| |
|
|
| |
Home
>
World
> Africa
> Reunion
|
History and Government
History: In the 1640s, Réunion was occupied by the French, displacing the Portuguese, who in 1513 had been the first European arrivals on the island. The island became prosperous during the 18th century, along with nearby Mauritius, when it lay on the shipping routes which carried trade between Europe and Asia. Sugar plantations, worked by slaves imported from Africa, formed the other main economic sector. Réunion was ruled as a colony until 1946 when it was granted the status of an Overseas Department of France, under which it is an integral part of the French State, which is represented on the island by a Commissioner. Politics in recent years have been primarily concerned with internal autonomy: most people appear to favour an increase beyond the present level but very few support a complete severing of the link with France, particularly as the island is largely dependent economically on aid from the French government.
Political parties on the island include adjuncts of the main French parties – the Gaullist Rassemblement pour la République (RPR); the centre-right Union pour la Démocratie Française (UDF) and the Parti Socialiste (PS) – plus the Parti Communiste Réunionnais (PCR); and two relatively new outfits. One of these, the right-wing France-Réunion-Avenir (FRA – literally France-Réunion-Future) has made little headway; the other, the FreeDOM (sic) party, was a political phenomenon of the early 1990s which evolved from a pirate television station. After the pirate broadcasters’ leader, Camille Sudre, was banned from political activity and his wife Marguerite became president of the Council. The party has since become a permanent feature of the political landscape.
It suffered a setback in 1998, however, when a right-wing coalition took control of the Regional Council. On the General Council, last elected in 2000, the left-wing alliance of Communists and Socialists has maintained control with a narrow majority.
Government: In the 1640s, Réunion was occupied by the French, displacing the Portuguese, who in 1513 had been the first European arrivals on the island. The island became prosperous during the 18th century, along with nearby Mauritius, when it lay on the shipping routes which carried trade between Europe and Asia. Sugar plantations, worked by slaves imported from Africa, formed the other main economic sector. Réunion was ruled as a colony until 1946 when it was granted the status of an Overseas Department of France, under which it is an integral part of the French State, which is represented on the island by a Commissioner. Politics in recent years have been primarily concerned with internal autonomy: most people appear to favour an increase beyond the present level but very few support a complete severing of the link with France, particularly as the island is largely dependent economically on aid from the French government.
Political parties on the island include adjuncts of the main French parties – the Gaullist Rassemblement pour la République (RPR); the centre-right Union pour la Démocratie Française (UDF) and the Parti Socialiste (PS) – plus the Parti Communiste Réunionnais (PCR); and two relatively new outfits. One of these, the right-wing France-Réunion-Avenir (FRA – literally France-Réunion-Future) has made little headway; the other, the FreeDOM (sic) party, was a political phenomenon of the early 1990s which evolved from a pirate television station. After the pirate broadcasters’ leader, Camille Sudre, was banned from political activity, his wife Marguerite became president of the Council. The party has since become a permanent feature of the political landscape.
It suffered a setback in 1998, however, when a right-wing coalition took control of the Regional Council. On the General Council, last elected in 2000, the left-wing alliance of Communists and Socialists has maintained control with a narrow majority.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
