Presidents above Parties?: Presidents in Central and Eastern Europe, Their Formal Competencies and Informal Power
Presidents above Parties?: Presidents in Central and Eastern Europe, Their Formal Competencies and Informal Power
Author(s): Vít Hloušek, Lubomír Kopeček, Josef Mlejnek, Gábor Dobos, Attila Gyulai, Attila Horváth, Piotr Sula, Agnieszka Szumigalska, Peter Spáč, Rein Toomla, Daunis Auers, Algis Krupavičius, Blagovesta Cholova, Sergiu Gherghina
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, History, Political Theory, Political Sciences, Governance, Political history, Government/Political systems, International relations/trade, Electoral systems, Political behavior, Politics and law, Comparative politics
Published by: Masarykova univerzita nakladatelství
Keywords: Perosnal power; Head of State; Parliamentary Democracies; Political system; Presidents; Central and Eastern Europe;
Summary/Abstract: The book aims at an examination of the discrepancies between the formal and actual positions of presidents in Central and Eastern European countries, especially those which are classified as parliamentary democracies and those which have semi-presidential features. Constitutionally, presidents are normally endowed with symbolic functions and duties that are shared with the government (such as appointment of important officials), regardless of whether they are elected directly or indirectly. Governments are thus typically perceived of as being the dominant executive institutions. The influence of presidents in select political systems is not only contingent upon the letter of the constitution, but also historically rooted in constitutional traditions, as well as the personal charisma and power wielded by specific presidents.
- E-ISBN-13: 978-80-210-7802-4
- Page Count: 314
- Publication Year: 2013
- Language: English
HEADS OF STATE IN PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACIES: THE TEMPTATION TO ACCRUE PERSONAL POWER
HEADS OF STATE IN PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACIES: THE TEMPTATION TO ACCRUE PERSONAL POWER
(HEADS OF STATE IN PARLIAMENTARY DEMOCRACIES: THE TEMPTATION TO ACCRUE PERSONAL POWER)
- Author(s):Vít Hloušek
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, Comparative politics
- Page Range:19-30
- No. of Pages:12
- Keywords:Heads of state; Parliamentary Democracies; Personal power; Presidents in Central and Eastern Europe;
- Summary/Abstract:Throughout the last two decades many countries in Central and Eastern Europe have witnessed the ongoing development of democratic governance, with the ultimate result that these countries have now obtained the status of stable democracies. They no longer encounter the problems associated with post-communist transition, although they have new and unique challenges that they have to deal with arising from the present political situation.
- Price: 4.50 €
DIFFERENT CONFESSIONS, SAME SINS? VÁCLAV HAVEL AND VÁCLAV KLAUS AS CZECH PRESIDENTS
DIFFERENT CONFESSIONS, SAME SINS? VÁCLAV HAVEL AND VÁCLAV KLAUS AS CZECH PRESIDENTS
(DIFFERENT CONFESSIONS, SAME SINS? VÁCLAV HAVEL AND VÁCLAV KLAUS AS CZECH PRESIDENTS)
- Author(s):Lubomír Kopeček, Josef Mlejnek
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Constitutional Law, Political history, Recent History (1900 till today), Government/Political systems, Electoral systems, History of Communism
- Page Range:31-76
- No. of Pages:46
- Keywords:Czech presidents; Vaclav Havel; Vaclav Klaus; Government;
- Summary/Abstract:The first direct elections for Czech president in January 2013 were accompanied by a major wave of public interest, as well as some remarkable moments. One of them was a debate that unfolded after the victory of the left-wing candidate Miloš Zeman, over whether the president is able to remove the premier of an unpopular center right government. The idea was encouraged by one of the winner’s main campaign slogans: “Stop this Government!” The Czech constitutionsays that the president “names and removes the premier and other members of the government” (Article 62).
- Price: 4.50 €
WEAK BUT NOT POWERLESS: THE POSITION OF THE PRESIDENT IN THE HUNGARIAN POLITICAL SYSTEM
WEAK BUT NOT POWERLESS: THE POSITION OF THE PRESIDENT IN THE HUNGARIAN POLITICAL SYSTEM
(WEAK BUT NOT POWERLESS: THE POSITION OF THE PRESIDENT IN THE HUNGARIAN POLITICAL SYSTEM)
- Author(s):Attila Horváth, Attila Gyulai, Gábor Dobos
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Political history, Recent History (1900 till today), Government/Political systems, Electoral systems
- Page Range:77-119
- No. of Pages:44
- Keywords:Hungary; Political system; Head of state; Political history; Government forms;
- Summary/Abstract:It is widely thought that the head of state has a weak, constitutionally limited position in Hungarian politics. Looking more closely, however, several important factors seem to be worth analysing. While the strong head of state is part of Hungary’s long political tradition, during the transition from communism to democracy, its role was constitutionally weakened. This discrepancy would suggest broad opportunities for strengthening the informal position of the president; still, only isolated efforts have been made over the last two decades. These efforts, however, can always be traced back to the formal frameworks.
