chief of state: President Mohamed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14
October 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamed NAZIF (since 9 July
2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term (no
term limits); note - a national referendum in May 2005 approved a
constitutional amendment that changed the presidential election to a
multicandidate popular vote; previously the president was nominated
by the People's Assembly and the nomination was validated by a
national, popular referendum; last referendum held 26 September
1999; first election under terms of constitutional amendment held 7
September 2005; next election scheduled for 2011
election results: Hosni MUBARAK reelected president; percent of vote
- Hosni MUBARAK 88.6%, Ayman NOUR 7.6%, Noman GOMAA 2.9%
El Salvador
chief of state: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena
(since 1 June 2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1
June 2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Mauricio FUNES Cartagena (since 1 June
2009); Vice President Salvador SANCHEZ CEREN (since 1 June 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers selected by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held 15
March 2009 (next to be held in March 2014)
election results: Mauricio FUNES Cartagena elected president;
percent of vote - Mauricio FUNES Cartagena 51.3%, Rodrigo AVILA 48.7%
Equatorial Guinea
chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.)
Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seized
power in a military coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Ignacio Milan TANG (since 8 July
2008);
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); election last held 15 December 2002 (next to be
held in 2010); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed
by the president
election results: Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected president;
percent of vote - Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO 97.1%, Celestino
Bonifacio BACALE 2.2%; elections marred by widespread fraud
Eritrea
chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June
1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government and is head of the State Council and National Assembly
head of government: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June 1993)
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority;
members appointed by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); the most recent and
only election held 8 June 1993 (next election date uncertain as the
National Assembly did not hold a presidential election in December
2001 as anticipated)
election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent of
National Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%, other 5%
Estonia
chief of state: President Toomas Hendrik ILVES (since 9
October 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Andrus ANSIP (since 12 April 2005)
cabinet: Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); if a candidate does not secure
two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting in the
Parliament, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus
members of local councils) elects the president, choosing between
the two candidates with the largest number of votes; election last
held 23 September 2006 (next to be held in the fall of 2011); prime
minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
election results: Toomas Hendrik ILVES elected president on 23
September 2006 by a 345-member electoral assembly; ILVES received
174 votes to incumbent Arnold RUUTEL's 162; remaining 9 ballots left
blank or invalid
Ethiopia
chief of state: President GIRMA Woldegiorgis (since 8
October 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since August 1995)
cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994
constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and
approved by the House of People's Representatives
elections: president elected by the House of People's
Representatives for a six-year term (eligible for a second term);
election last held 9 October 2007 (next to be held in October 2013);
prime minister designated by the party in power following
legislative elections
election results: GIRMA Woldegiorgis elected president; percent of
vote by the House of People's Representatives - 79%
European Union
chief of union: President of the European Commission
Jose Manuel DURAO BARROSO (since 22 November 2004)
cabinet: European Commission (composed of 27 members, one from each
member country; each commissioner responsible for one or more policy
areas)
elections: the president of the European Commission is designated by
member governments and is confirmed by the European Parliament;
working from member state recommendations, the Commission president
then assembles a "college" of Commission members; the European
Parliament confirms the entire Commission for a five-year term; the
last confirmation process was held 16 September 2009 (next to be
held in 2014)
election results: European Parliament approved the European
Commission by a vote of 382 to 219 with 117 abstentions
note: the European Council brings together heads of state and
government and the president of the European Commission and meets at
least four times a year; its aim is to provide the impetus for the
major political issues relating to European integration and to issue
