Politics of Saint Pierre and Miquelon

The politics of Saint Pierre and Miquelon take place in the framework of a parliamentary representative democratic French overseas collectivity, whereby the President of the Territorial Council is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government.

Saint-Pierre and Miquelon has considerable fiscal and customs autonomy and exercises powers in areas normally reserved for the French central government (marine resources, ships, international agreements in some cases). However, it also has no powers over certain sectors normally devolved to local authorities (secondary education, national roads, civil security, etc.), which remain the responsibility of the central government.

Government

Executive power

Saint Pierre and Miquelon has a two-headed executive: the Prefect (representative of the President of France) and the President of the Territorial Collectivity (head of the local executive).

The head of state is the President of France, currently Emmanuel Macron. The President is represented in the Collectivité by the Prefect of Saint Pierre & Miquelon (French: Préfet) a position currently held by Christian Pouget. The role of the prefect is equivalent to the role of a governor or governor general in English-speaking territories.

The head of government is the President of the Collectivité. He or she heads the executive of the Collectivité and manages local affairs falling within the scope of the archipelago's autonomy (local taxation, customs, natural resources, ship registration, etc.). The Collectivité therefore has its own executive, distinct from the State services represented by the Prefect. The local government sits at the Territorial Office (Hôtel du Territoire).

The executive is made up of a cabinet, known as the "Conseil exécutif" (in English: the "Executive Council"), and six members known as vice-presidents, including the President. Like a minister, each member of the cabinet has a delegation.

Current executive office holders

Main office-holders

Office	Name	Party	Since
President of France	Emmanuel Macron	Renaissance	14 May 2017
Prefect	Bruno André		21 August 2023

Current cabinet (Conseil exécutif)

Portfolio	Member	Took office	Left office	Party
President of the Collectivity	Bernard Briand	1 April 2022	Incumbent	AD
1st Vice-President	Yannick Abraham	1 April 2022	Incumbent	AD
2nd Vice-President	Jacqueline André-Cormier	1 April 2022	Incumbent	AD
3rd Vice-President	Yannis Coste	1 April 2022	Incumbent	AD
4th Vice-President Attractive development	Claude Lemoine	1 April 2022	Incumbent	AD
5th Vice-President	Naomi Haran	1 April 2022	Incumbent	AD

Legislative power

The Territorial Council of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon (French: Conseil territorial de Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon), which was known until February 22, 2007, as the General Council (Conseil général), has 19 members, elected for a three-year term in single seat constituencies. The council sits at the Territorial Office (Hôtel du Territoire), a two-storey, two tone aqua colour building on St. Pierre.

Judicial power

The judiciary of the territory consists of the Superior Tribunal of Appeals (Tribunal Supérieur d'Appel).

The court resides at the Palais de Justice or Courthouse and are located at Church Square in St. Pierre.

Municipal Governments

There are two communes: Miquelon-Langlade and Saint-Pierre.

For more, see: Municipal governments in St. Pierre and Miquelon

Departments

The following is list of departments of St. Pierre and Miquelon. (Some are the local branch of national departments):

• La Direction de l'Agriculture et de la Foret - Department of Agriculture and Forests
• Le Service des Affaires Maritimes - Marine Department
• La Direction de l'Equipement - Infrastructure or Public Works
• Le Service du Travail, de l'Emploi et de la Formation Professionnelle - Labour and Employment Department
• La Direction Territoriale la Jeunesse et des Sports - Local Sports and Youth Department
• La Direction des Affaires Sanitaires et Sociales - Health and Social Affairs
• Le Service de l'Education Nationale - Education Department
• La Douane - Customs Department
• La Direction des Services Fiscaux - Finance Department
• La Gendarmerie Nationale - Local unit of the French Ministry of Defence
• La Gendarmerie Maritime : Le Fulmar - Marine Police (local branch of Maritime Gendarmerie)
• La Direction de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes - Consumer Protection Department
• L'Aviation Civile - local branch of the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (France)
• La Police Nationale - local branch of the National Police (France)

Political parties and elections

For other political parties, see List of political parties in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

Boundary dispute

The boundaries of the 1992 EEZ resolution between Canada and France

See also: Canada–France Maritime Boundary Case

In 1992, a maritime boundary dispute with Canada over the delineation of the Exclusive Economic Zone belonging to France was settled by the International Court of Arbitration. In the decision, France kept the 12 nautical mile (NM) (22.2 km) territorial sea surrounding the islands and was given an additional 12 NM (22.2 km) contiguous zone as well as a 10.5 NM (19.4 km) wide corridor stretching 200 NM (370 km) south. The total area in the award was 18% of what France had requested.

The boundary dispute had been a flash point for Franco-Canadian relations. New claims made under UNCLOS by France over the continental shelf might cause new tensions between France and Canada.

International organization participation

Franc Zone, World Federation of Trade Unions

External links

• Official website (in French)
• Saint-Pierre & Miquelon Tourism
• Saint-Pierre & Miquelon Community website, includes political discussions
• Saint-Pierre & Miquelon Continental Plate - "Defend Saint-Pierre & Miquelon"

Political parties

• Archipel demain
• Cap sur l'avenir