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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, the « Conseil exécutif ».

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 French government) and the President of the Collectivité (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 Bruno André as of 2025. 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, currently Bernard Briand. He 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 government, 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.

Under the authority of the Collectivité

  • Environment and Quality of Life: under the authority of the Collectivité ;
  • Agriculture, Rural and Natural Areas Unit, or CAERN ;
  • Territorial Veterinary Clinic ;
  • Territorial Development: under the authority of the Collectivité ;
  • Economy, Taxation and Innovation ;
  • Tax Department, or DSF (Direction des Services Fiscaux): under the authority of the Collectivité ;
  • Transport and Mobility: under the authority of the Collectivité ;
  • SPM Ferries ;
  • Youth and Solidarity: under the authority of the Collectivité ;
  • Territorial Centre for the Disabled, or MTA ;
  • Solidarity initiatives, Children and Families ;

Under mixed authority

  • Territories, Food and Sea Department, or DTAM: under the authority of the Préfet, made available to the Collectivité ;
  • Maritime Affairs ;
  • Energy, Risks, Planning and Foresight ;
  • Agriculture, Food, Water and Biodiversity (formerly Direction de l'Agriculture et de la Foret) ;
  • Roads, Constructions and Buildings (formerly Direction de l'Equipement) ;
  • Public Finance Department, under the authority of the Préfet, but it collects tax on behalf of the communes and the Collectivité ;
  • Customs Department: under the authority of the Préfet and local code voted by the Collectivité ;

Under the authority of the Préfet (French Government representative)

  • Social cohesion, Labour, Employment and Population Department, or DCSTEP: under the authority of the Préfet ;
  • Social cohesion, Youth, Sport and Community life (formerly Direction Territoriale de la Jeunesse et des Sports, DTJS and Direction des Affaires Sanitaires et Sociales, DASS) ;
  • Competition, Consumer affairs and Fraud control (formerly Direction de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes, DCCRF) ;
  • Business, Economy and Employment ;
  • Territorial Health Administration, or ATS: under the authority of the Préfet (formerly Direction des Affaires Sanitaires et Sociales, DASS) local unit of the French Ministry of Health ;
  • National Education Service, or SEN: under the authority of the Préfet, local unit of the French Ministry of National Education ;
  • Command of the Gendarmerie Nationale: under the authority of the Préfet, local unit of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces ;
  • French Navy Unit - Fulmar patrol vessel, local unit of the French Navy ;
  • Civil Aviation Service, local branch of the Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGAC) ;
  • Border Control Police, a specialised service and local unit of the French National Police.

Political parties and elections

Boundary dispute

thumb|The boundaries of the 1992 [[Exclusive Economic Zone|EEZ resolution between Canada and France]]

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&nbsp;km) territorial sea surrounding the islands and was given an additional 12 NM (22.2&nbsp;km) contiguous zone as well as a 10.5 NM (19.4&nbsp;km) wide corridor stretching 200 NM (370&nbsp;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

  • Official website of the local government of Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Collectivité)
  • Official website of the French Government representation in Saint Pierre and Miquelon (Préfecture)
  • 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

References