President of the general council

Contents

Overview

In France, the President of the General Council is the locally-elected head of the Conseil Général , the assembly governing a département, a county-level territory.

The position is elected by the General Councillors from among their number. If there is a tie, the senior Councillor is elected.

The President of the General Council wields police powers. Responsibilities include:

Chairing the departmental authorities
Preparing and implementing the council's decisions
Collecting and spending monies
Representing the département in legal cases

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History

In 1871, a law was enacted that gave each canton (subdivision of département) representation of a Councillor (Conseiller Général ).

As a result of the decentralization of Government the election criteria were redefined in 1982, and in 1985 the President of the General Council took over executive powers from the centrally-appointed prefect. [2]

Past Women Presidents

1970-1982 Evelyne Baylet , Tarn-et-Garonne
1982-1985 Luchette Michaux-Cheruy , Guadeloupe
1990-?? Anne d'Ornano , Calvados
1992-1998 Janine Bardou , Lozère
1999-2004 Anne-Marie Comparini , Rhône-Alpes
2004-Present Marie-Françoise Pérol-Dumont , Haute-Vienne
2004-Present Nassimah Magnolia Dindar , Réunion

Overseas territories

The situation in a Département d'outre-mer (overseas territory) can be explained as follows. Generally, these territories are simultaneously départements and régions. The President of the general council may also serve concurrently as President of the Regional Council.

Current Presidents

French Guiana - Joseph Ho-Ten-You , 26 March 2001
Guadeloupe - Jacques Gillot, 26 March 2001
Martinique - Claude Lise, 22 March 1992
Mayotte - Younoussa Bamana , 1977
Réunion - Jean-Luc Poudroux , March 1998
Saint Pierre and Miquelon - Marc Plantagenest