at the August 2007 census.[3] At the 2007 census, 68.6% of the population of French Polynesia lived on the island of Tahiti alone.[3] The urban area of Papeete, the capital city, has 131,695 inhabitants (2007 census). At the 2007 census, 87.3% of people living in French Polynesia were born in French Polynesia, 9.3% were born in metropolitan France, 1.4% were born in overseas France outside of French Polynesia, and 2.0% were born in foreign countries.[18] At the 1988 census, the last census which asked questions regarding ethnicity, 66.5% of people were ethnically unmixed Polynesians, 7.1 % were Polynesians with light European and/or East Asian mixing, 11.9% were Europeans (mostly French), 9.3% were people of mixed European and Polynesian descent, the so-called Demis (literally meaning "Half"), and 4.7% were East Asians (mainly Chinese).[1] The Europeans, the Demis and the East Asians are essentially concentrated on the island of Tahiti, particularly in the urban area of Papeete, where their share of the population is thus much greater than in French Polynesia overall.[1] Race mixing has been going on for more than a century already in French Polynesia, resulting in a rather mixed society. For example Gaston Flosse, the long-time leader of French Polynesia, is a Demi (European father from Lorraine and Polynesian mother).[19] His main opponent and former president, Gaston Tong Sang is a member of the East Asian (in his case Chinese) community.[20] Oscar Temaru, the current president, is ethnically Polynesian (father from Tahiti, mother from the Cook Islands),[21] but he has admitted to also have Chinese ancestry.[22] Despite a long tradition of race mixing, racial tensions have been growing in recent years, with politicians using a xenophobic discourse and fanning the flame of racial tensions.[22][23] The pro-independence politicians have long pointed the finger at the European community (Oscar Temaru, pro-independence leader and former president of French Polynesia, was for example found guilty of "racial discrimination" by the criminal court of Papeete in 2007 for having referred to the Europeans living in French Polynesia as "trash", "waste").[24] More recently, the Chinese community which controls many businesses in French Polynesia has been targeted in verbal attacks by the newly allied Gaston Flosse and Oscar Temaru in their political fight against Gaston Tong Sang, whose Chinese origins they emphasize in contrast with their Polynesian origins, despite the fact that they both have mixed origins (European and Polynesian for Flosse; Polynesian and Chinese for Temaru).[25] In April 2008, after the government of Gaston Flosse was toppled in the Assembly of French Polynesia and Gaston Tong Sang became the new president of French Polynesia, two French Polynesian labor union leaders made anti-Chinese remarks ("I'm not hiding from the fact that I wouldn't like our country to be ruled by someone who's not a Polynesian"; "a Chinese only thinks of the business leaders, because he is a businessman").[26] These anti-Chinese remarks caused a political furor and were widely condemned in French Polynesia.[27] Historical population 1907 1911 1921 1926 1931 1936 1941 1946 1951 1956 30,600 31,900 31,600 35,900 40,400 44,000 51,200 58,200 63,300 76,323 1962 1971 1977 1983 1988 1996 2002 2007 2009 84,551 119,168 137,382 166,753 188,814 219,521 245,516 259,596 264,000 Official figures from past censuses.[3][2][28][29][30] Languages Cemetery in the Tuamotus. French is the official language of French Polynesia. An organic law of April 12, 1996 states that "French is the official language, Tahitian and other Polynesian languages can be used." At the 2007 census, among the population whose age was 15 and older, 68.5% of people reported that the language they speak the most at home is French, 29.9% reported that the language they speak the most at home is any of the Polynesian languages (four-fifth of which Tahitian), 1.0% reported a Chinese language (half of which Hakka), and 0.6% another language.[31] At the same census, 94.7% of people whose age was 15 or older reported that they could speak, read and write French, whereas only 2.0% reported that they had no knowledge of French.[31] 74.6% of people whose age was 15 or older reported that they could speak, read and write one of the Polynesian languages, whereas 13.6% reported that they had no knowledge of any of the Polynesian languages.[31] Religion Christianity is the main religion of the islands, a majority (54%) belonging to various Protestant churches and a large minority (30%) being Roman Catholic. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints had 20,282 members as of 2009.