Politics of Mayotte

The politics of Mayotte takes place in a framework of a French overseas region and department, until 2011 an overseas collectivity. Local politics takes place in a parliamentary representative democratic setting whereby the President of the General Council is the head of government, of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government. The status of Mayotte changed in 2001 towards one very close to the status of the départements of mainland France, with the particular designation of collectivité départementale, although the island is still claimed by the Comoros. This change was approved by 73% at a referendum on Mayotte. After the constitutional reform of 2003 it became a collectivité d'outre-mer while keeping the title collectivité départementale de Mayotte. Mayotte became an overseas department of France (département d'outre-mer, DOM) on 31 March 2011 following the result of the March 2009 Mahoran status referendum, which was overwhelmingly approved by around 95% of voters.

Executive branch

The head of state is the President of France as represented by prefect Thomas Degos. The head of government is President of the General Council Daniel Zaidani.

Legislative branch

The General Council (Conseil Général) has 19 members, elected for a three-year term in single seat constituencies.

Political parties and elections

 Summary of the 21 March and 28 March 2004 General Council of Mayotte election results

Parties	Votes	%	Seats
Mahoré Departementalist Movement (Mouvement Départementaliste Mahorais)		23.3	6
Union for a Popular Movement (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire)		22.8	9
Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste)		10.2	-
Citizen and Republican Movement (Mouvement Républicain et Citoyen)		8.9	2
Force of the Rally and the Alliance for Democracy (Force de Rassemblement et d'Alliance pour le Progrès)		6.5	-
Mahoré People's Movement (Mouvement populaire mahorais)		1.2	1
Miscellaneous Left (divers gauche)		.	1
Total			19
Source: Jerome Sterkers quoting main French newspapers