HISTORY
French Guiana was discovered
by the Spanish in 1496, who established a few settlements in 1503
and 1504. The French first moved in a century later. Under the
1667 Treaty of Breda, the Dutch, who had also shown an interest
in the area, were forced out. Numerous changes in control followed
over the next 200 years, alternating between France, Britain,
the Netherlands and Portugal, until the territory was finally
confirmed as French in 1817. The colony enjoyed a brief period
of prosperity in the 1850s when gold was discovered, but afterwards
went into a decline from which it has never fully recovered.
French Guiana was finally
given French Overseas Department status in 1946, under which the
territory effectively became an integral part of the French nation.
However, the territory was largely neglected by Paris and continued
to deteriorate until civil unrest broke out in the 1970s. After
a security crackdown, the central government promised various
improvements. These failed to materialise until the Mitterrand
presidency, under which a series of reforms was introduced in
1982-83. Some decentralisation also took place: local affairs
are now dealt with by the Regional Council.
The President of the Regional
Council since March 1992, Antoine Karam, is French Guiana’s
single representative in the French Senate. Karam is a member
of the Parti Socialiste Guyanais (PSG), which has long been the
strongest political party and is allied to its French namesake.
The Socialists’ principal rivals are the Forces Démocratiques
Guyanaises (FDG). The PSG is the largest party on the Regional
Council following the most recent election in March 1998 but,
lacking an overall majority, relies on the support of other left-wing
parties. A new non-aligned party, the Walwaries, has made something
of an impact on French Guianese politics in recent years; the
Gaullist Rassemblement pour la République (RPR) also has
a small presence.
The political complexion of
the territory was last tested at the 2002 French presidential
election, where Jacques Chirac won a handsome majority (see France
section). The domestic political agenda has been generally dominated
by peated complaints over the territory’s relatively poor
social and economic conditions compared to those in France. The
alternatives to being an integral part of the French state are
self-government and independence. However, enthusiasm for either
is lacking and the small independence movement has made little
headway in recent years. Paris has also made it clear that it
will not countenance any change in French Guiana’s status
for the time being.
Government: As an Overseas
Department, French Guiana is represented by one member of the
Senate and one member of the National Assembly in France. Locally,
there is a 19-member General Council which assists an appointed
Prefect, and the 31-member Regional Council. Both are elected
for a six-year term by universal adult suffrage.
