Part 639

Administrative divisions: none (territorial collectivity of France)

Independence: none (territorial collectivity of France; has been under French control since 1763)

National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July

Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

Legal system: French law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President (of France) Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) represented by Prefect Rene MAURICE (since NA) who was appointed by the French Ministry of the Interior head of government: President of the General Council Gerard GRIGNON (since NA)

Legislative branch: unicameral General Council: elections last held NA April 1994 (next to be held NA April 2000); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (19 total, 15 from Saint Pierre, 4 from Miquelon) Socialist Party (PS) holds majority of seats French Senate: elections last held NA September 1995 (next to be held NA September 2004); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) RPR 1 French National Assembly: elections last held 21 and 28 March 1993 (next to be held NA June 1998); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (1 total) UDF 1

Judicial branch: Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Superieur d'Appel)

Political parties and leaders: Socialist Party (PS); Rassemblement pour la Republique (RPR); Union pour la Democratie Francaise (UDF)

International organization participation: FZ, WFTU

Diplomatic representation in US: none (territorial collectivity of France)

US diplomatic representation: none (territorial collectivity of France)

Flag: a yellow sailing ship rides on a dark blue background with a black wave line under the ship; on the hoist side, a vertical band is divided into three parts: the top part is red with a green diagonal cross extending to the corners overlaid by a white cross dividing the square into four sections; the middle part has a white background with an ermine pattern; the third part has a red background with two stylized yellow lions outlined in black, one on top of the other; the flag of France is used for official occasions

Economy -------

Economic overview: The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland. The economy has been declining, however, because the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre has dropped steadily over the years. In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone of 12,348 sq km to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada, although it represents only 25% of what France had sought. The islands are heavily subsidized by France. Imports come primarily from Canada and France.

GDP: purchasing power parity - $68 million (1994 est.)

GDP real growth rate: NA%

GDP per capita: $10,000 (1994 est.)

GDP composition by sector: agriculture: NA% industry: NA% services: NA%

Inflation rate (consumer prices): NA%

Labor force: 2,980 (1994) by occupation: NA

Unemployment rate: 9.6% (1994)

Budget: revenues: $28 million expenditures: $28 million, including capital expenditures of $7.8 million (1992 est.)

Industries: fish processing and supply base for fishing fleets; tourism

Industrial production growth rate: NA%

Electricity: capacity: 10,000 kW production: 50 million kWh consumption per capita: 6,013 kWh (1993)

Agriculture: vegetables; cattle, sheep, pigs; fish catch of 20,500 metric tons (1989)