Last modified: 2005-09-10 by ivan sache
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![[Flag of France]](../images/f/fr.gif)
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![[Flag of French Polynesia]](../images/p/pf.gif)
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| Flag of France - Image by Željko Heimer | Flag of French Polynesia - Image by Juan Manuel Gabino |
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French Polynesia (245,405 inhabitants in 2002) is an "overseas country within the French Republic" (Pays d'Outre-Mer au sein de la République), according to the most recent organic law 2004-192 of 27 February 2004 on the autonomy status of French Polynesia (loi organique nº 2004-192 du 27 février 2004 portant statut d'autonomie de la Polynésie française). The complete text of the organic law (in French) is available on the Legifrance website.
The new status supersedes the previous autonomy status granted by law of 6 September 1984 and confirmed by organic law of 12 April 1996. The new organic law required the amendment of Article 14 of the Constitution of the French Republic, voted on 24 January 2000 by the Congress (Deputees + Senators).
The main change is that the Assembly of French Polynesia now adopts "country laws" (lois de pays in the most important areas, and not just "resolutions", or administrative acts. Unlike overseas territories that can only benefit from a principle of "free administration of territorial communities", the Overseas Countries make use of the principle of "free government", better known as "self-government" in English judicial systems.
Article 1 of Title 1 (On Autonomy) of the new organic law says (my translation):
French Polynesia is made of Winward Islands, Leeward Islands, Tuamotu Islands, Gambier Islands, Marquesas Islands and Austral Islands, as well as of the adjacent maritime areas.Overseas country within the Republic, French Polynes