[32] Jehovah's Witnesses -according to the 2009 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses- had 2,248 publishers in Tahiti as of 2009. They logged 490,853 hours preaching along with 3,185 Bible Studies. The Memorial of Christ Death had an attendance of 7,418. Transportation Main article: Transportation in French Polynesia While most major roads are paved and well-maintained, many secondary roads are not. Traffic is brisk and all types of vehicles and pedestrians jockey for space on narrow streets. Crosswalks are marked and the law requires that motor vehicles stop for pedestrians; however, this is not always done. Tourists should exercise caution when driving, particularly at night. There are 51 airports in French Polynesia, 39 are paved. [1] Famous people of French Polynesia Jacques Brel (1929–1978), Belgian musician, lived in French Polynesia near the end of his life Paul Gauguin (1848–1903), French impressionist painter, spent the last years of his life in French Polynesia Pouvanaa a Oopa (1895-1977), Politician and Tahitian nationalist Henri Hiro (1944–1991), Film director & script writer, poet, ecologist, activist Ella Koon, model (born 1979) Marco Namouro, writer (1889–1968) Fabrice Santoro, tennis professional (born 1972) Pascal Vahirua, former French international footballer (born 1966) Marama Vahirua, footballer, cousin of Pascal Vahirua (born 1980) Célestine Hitiura Vaite, writer (born 1966) Music Main article: Music of French Polynesia French Polynesia came to the forefront of the world music scene in 1992, with the release of The Tahitian Choir's recordings of unaccompanied vocal Christian music called himene tarava, recorded by French musicologist Pascal Nabet-Meyer. This form of singing is common in French Polynesia and the Cook Islands, and is distinguished by a unique drop in pitch at the end of the phrases, which is a characteristic formed by several different voices; it is also accompanied by steady grunting of staccato, nonsensical syllables. Gallery Baie de Cook in Moorea Mont Otemanu in Bora-Bora Satellite view of the Iles Gambier Black sand beach in Tahiti Motu Tiahura, Moorea Fakarava lagoon Baie des traîtres, Hiva `Oa Presidence of the Government (Papeete) Mangareva Bungalows of Hôtel Hibiscus, Hauru Point, Moorea Plage de Marita, Bora Bora Bora Bora from the air High Commissionership of the Republic (Papeete) Tahiti Tahitian women on the beach, by Paul Gauguin (1891) Bora Bora Sunrise over Moorea Bora Bora, Tahaa and Raiatea from space Black sand beach, Tahiti Flags of French Polynesia. See also Outline of French Polynesia Colonial and Departmental Heads of French Polynesia Index of French Polynesia-related articles References ^ a b c Frontières ethniques et redéfinition du cadre politique à Tahiti ^ a b c (French) Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "Enquêtes & Répertoires > Etat Civil". http://www.ispf.pf/ISPF/EnqRep/EtatCivil.aspx. Retrieved 2009-09-14.  ^ a b c d (French) Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "Population légale au 20 août 2007". http://www.ispf.pf/ISPF/EnqRep/Recensement/Recens2007/Popleg.aspx. Retrieved 2009-01-13.  ^ a b c d (French) Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "La Production Intérieure Brute et le Produit Intérieur Brut". http://www.ispf.pf/ISPF/Libraries/ComptEco/PIB_2006.sflb. Retrieved 2009-09-14.  ^ a b Ganse, Alexander. "History of Polynesia, before 1797". http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolynpre1797.html. Retrieved 20 October 2007.  ^ a b "History of French Polynesia". History of Nations. http://www.historyofnations.net/oceania/frenchpolynesia.html. Retrieved 20 October 2007.  ^ Ganse, Alexander. "History of French Polynesia, 1797 to 1889". http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolyn17971889.html. Retrieved 20 October 2007.  ^ Ganse, Alexander. "History of French Polynesia, 1889 to 1918". http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolyn18891918.html. Retrieved 20 October 2007.  ^ The Japanese claim to the French Pacific islands, along with many other vast territories, appears in the September 16, 1940, "Sphere of survival for the Establishment of a New Order in Greater East Asia by Imperial Japan", published in 1955 by Japan's Foreign Ministry as part of the two-volume "Chronology and major documents of Diplomacy of Japan 1840-1945" - here quoted from "Interview with Tetsuzo Fuwa: Japan's War: History of Expansionism", Japan Press Service, July 2007 ^ Ganse, Alexander. "History of Polynesia, 1939 to 1977". http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolyn193977.html. Retrieved 20 October 2007.  ^ Ganse, Alexander. "History of French Polynesia, 1977 to present". http://www.zum.de/whkmla/region/pacific/frpolynsince1977.html. Retrieved 20 October 2007.  ^ Whitney, Craig R (30 January 1996). "France Ending Nuclear Tests That Caused Broad Protests". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950DE4D71639F933A05752C0A960958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all. Retrieved 20 October 2007.  ^ BBC NEWS, French Polynesia gets new leader ^ Polynésie : Gaston Flosse présente un gouvernement d’union ^ (French) Minister of the Interior, Government of France. "POLYNESIE FRANCAISE (987) (résultats officiels)". http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/sections/a_votre_service/resultats-elections/PR2007/000/987/987.html. Retrieved 2007-09-14.  ^ Kingfisher Geography Encyclopedia. ISBN 1-85613-582-9. Page 546 ^ a b (French) Institut d'émission d'Outre-Mer (IEOM). "La Polynésie française en 2008" (PDF). http://www.ieom.fr/upload/RA2008_PF.pdf. Retrieved 2009-09-14.  ^ (French) Institut Statistique de Polynésie Française (ISPF). "Recensement 2007 - Migrations : Chiffres clés". http://www.ispf.pf/ispf/EnqRep/Recensement/Recens2007/Themes/Migrations.aspx. Retrieved 2008-11-15.  ^ Flosse s'efface après 20 ans de règne sur la Polynésie ^ Victoire de Gaston Tong Sang ^ Portrait du Président Oscar Manutahi TEMARU ^ a b Logiques « autonomiste » et « indépendantiste » en Polynésie française ^ Temaru-Flosse: le rebond du nationalisme tahitien ^ Temaru Found Guilty Of "Racial Discrimination" ^ Politique : Toujours pas de gouvernement ^ Anti-Chinese Remarks Cause A Poli