general policy guidelines
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas)
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Alan HUCKLE (since 25 August 2006);
Chief Executive Dr. Tim THOROGOOD (since 3 January 2008)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by the Legislative
Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and the financial
secretary), and the governor
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch
Faroe Islands
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since
14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Birgit KLEIS,
chief administrative officer (since 1 November 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN (since 26
September 2008)
cabinet: Landsstyri appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; high commissioner appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held
19 January 2008 (next to be held no later than January 2012)
election results: Joannes EIDESGAARD elected prime minister;
governing coalition collapses in September 2008, Kaj Leo JOHANNESSEN
becomes Prime Minister
Fiji
chief of state: President Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU (since 30 July
2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since 10
September 2000); note - although QARASE is still the legal prime
minister, he has been confined to his home island; former President
ILOILOVATU appointed Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA interim prime
minister under the military regime
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note - coup
leader Commodore Voreqe BAINIMARAMA has appointed an interim cabinet
elections: under the constitution, president elected by the Great
Council of Chiefs for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
in 2007 the Great Council of Chiefs was suspended from its role in
electing the president; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ratu Epeli NAILATIKAU was appointed by Chief
Justice Anthony GATES
Finland
chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Matti VANHANEN (since 24 June
2003); Deputy Prime Minister Jyrki KATAINEN (since 19 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the
president, responsible to parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 15 January 2006
(next to be held in January 2012); the president appoints the prime
minister and deputy prime minister from the majority party or the
majority coalition after parliamentary elections and the parliament
must approve the appointment; Prime Minister VANHANEN reelected 17
April 2007
election results: percent of vote - Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 46.3%, Sauli
NIINISTO (Kok) 24.1%, Matti VANHANEN (Kesk) 18.6%, Heidi HAUTALA
(VIHR) 3.5%; a runoff election between HALONEN and NIINISTO was held
29 January 2006 - HALONEN 51.8%, NIINISTO 48.2%; Matti VANHANEN
reelected prime minister; election results 121-71
note: government coalition - Kesk, KOK, VIHR, and SFP
France
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Francois FILLON (since 17 May
2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the
suggestion of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(changed from seven-year term in October 2000); election last held
22 April and 6 May 2007 (next to be held spring 2012); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Nicolas SARKOZY wins the election; first round:
percent of vote - Nicolas SARKOZY 31.18%, Segolene ROYAL 25.87%,
Francois BAYROU 18.57%, Jean-Marie LE PEN 10.44%, others 13.94%;
second round: SARKOZY 53.1% and ROYAL 46.9%
French Polynesia
chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16
May 2007), represented by High Commissioner of the Republic Adolphe
COLRAT (since 7 July 2008)
head of government: President of French Polynesia Oscar TEMARU
(since 7 February 2009); President of the Territorial Assembly
Eduoard FRITCH (since 12 February 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president submits a list of members
of the Territorial Assembly for approval by them to serve as
ministers
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; high commissioner appointed by the French president on the
advice of the French Ministry of Interior; president of the
territorial government and the president of the Territorial Assembly
are elected by the members of the assembly for five-year terms (no
term limits)
French Southern and Antarctic Lands
chief of state: President
Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007), represented by Senior
Administrator Rollon MOUCHEL-BLAISOT (16 October 2008)
Gabon
chief of state: President Ali BONGO Ondimba (since 16 October
2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Paul BIYOGHE MBA (since 15 July
2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); election last held 30 August 2009 (next to be held
in 2016); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Ali BONGO Ondimba elected; percent of
vote - Ali BONGO Ondimba 41.7%, Andre MBA OBAME 25.9%, Pierre
MAMBOUNDOU 25.2%, Zacharie MYBOTO 3.9%, other 3.3%
note: President BONGO died on 8 June 2009 after serving as president
for 32 years, in accordance with the constitution he was replaced on
an interim basis by the president of the Senate, Rose Francine
ROGOMBE on 10 June 2009, new elections where held on 30 August 2009
and the son of the former president, Ali BONGO Ondimba, was elected
president
Gambia, The
chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since
18 October 1996); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the
Junta; Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note
- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18
October 1996); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held 22 September 2006 (next to be
held in 2011)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent
of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa
SALLAH 6.0%
Georgia
chief of state: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25
January 2004); the president is both the chief of state and head of
government for the power ministries: state security (includes
interior) and defense
head of government: President Mikheil SAAKASHVILI (since 25 January
2004); Prime Minister Nikoloz GILAURI (since 6 February 2009); the
president is both the chief of state and head of government for the
power ministries: state security (includes interior) and defense;
the prime minister is head of the remaining ministries of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 5 January 2008
(next to be held January 2013)
election results: Mikheil SAAKASHVILI reelected president; percent
of vote - Mikheil SAAKASHVILI 53.5%, Levan GACHECHILADZE 25.7%,
Badri PATARKATSISHVILI 7.1%
Germany
chief of state: President Horst KOEHLER (since 1 July 2004)
head of government: Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by
the president on the recommendation of the chancellor
elections: president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a
second term) by a Federal Convention, including all members of the
Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the
state parliaments; election last held 23 May 2004 (next scheduled
for 23 May 2009); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the
Federal Assembly for a four-year term; Bundestag vote for Chancellor
last held 22 November 2005 (next will follow the national elections
to be held by 27 September 2009)
election results: Horst KOEHLER elected president; received 604
votes of the Federal Convention against 589 for Gesine SCHWAN;
Angela MERKEL elected chancellor; vote by Federal Assembly 397 to
202 with 12 abstentions
Ghana
chief of state: President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7
January 2009); Vice President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January
2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President John Evans Atta MILLS (since 7 January
2009); Vice President John Dramani MAHAMA (since 7 January 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers; president nominates members subject
to approval by Parliament
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held 7 December 2008 with a second round held 28
December 2008 (next to be held 7 December 2012)
election results: John Evans Atta MILLS elected president in run-off
election; percent of vote - John Evans Atta MILLS 50.23%, Nana Addo
Dankwa AKUFO-ADDO 49.77%
Gibraltar
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Governor Sir Robert FULTON (since 27 October
2006)
head of government: Chief Minister Peter CARUANA (since 17 May 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed from among the 17 elected
members of the Parliament by the governor in consultation with the
chief minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the
monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority
party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed
chief minister by the governor
Greece
chief of state: President Karolos PAPOULIAS (since 12 March
2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Yeoryios PAPANDREOU (since 6
October 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 8 February 2005
(next to be held by February 2010); president appoints leader of the
party securing plurality of vote in election to become prime
minister and form a government
election results: Karolos PAPOULIAS elected president; number of
parliamentary votes, 279 out of 300
Greenland
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since 14
January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Soren MOLLER (since
April 2005)
head of government: Prime Minister Kuupik KLEIST (since 12 June 2009)
cabinet: Home Rule Government is elected by the Parliament
(Landsting) on the basis of the strength of parties
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; high commissioner appointed
by the monarch; prime minister is elected by parliament (usually the
leader of the majority party)
election results: Kuupik KLEIST elected prime minister
Grenada
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General Carlyle Arnold GLEAN (since 27
November 2008)
head of government: Prime Minister Tillman THOMAS (since 9 July 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the governor general
Guam
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20 January
2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Felix P. CAMACHO (since 6 January
2003); Lieutenant Governor Dr. Michael W. CRUZ (since 1 January 2007)
cabinet: heads of executive departments; appointed by the governor
with the consent of the Guam legislature
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as Guam, do not vote in elections for US president
and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic and
Republican presidential primary elections; governor and lieutenant