- Price: 4.50 €
SLOVAKIA: IN SEARCH OF LIMITS
SLOVAKIA: IN SEARCH OF LIMITS
(SLOVAKIA: IN SEARCH OF LIMITS)
- Author(s):Peter Spáč
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Political history, Recent History (1900 till today), Government/Political systems, Electoral systems, History of Communism
- Page Range:121-142
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:Slovak politics; Communist regime; Political history of Slovakia; Czechoslovak Republic; Head of state;
- Summary/Abstract:Slovak politics experienced a relatively turbulent period of development prior to the introduction of the communist regime in 1948. At this time the Slovak territory was located in various states, all with rather divergent characteristics. The tradition of a presidential post began with the creation of the First Czechoslovak Republic in 1918 and continues to this day. As the character and nature of the political societies of which Slovakia was a part during the twentieth century changed, so also did the role of the president.
- Price: 4.50 €
THE CHAMELEONIC CHARACTER OF THE SLOVENIAN PRESIDENTS OF THE REPUBLIC
THE CHAMELEONIC CHARACTER OF THE SLOVENIAN PRESIDENTS OF THE REPUBLIC
(THE CHAMELEONIC CHARACTER OF THE SLOVENIAN PRESIDENTS OF THE REPUBLIC)
- Author(s):Damjan Lajh, Alenka Krašovec
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Constitutional Law, Political history, Recent History (1900 till today), Government/Political systems, Electoral systems
- Page Range:143-166
- No. of Pages:24
- Keywords:Slovenia; President and the head of state; History of politics in Slovenia; Constitution;
- Summary/Abstract:In 1991 Slovenia proclaimed its independence and in the same yearset in place a new constitution. The new constitution introduced the principle of the separation of powers, a parliamentary political system, and the office of President of the Republic for an individual to hold. According to the new post-socialist constitution, the President of the Republic would – despite being directly elected – play a chiefly representative and ceremonial role, and only enjoy some significant powers in the event of a state of emergency or war.
- Price: 4.50 €
THE PRESIDENCY IN THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
THE PRESIDENCY IN THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA
(THE PRESIDENCY IN THE REPUBLIC OF ESTONIA)
- Author(s):Rein Toomla
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Constitutional Law, Political history, Recent History (1900 till today), Government/Political systems, Electoral systems
- Page Range:167-190
- No. of Pages:24
- Keywords:Presidency; Republic of Slovenia; Political system of Estonia; Government;
- Summary/Abstract:This paper analyses the development and role of the institution of the president in the Estonian political system. The chapter will open with an overview of the position of the president in the pre-World War II republic with emphasis on those aspects of presidential power that hint at authoritarian government.
- Price: 4.50 €
SEVEN DEMOCRATS AND A DICTATOR: FORMAL AND INFORMAL POWERS OF LATVIA’S PRESIDENTS
SEVEN DEMOCRATS AND A DICTATOR: FORMAL AND INFORMAL POWERS OF LATVIA’S PRESIDENTS
(SEVEN DEMOCRATS AND A DICTATOR: FORMAL AND INFORMAL POWERS OF LATVIA’S PRESIDENTS)
- Author(s):Daunis Auers
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems
- Page Range:191-204
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:Latvia's presidents; Political history of Latvia; Government; Political system;
- Summary/Abstract:In June 2011, Latvia’s Parliament (Saeima) elected the fourth state president since the renewal of independence in 1991 and the seventh in its history: Andris Bērziņš. A wealthy retired banker who had been elected to Parliament in the 2010 election on the Green-Farmers Union ticket,he was an unexpected, last-minute candidate, nominated just a week or so before the vote. His personal affairs, as well as his political philosophy, were utterly unknown to the wider public.
