chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY
(since 16 May 2007); represented by Prefect Jean-Regis BORIUS (since
29 October 2009)
head of government: President of the Territorial Council Stephane
ARTANO (since 21 February 2007)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; election last held on 6 May 2007 (next to be held in 2012);
prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; president of the Territorial Council
elected by the members of the council
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II
(since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir
Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29
March 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of
the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the
governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister
Samoa
chief of state: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi (since 20 June 2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Sailele Malielegaoi TUILA'EPA
(since 1998); Deputy Prime Minister MISA Telefoni (since 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 12 members appointed by the chief of
state on the prime minister's advice
elections: chief of state elected by the Legislative Assembly to
serve a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 15
June 2007 (next to be held in 2012); following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime
minister by the chief of state with the approval of the Legislative
Assembly
election results: TUIATUA Tupua Tamasese Efi unanimously elected by
the Legislative Assembly
San Marino
chief of state: Co-chiefs of State Captain Regent
Giovanni Francesco UGOLINI and Captain Regent Andrea ZAFFERANI (for
the period 1 October 2010-1 April 2011)
head of government: Secretary of State for Foreign and Political
Affairs Antonella MULARONI (since 3 December 2008)
cabinet: Congress of State elected by the Great and General Council
for a five-year term
elections: co-chiefs of state (captains regent) elected by the Great
and General Council for a six-month term; election last held in
September 2009 (next to be held in March 2010); secretary of state
for foreign and political affairs elected by the Great and General
Council for a five-year term; election last held on 9 November 2008
(next to be held by 2013)
election results: Francesco MUSSONI and Stefano PALMIERI elected
captains regent; percent of legislative vote - NA; Antonella
MULARONI elected secretary of state for foreign and political
affairs; percent of legislative vote - NA
note: the popularly elected parliament (Grand and General Council)
selects two of its members to serve as the Captains Regent
(co-chiefs of state) for a six-month period; they preside over
meetings of the Grand and General Council and its cabinet (Congress
of State), which has 10 other members, all are selected by the Grand
and General Council; assisting the captains regent are 10
secretaries of state; the secretary of state for Foreign Affairs has
assumed some prime ministerial roles
Sao Tome and Principe
chief of state: President Fradique Bandiera
Melo DE MENEZES (since 3 September 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Joachim Rafael BRANCO (since 22
June 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
proposal of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 30 July 2006
(next to be held in July 2011); prime minister chosen by the
National Assembly and approved by the president
election results: Fradique DE MENEZES elected president; percent of
vote - Fradique DE MENEZES 60%, Patrice TROVOADA 38.5%
Saudi Arabia
chief of state: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin
Abd al-Aziz Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Heir Apparent Crown
Prince SULTAN bin Abd al- Aziz Al Saud (half brother of the
monarch); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: King and Prime Minister ABDALLAH bin Abd al-Aziz
Al Saud (since 1 August 2005); Deputy Prime Minister SULTAN bin Abd
al-Aziz Al Saud; Second Deputy Prime Minister NAYIF bin Abd Al-Aziz
Al Saud
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch every four
years and includes many royal family members
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; note - an Allegiance
Commission created by royal decree in October 2006 established a
committee of Saudi princes that will play a role in selecting future
Saudi kings, but the system will not take effect until after Crown
Prince Sultan becomes king
Senegal
chief of state: President Abdoulaye WADE (since 1 April 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Soulayemane Ndene NDIAYE (since 1
May 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister in
consultation with the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term) under new constitution; election last
held on 25 February 2007 (next to be held in 2012); prime minister
appointed by the president
election results: Abdoulaye WADE reelected president; percent of
vote - Abdoulaye WADE 55.9%, Idrissa SECK 14.9%, Ousmane Tanor DIENG
13.6%, Moustapha NIASSE 5.9%, other 9.7%
Serbia
chief of state: President Boris TADIC (since 11 July 2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Mirko CVETKOVIC (since 7 July
2008)
cabinet: Republican Ministries act as cabinet
elections: president elected by direct vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 3 February 2008
