Prime Minister-elect

Prime Minister-elect is the term sometimes used to refer to a person who will likely succeed an incumbent as Prime Minister, but has yet to be sworn into office; usually as a result of a general election or a leadership spill within the governing party.

The term can be misleading, as a prime minister is usually appointed by the relevant head of state, and not elected to office by the entire nation, as is the case with some presidential polls. However, it is frequently used by the media. [cite web | last =Bergen | first =Bob | authorlink = | coauthors = | title =Prime minister-elect Harper must follow through on defence | work = | publisher =cdfai.org | date =2006 | url =http://www.cdfai.org/bergenarticles/Jan.25.2006%20Harpers%20Promises.pdf | format =PDF | doi = | accessdate =2007-11-26 ] [cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.globalinsight.com/SDA/SDADetail5828.htm | title = Italian Prime Minister-Elect Proposes Compromise Presidential Candidate | format = | work = Same Day Analysis (sample article) | publisher = Global Insight | accessdate = 2007-11-27] [cite news |first= |last= Reuters |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= India's PM-elect focuses on Kashmir |url= http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/05/20/1085028464552.html |work= |publisher= The Age |date=May 21 2004 |accessdate= 2007-11-27 ] Terms such as "Prime Minister-in-waiting," "incoming Prime Minister" or "Prime Minister-designate" are also sometimes used. [ [http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2006&m=January&x=20060124164832ASrelliM0.9599726 Department of State: U.S. Congratulates Canadian Prime Minister-designate Stephen Harper; 24 January 2006] ] [ [http://english.people.com.cn/200601/27/eng20060127_238841.html "People's Daily": Canada's PM-designate lists priorities; January 27, 2006] ]

In some countries the role is specifically covered by legislation, in others convention applies before the chosen leader is sworn in. The Australian Electoral Commission, the government authority responsible for the conduct of elections in Australia, notes that "it is usually possible for the Prime Minister elect to claim victory on the night of the election". [cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2007 | url = http://www.aec.gov.au/Education/Every_Vote_Count/4part3.htm | title = Every Vote Counts | format = | work = | publisher = Australian Electoral Commission | accessdate = 2007-11-28]

The media sometimes prematurely refers to someone as a Prime Minister-elect. In the United Kingdom during the 2007 Labour Party Leadership Election, Gordon Brown was referred to as the Prime Minister-elect even before the Leadership elections had confirmed him in that position. [cite news |first= Nicholas |last= Watt|authorlink= |coauthors= Oliver Morgan and Robin McKie|title= Brown's vision for a nuclear Britain|url= http://observer.guardian.co.uk/politics/story/0,,2084016,00.html |work= Politics |publisher= The Observer |date= 20 May 2007|accessdate=2007-11-28 ]

Constitutionally specified roles

In Israel between 1996 and 2001 the role and duration of the Prime Minister-elect was prescribed by legislation: within 45 days of the publication of the election results (8 days after elections) the Prime Minister-elect will appear before the Knesset, present the Ministers of the Government, announce the division of tasks and the guiding principles of the government's policies, and the Prime Minister and the Ministers will begin their service. In 2001, the Knesset voted to change the system of direct prime-ministerial elections and restore the one-vote parliamentary system of government that operated until 1996, approving a reformed version of the original Basic Law: The Government 1968. This new law entered into effect with the January 2003 elections.cite web | url = http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/MFAArchive/1990_1999/1992/4/Basic%20Law-%20The%20Government%20-1992- | title = Basic Law: The Government (1992) | work = MFA Library > 1992 (page 4) | publisher = Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs | accessdate = 2007-11-29 |quote = Section 14 (a): Within 45 days of the publication of the election results the Prime Minister elect will appear before the Knesset, present the Ministers of the Government, announce the division of tasks and the guiding principles of the Government's policies, and the Prime Minister and the Ministers will begin their service, provided that the provisions of section 33(a) and (b) have been complied with. "and" cite web | year = 2007 | url = http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/History/Modern+History/Historic+Events/Elections+in+Israel+1999+-+Background.htm | title = What Happens Now? Factsheet of Procedures following the Israeli Elections | work = Elections in Israel 1999 - Background | publisher = Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs | accessdate = 2007-11-27]

In the Solomon Islands, the country's constitution provides a fourteen-day period between the date of the general election and the selection of the Prime Minister. During this period, aspiring candidates for Prime Minister lobby intensely to acquire the numbers needed to win the contest and form the government. The individual successfully voted to form government is the Prime Minister-elect until sworn in by the Governor-General. [cite news |first= Tarcisius Tara |last= Kabutaulaka|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= Seeking answers in the ashes of Honiara |url= http://archives.pireport.org/archive/2006/April/04-20-com1.htm|work= Pacific Islands Report > Commentary|publisher= Pacific Islands Development Program/East-West Center With Support From Center for Pacific Islands Studies/University of Hawai‘i |date= 20 April 2006|accessdate= 2007-11-28]

See also

* Caretaker government of Australia

References