governor elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year
term (can serve two consecutive terms, then must wait a full term
before running again); election last held 7 November 2006 (next to
be held in November 2010)
election results: Felix P. CAMACHO reelected governor; Dr. Michael
W. CRUZ elected lieutenant governor; percent of vote - NA
Guatemala
chief of state: President Alvaro COLOM Caballeros (since
14 January 2008); Vice President Jose Rafael ESPADA (since 14
January 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Alvaro COLOM Caballeros (since 14
January 2008); Vice President Jose Rafael ESPADA (since 14 January
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term
(may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 9 September
2007; runoff held 4 November 2007 (next to be held September 2011)
election results: Alvaro COLOM Caballeros elected president; percent
of vote - Alvaro COLOM Caballeros 52.8%, Otto PEREZ Molina 47.2%
Guernsey
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Lieutenant Governor Sir Fabian MALBON (since 28
October 2005)
head of government: Chief Minister Lyndon TROTT (since 1 May 2008)
cabinet: Policy Council elected by the States of Deliberation
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch; chief minister is elected by States of Deliberation
election results: Lyndon TROTT elected chief minister, percent of
vote of the States of Deliberation NA
Guinea
chief of state: Capt. Moussa Dadis CAMARA, President of the
National Council for Democracy and Development, who led a military
coup following the death of President Lansana CONTE on 22 December
2008
head of government: Prime Minister Kabine KOMARA (since 30 December
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(no term limits); candidate must receive a majority of the votes
cast to be elected president; election last held 21 December 2003
(ad hoc election scheduled for 31 January 2010); the prime minister
is appointed by the president
election results: Lansana CONTE reelected president; percent of vote
- Lansana CONTE 95.3%, Mamadou Bhoye BARRY 4.6%
Guinea-Bissau
chief of state: President Malam Bacai SANHA (since 8
September 2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Carlos GOMES Junior (since 25
December 2008)
cabinet: NA
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held 28 June 2009 with a runoff
between the two leading candidates held on 26 July 2009 (next to be
held by 2014); prime minister appointed by the president after
consultation with party leaders in the legislature
election results: Malam Bacai SANHA elected president; percent of
vote, second ballot - Malam Bacai SANHA 63.5%, Kumba YALA 36.5%
Guyana
chief of state: President Bharrat JAGDEO (since 11 August
1999); note - assumed presidency after resignation of President
Janet JAGAN and was reelected in 2001, and again in 2006
head of government: Prime Minister Samuel HINDS (since October 1992,
except for a period as chief of state after the death of President
Cheddi JAGAN on 6 March 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president,
responsible to the legislature
elections: president elected by popular vote as leader of a party
list in parliamentary elections, which must be held at least every
five years (no term limits); elections last held 28 August 2006
(next to be held by August 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: President Bharrat JAGDEO reelected; percent of
vote 54.6%
Haiti
chief of state: President Rene PREVAL (since 14 May 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Max BELLERIVE (since 7
November 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister in consultation with
the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(may not serve consecutive terms); election last held 7 February
2006 (next to be held in 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president, ratified by the National Assembly
election results: Rene PREVAL elected president; percent of vote -
Rene PREVAL 51%
Holy See (Vatican City)
chief of state: Pope BENEDICT XVI (since 19
April 2005)
head of government: Secretary of State Cardinal Tarcisio BERTONE
(since 15 September 2006)
cabinet: Pontifical Commission for the State of Vatican City
appointed by the pope
elections: pope elected for life by the College of Cardinals;
election last held 19 April 2005 (next to be held after the death of
the current pope); secretary of state appointed by the pope
election results: Joseph RATZINGER elected Pope BENEDICT XVI
Honduras
chief of state: President Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales (since
27 January 2006); Vice President Commissioner Aristides MEJIA
Carranza (since 1 February 2009); note - the president is both the
chief of state and head of government; because the president and
vice president are elected on the same ticket, the position of "vice
president commissioner" was created after Vice President Elvin
SANTOS resigned in late 2008 to run for president in the November
2009 election
head of government: President Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales (since 27
January 2006); Vice President Commissioner Aristides MEJIA Carranza
(since 1 February 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term;
election last held 27 November 2005 (next to be held in November
2009)
election results: Jose Manuel ZELAYA Rosales elected president -
49.8%, Porfirio "Pepe" LOBO Sosa 46.1%, other 4.1%