(next to be held in 2013); prime minister elected by the National
Assembly
election results: Boris TADIC elected president in the second round
of voting; Boris TADIC received 51.2% of the vote and Tomislav
NIKOLIC 48.8%
Seychelles
chief of state: President James Alix MICHEL (since 14
April 2004); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President James MICHEL (since 14 April 2004)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for two more terms); election last held on 28-30 July 2006
(next to be held in 2011)
election results: President James MICHEL elected president; percent
of vote - James MICHEL 53.7%, Wavel RAMKALAWAN 45.7%, Philippe
BOULLE 0.6%; note - this was the first election in which President
James MICHEL participated; he was originally sworn in as president
after former president France Albert RENE stepped down in April 2004
Sierra Leone
chief of state: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17
September 2007); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Ernest Bai KOROMA (since 17 September
2007)
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president with the
approval of the House of Representatives; the cabinet is responsible
to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 11 August 2007
and 8 September 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
election results: second round results; percent of vote - Ernest Bai
KOROMA 54.6%, Solomon BEREWA 45.4%
Singapore
chief of state: President S R NATHAN (since 1 September
1999)
note: uses S R NATHAN but his full name and the one used in formal
communications is Sellapan RAMANATHAN
head of government: Prime Minister LEE Hsien Loong (since 12 August
2004); Senior Minister GOH Chok Tong (since 12 August 2004); Senior
Minister Shunmugam JAYAKUMAR (since 1 April 2009); Minister Mentor
LEE Kuan Yew (since 12 August 2004); Deputy Prime Minister TEO Chee
Huan (since 1 April 2009) and Deputy Prime Minister WONG Kan Seng
(since 1 September 2005)
cabinet: appointed by president, responsible to parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for six-year term;
appointed on 17 August 2005 (next election to be held by August
2011); following legislative elections, leader of majority party or
leader of majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by
president; deputy prime ministers appointed by president
election results: Sellapan Rama (S R) NATHAN was appointed president
in August 2005 after Presidential Elections Committee disqualified
three other would-be candidates; scheduled election not held
Sint Maarten
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since
30 April 1980); represented by Governor General Eugene HOLIDAY
(since 10 October 2010)
head of government: Sarah WESCOTT-WILLIAMS (since 10 October 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch for a six-year term; following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party is usually elected prime minister
by the legislature
Slovakia
chief of state: President Ivan GASPAROVIC (since 15 June
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Iveta RADICOVA (since 8 July
2010); Deputy Prime Ministers Jan FIGEL, Ivan MIKLOS, Jozef MIHAL,
Rudolf CHMEL (since 9 July 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 March and 4
April 2009 (next to be held no later than April 2014); following
National Council elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of a majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by
the president
election results: Ivan GASPAROVIC reelected president in runoff;
percent of vote - Ivan GASPAROVIC 55.5%, Iveta RADICOVA 44.5%
Slovenia
chief of state: President Danilo TURK (since 22 December
2007)
head of government: Prime Minister Borut PAHOR (since 7 November
2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the prime minister and
elected by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 21 October and
11 November 2007 (next to be held on 8 October 2012); following
National Assembly elections, the leader of the majority party or the
leader of a majority coalition usually nominated to become prime
minister by the president and elected by the National Assembly;
election last held on 21 September 2008 (next National Assembly
elections to be held in 8 October 2012)
election results: Danilo TURK elected president; percent of vote -
Danilo TURK 68.2%, Alojze PETERLE 31.8%; Borut PAHOR elected prime
minister by National Assembly vote
Solomon Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952); represented by Governor General Frank KABUI (since 7 July
2009)
head of government: Prime Minister Danny PHILIP (since 25 August
2010)
cabinet: Cabinet consists of 20 members appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister from among the members
of parliament
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch on the advice of parliament for up to five years
(eligible for a second term); following legislative elections, the
leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition
usually elected prime minister by parliament; deputy prime minister
appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime
minister from among the members of parliament
Somalia
chief of state: Transitional Federal President Sheikh SHARIF
Sheikh Ahmed (since 31 January 2009); note - a transitional
governing entity with a five-year mandate, known as the Transitional
Federal Institutions (TFIs), was established in October 2004; the
