High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia | |
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Haut-Commissaire de la République en Polynésie française (French) | |
Incumbent since 26 september 2022Éric Spitz | |
Seat | Haut-Commissariat, Papeete, Tahiti |
Appointer | President of the French Republic |
Formation | 8 January 1843 (Commissioner) 6 September 1881 (Governor) 13 July 1977 (High-Commissioner) |
First holder | Armand Joseph Bruat |
Deputy | General Secretary of the High Commission |
Website | Official website |
The High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia (French: Haut-Commissaire de la République en Polynésie française) is the highest representative of the French Republic in the overseas country of French Polynesia. The rank is equivalent to the one of a Prefect (French: Préfet) and its powers are governed by Organic Law 2004–192.[1]
The High Commissioner is directly appointed by the President of the French Republic. He enacts local laws (known as Lois du Pays) with the countersignature of the President of French Polynesia and ensures their publication in the Journal Officiel de la Polynésie française. He is competent for every matters not devolved to the Government of French Polynesia. Until 1984, he has assumed the powers now exercised by the President of French Polynesia.
The overseas minor territory of Clipperton Island falls also under the jurisdiction of the High Commissioner since it is uninhabited and has no local administration.[2]
The official residence and the office of the High Commissioner are housed at the Haut-Commissariat in Papeete.