- Price: 4.50 €
LITHUANIA’S PRESIDENT: A FORMAL AND INFORMAL POWER
LITHUANIA’S PRESIDENT: A FORMAL AND INFORMAL POWER
(LITHUANIA’S PRESIDENT: A FORMAL AND INFORMAL POWER)
- Author(s):Algis Krupavičius
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Political history, Recent History (1900 till today), Government/Political systems, Electoral systems
- Page Range:205-232
- No. of Pages:28
- Keywords:Lithuania; Political history; Presidency; Political system;
- Summary/Abstract:Lithuania is an example of the balanced form of semi-presidentialism with its advantages (mainly that it restricted a concentration of power in hands of one or few leaders) and disadvantages (as it led to several institutional conflicts, even including the impeachment of President Paksas in 2004).
- Price: 4.50 €
THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT IN BULGARIAN POLITICS: THE VETO AS A TOOL FOR LEGITIMATION?
THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT IN BULGARIAN POLITICS: THE VETO AS A TOOL FOR LEGITIMATION?
(THE ROLE OF THE PRESIDENT IN BULGARIAN POLITICS: THE VETO AS A TOOL FOR LEGITIMATION?)
- Author(s):Blagovesta Cholova
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, Electoral systems, Comparative politics
- Page Range:233-256
- No. of Pages:24
- Keywords:Presidency in Bulgaria; Bulgarian politics; Presidential power; US model; presidential veto;
- Summary/Abstract:The presidential institution in most Central and East-European countries has passed through different stages of development since 1989. The role of presidents has changed over time and developed different patterns and characteristics in different countries, even though the institutional framework is quite similar in most of the countries in the region.
- Price: 4.50 €
FORMAL AND INFORMAL POWERS IN A SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL REGIME: THE CASE OF ROMANIA
FORMAL AND INFORMAL POWERS IN A SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL REGIME: THE CASE OF ROMANIA
(FORMAL AND INFORMAL POWERS IN A SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL REGIME: THE CASE OF ROMANIA)
- Author(s):Sergiu Gherghina
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Political history, Government/Political systems, Electoral systems, History of Communism
- Page Range:257-270
- No. of Pages:14
- Keywords:Semi-presidential regime; Romania; Government; Constitutional Monarchy; Authoritarian Leaders;
- Summary/Abstract:There is a general consensus in the literature that political institutionsin Central and Eastern Europe underwent dramatic changes in a short period of time. This transformation had effects on the stability and nature of relationships among executive and legislative bodies. In the beginning of the 90s, the institutional design in most post-communist countries placed an emphasis on the role of the legislature in the decision making process.
- Price: 4.50 €
THE POLITICAL ROLE OF PRESIDENTS IN THE COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE: SOME TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS
THE POLITICAL ROLE OF PRESIDENTS IN THE COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE: SOME TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS
(THE POLITICAL ROLE OF PRESIDENTS IN THE COUNTRIES OF CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE: SOME TENTATIVE CONCLUSIONS)
- Author(s):Vít Hloušek
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Constitutional Law, Political history, Government/Political systems, Electoral systems, Comparative politics
- Page Range:271-292
- No. of Pages:22
- Keywords:Political role of presidents; Central and Eastern Europe; Comparative politics;
- Summary/Abstract:The previous country chapters dealt with the following questions: What used to be, or are, the reasons for the successful expansion of the personal influence exerted by heads of state? Is it the political personality of the office holder rather than ‘structural’ reasons determined by the political system? Or is it the popular attitudes held towards politics and politicians? We saw that the answers to these questions can be different. Now we can try to draw some general findings.
- Price: 4.50 €
SUMMARY
SUMMARY
(SUMMARY)
- Author(s):Author Not Specified
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Government/Political systems, Electoral systems, Comparative politics
- Page Range:293-294
- No. of Pages:2
- Keywords:Presidents in Central and Eastern Europe; Constitutions; Political history; comparative politics;
- Summary/Abstract:The book aims at an examination of the discrepancies between the formal and actual positions of presidents in Central and Eastern European countries, especially those which are classified as parliamentary democracies and those which have semi-presidential features. Constitutionally, presidents are normally endowed with symbolic functions and duties that are shared with the government (such as appointment of important officials), regardless of whether they are elected directly or indirectly.
- Price: 4.50 €
REFERENCES
REFERENCES
(REFERENCES)
- Author(s):Author Not Specified
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Editorial
- Page Range:295-308
- No. of Pages:14
- Price: 4.50 €
NAME INDEX
NAME INDEX
(NAME INDEX)
- Author(s):Author Not Specified
- Language:English
- Subject(s):Editorial
- Page Range:309-311
- No. of Pages:3
- Price: 4.50 €