TFIs relocated to Somalia in June 2004; in 2009, the TFI's were
given a two-year extension to October 2011
head of government: Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed FARMAJO
(since 1 November 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the
Transitional Federal Assembly
election results: Sheikh SHARIF Sheikh Ahmed elected president by
the expanded Transitional Federal Assembly in Djibouti
South Africa
chief of state: President Jacob ZUMA (since 9 May
2009); Executive Deputy President Kgalema MOTLANTHE (since 11 May
2009); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Jacob ZUMA (since 9 May 2009);
Executive Deputy President Kgalema MOTLANTHE (since 11 May 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a
five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 6
May 2009 (next to be held in 2014)
election results: Jacob ZUMA elected president; National Assembly
vote - Jacob ZUMA 277, Mvume DANDALA 47, other 76
Spain
chief of state: King JUAN CARLOS I (since 22 November 1975);
Heir Apparent Prince FELIPE, son of the monarch, born 30 January 1968
head of government: President of the Government (Prime Minister
equivalent) Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO (since 17 April 2004);
First Vice President (and Minister of the Interior) Alfredo Perez
RUBALCABA (since 20 October 2010), Second Vice President (and
Minister of Economy and Finance) Elena SALGADO Mendez (since 8 April
2009), and Third Vice President (and Minister of Regional Affairs)
Manuel CHAVES Gonzalez (since 8 April 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers designated by the president
note: there is also a Council of State that is the supreme
consultative organ of the government, but its recommendations are
non-binding
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually proposed president by the monarch and
elected by the National Assembly; election last held on 9 and 11
April 2008 (next to be held in March 2012); vice presidents
appointed by the monarch on the proposal of the president
election results: Jose Luis Rodriguez ZAPATERO reelected President
of the Government; percent of National Assembly vote - 46.9%
Sri Lanka
chief of state: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since
19 November 2005); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government; Dissanayake Mudiyanselage JAYARATNE holds
the largely ceremonial title of prime minister (since 21 April 2010)
head of government: President Mahinda Percy RAJAPAKSA (since 19
November 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president in consultation with the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term
(two-term limit); election last held on 26 January 2010 (next to be
held in 2016)
election results: Mahinda RAJAPAKSA reelected president for second
term; percent of vote - Mahinda RAJAPAKSA 57.88%, Sarath FONSEKA
40.15%, other 1.97%
Sudan
chief of state: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since
16 October 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state
and head of government
head of government: President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR (since 16
October 1993)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note - the
National Congress Party or NCP (formerly the National Islamic Front
or NIF) dominates al-BASHIR's cabinet
elections: election on 11-15 April 2010; next to be held in 2015
election results: Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR reelected president;
percent of vote - Umar Hassan Ahmad al-BASHIR 68.2%, Yasir ARMAN
21.7%, Abdullah Deng NHIAL 3.9%, others 6.2%
note: al-BASHIR assumed power as chairman of Sudan's Revolutionary
Command Council for National Salvation (RCC) in June 1989 and served
concurrently as chief of state, chairman of the RCC, prime minister,
and minister of defense until mid-October 1993 when he was appointed
president by the RCC; he was elected president by popular vote for
the first time in March 1996
Suriname
chief of state: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12
August 2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010);
note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Desire Delano BOUTERSE (since 12
August 2010); Vice President Robert AMEERALI (since 12 August 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly or, if no presidential or vice presidential candidate
receives a two-thirds constitutional majority in the National
Assembly after two votes, by a simple majority in the larger United
People's Assembly (893 representatives from the national, local, and
regional councils), for five-year terms (no term limits); election
last held on 19 July 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results: Desire Delano BOUTERSE elected president; percent
of vote - Desire Delano BOUTERSE 70.6%, Chandrikapersad SATOKHI
25.5%, other 3.9%
Svalbard
chief of state: King HARALD V of Norway (since 17 January
1991)
head of government: Governor Odd Olsen INGERO (since September
2009); Assistant Governor Lars FAUSE (since September 2008)
elections: none; the monarchy is hereditary; governor and assistant
governor responsible to the Polar Department of the Ministry of
Justice
Swaziland
chief of state: King MSWATI III (since 25 April 1986)
head of government: Prime Minister Barnabas Sibusiso DLAMINI (since
16 October 2008)
cabinet: Cabinet recommended by the prime minister and confirmed by
the monarch
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; prime minister appointed by
the monarch from among the elected members of the House of Assembly
Sweden
chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September
1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree,
daughter of the monarch (born 14 July 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5
October 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Jan BJORKLUND (since 5 October
2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister
Switzerland
chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation
Micheline CALMY-REY (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Eveline
WIDMER-SCHLUMPF (since 1 January 2011); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government representing the Federal
Council; the Federal Council is the formal chief of state and head
of government whose council members, rotating in one-year terms as
federal president, represent the Council
head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline
CALMY-REY (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Eveline
WIDMER-SCHLUMPF (since 1 January 2011)
cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal
(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) is elected by the
Federal Assembly usually from among its members for a four-year term
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal
Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for a
one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last
held on 8 December 2010 (next to be held in early December 2011)
election results: Micheline CALMY-REY elected president; number of
Federal Assembly votes - 106 of 189; Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF elected
vice president; current Vice President Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF is
slated to become president on 1 January 2012
Syria
chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000);
Vice President Farouk al-SHARA (since 11 February 2006) oversees
foreign policy; Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006)
oversees cultural policy
head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10
September 2003); Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdallah
al-DARDARI (since 14 June 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president approved by popular referendum for a second
seven-year term (no term limits); referendum last held on 27 May
2007 (next to be held in May 2014); the president appoints the vice
presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers
election results: Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent of
vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.6%
Taiwan
chief of state: President MA Ying-jeou (since 20 May 2008);
Vice President Vincent SIEW (since 20 May 2008)
head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) WU
Den-yih (since 10 September 2009); Vice Premier (Vice President of
Executive Yuan) Sean CHEN (since 17 May 2010)
cabinet: Executive Yuan - (ministers appointed by president on
recommendation of premier)
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 on 22 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2012);
premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the premier
election results: MA Ying-jeou elected president; percent of vote -
MA Ying-jeou 58.45%, Frank HSIEH 41.55%
Tajikistan
chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6
November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19
November 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 November 2006
(next to be held in November 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of
vote - Emomali RAHMON 79.3%, Olimjon BOBOEV 6.2%, other 14.5%
Tanzania
chief of state: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December
2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December
2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001)
note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for
matters internal to Zanzibar; Ali Mohamed SHEIN elected to that
office on 31 October 2010, sworn in 3 November 2010
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot
by popular vote for five-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote
- Jakaya KIKWETE 61.2%, Wilbrod SLAA 26.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 8.1%,
other 4.5%
Thailand
chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet, also spelled
BHUMIBOL Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946)
head of government: Prime Minister ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled
ABHISIT Vejjajiva (since 17 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister
SANAN Kachornprasat, also spelled SANAN Kachornparsart (since 7
February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SUTHEP Thueaksuban, also
spelled SUTHEP Thaugsuban (since 22 December 2008); Deputy Prime
Minister TRAIRONG Suwannakhiri (since 18 January 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Privy Council advising the king
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; according to 2007
constitution, the prime minister elected from among members of House
of Representatives; following national elections for House of
Representatives, the leader of the party positioned to organize a
majority coalition usually becomes prime minister by appointment by
the king; the prime minister limited to two four-year terms