election results: Thomas KLESTIL reelected president; percent of vote - Thomas KLESTIL 63%, Gertraud KNOLL 14%, Heide SCHMIDT 11%, Richard LUGNER 10%, Karl NOWAK 2%
note: government coalition - OeVP and FPOe
Azerbaijan:chief of state: President Heydar ALIYEV (since 18 June1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Artur RASIZADE (since 26November 1996)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president andconfirmed by the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote to a five-year term; election last held 11 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003); prime minister and first deputy prime ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the National Assembly
election results: Heydar ALIYEV reelected president; percent of vote - Heydar ALIYEV 77.6%, Etibar MAMEDOV 11.8%, Nizami SULEYMANOV 8.2%
Bahamas, The:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February1952), represented by Governor General Sir Orville TURNQUEST (since2 January 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Hubert Alexander INGRAHAM (since 19 August 1992) and Deputy Prime Minister Frank WATSON (since December 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the prime minister's recommendation
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Bahrain:chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa (since 6March 1999); Heir Apparent Crown Prince SALMAN bin Hamad (son of themonarch, born 21 October 1969)
head of government: Prime Minister KHALIFA bin Salman Al Khalifa (since NA 1971)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch
Bangladesh:chief of state: President Shahabuddin AHMED (since 9October 1996); note - the president's duties are normallyceremonial, but with the 13th amendment to the constitution("Caretaker Government Amendment"), the president's role becomessignificant at times when Parliament is dissolved and a caretakergovernment is installed - at presidential direction - to supervisethe elections
head of government: Prime Minister Sheikh HASINA (since 13 July1996)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the prime minister and appointed by the president
elections: president elected by National Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 24 July 1996 (next to be held by NA October 2001); following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats is usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Shahabuddin AHMED elected president without opposition; percent of National Parliament vote - NA%
Barbados:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February1952), represented by Governor General Sir Clifford StraughnHUSBANDS (since 1 June 1996)
head of government: Prime Minister Owen Seymour ARTHUR (since 6September 1994); Deputy Prime Minister Billie MILLER (since 6September 1994)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor generalappointed by the monarch; prime minister appointed by the governorgeneral
Belarus:chief of state: President Aleksandr LUKASHENKO (since 20July 1994)
head of government: Prime Minister Vladimir YERMOSHIN (since 18 February 2000); First Deputy Prime Minister Andrey KOBYAKOV (since 13 March 2000); Deputy Prime Ministers Mikhail DEMCHUK (since 14 July 2000), Mikhail KHORSTOV (since 27 November 2000), Valeriy KOKOREV (since 23 August 1994), Leonid KOZIK (since 4 February 1997), Gennadiy NOVITSKIY (since 11 February 1997), Aleksandr POPKOV (since 10 November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; first election took place 23 June and 10 July 1994 (next to be held NA; according to the 1994 constitution, the next election should have been held in 1999, however LUKASHENKO extended his term to 2001 via the November 1996 referendum); prime minister and deputy prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: Aleksandr LUKASHENKO elected president; percent of vote - Aleksandr LUKASHENKO 85%, Vyacheslav KEBICH 15%
Belgium:chief of state: King ALBERT II (since 9 August 1993); HeirApparent Prince PHILIPPE, son of the monarch
head of government: Prime Minister Guy VERHOFSTADT (since 13 July1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch and approvedby Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime minister appointed by the monarch and then approved by Parliament
note: government coalition - VLD, PRL, PS, SP, AGALEV, and ECOLO
Belize:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Sir Colville YOUNG (since 17November 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Said MUSA (since 27 August1998); Deputy Prime Minister John BRICENO (since 1 September 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; governor general appoints the member of the House of Representatives who is leader of the majority party to be prime minister
Benin:chief of state: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
head of government: President Mathieu KEREKOU (since 4 April 1996); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president reelected by popular vote for a five-year term; runoff election held 22 March 2001 (next to be held NA March 2006)
election results: Mathieu KEREKOU reelected president; percent of vote - Mathieu KEREKOU 84.1%, Bruno AMOUSSOU 15.9%
note: the four top-ranking contenders following the first round presidential elections were: Mathieu KEREKOU (incumbent) 45.4%, Nicephore SOGOLO (former president) 27.1%, Adrien HOUNGBEDJI (National Assembly Speaker) 12.6%, and Bruno AMOUSSOU (Minister of State) 8.6%; the second round balloting, originally scheduled for 18 March, was postponed four days because both SOGOLO and HOUNGBEDJI withdrew alleging electoral fraud; this left KEREKOU to run against his own Minister of State, AMOUSSOU, in what was termed a "friendly match"
Bermuda:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February1952), represented by Governor Thorold MASEFIELD (since NA June 1997)
head of government: Premier Jennifer SMITH (since 10 November 1998)
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the premier, appointed by the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarch; governor invites leader of largest party in Parliamentto form a government as premier
Bhutan:chief of state: King Jigme Singye WANGCHUCK (since 24 July1972)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers SangayNGEDUP (since NA 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers (Lhengye Shungtsog) nominated by the monarch, approved by the National Assembly; members serve fixed, five-year terms; note - there is also a Royal Advisory Council (Lodoi Tsokde), members nominated by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary, but democratic reforms in July 1998 give the National Assembly authority to remove the monarch with two-thirds vote
Bolivia:chief of state: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6August 1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state andhead of government
head of government: President Hugo BANZER Suarez (since 6 August 1997); Vice President Jorge Fernando QUIROGA Ramirez (since 6 August 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 1 June 1997 (next to be held May or June 2002)
election results: Hugo BANZER Suarez elected president; percent of vote - Hugo BANZER Suarez (ADN) 22%; Jaime PAZ Zamora (MIR) 17%, Juan Carlos DURAN (MNR) 18%, Ivo KULJIS (UCS) 16%, Remedios LOZA (CONDEPA) 17%; no candidate received a majority of the popular vote; Hugo BANZER Suarez won a congressional runoff election on 5 August 1997 after forming a "megacoalition" with MIR, UCS, CONDEPA, NFR, and PDC
Bosnia and Herzegovina:chief of state: Chairman of the PresidencyJozo KRIZANOVI (chairman since 14 June 2001, presidency member sinceNA March 2001 - Croat); other members of the three-member rotating(every 8 months) presidency: Zivko RADISIC (since 13 October 1998 -Serb) and Beriz BELKIC (since NA March 2001 - Bosniak); note - AnteJELAVIC was dismissed from his post by the UN High Representative inMarch 2001
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers ZlatkoLAGUMDZIJA (since 18 July 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers nominated by the council chairman;approved by the National House of Representatives
elections: the three members of the presidency (one Bosniak, one Croat, one Serb) are elected by popular vote for a four-year term; the member with the most votes becomes the chairman unless he or she was the incumbent chairman at the time of the election; election last held 12-13 September 1998 (next to be held NA September 2002); the chairman of the Council of Ministers is appointed by the presidency and confirmed by the National House of Representatives
election results: percent of vote - Zivko RADISIC with 52% of the Serb vote was elected chairman of the collective presidency for the first 8 months; Ante JELAVIC with 52% of the Croat vote followed RADISIC in the rotation; Alija IZETBEGOVIC with 87% of the Bosniak vote won the highest number of votes in the election but was ineligible to serve a second term until RADISIC and JELAVIC had each served a first term as Chairman of the Presidency; IZETBEGOVIC retired from the presidency 14 October 2000 and was temporarily replaced by Halid GENJAC; Ante JELAVIC was replaced by Jozo KRIZANOVIC in March 2001
note: President of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina: Karlo FILIPOVIC (since 27 February 2001); Vice President Safet HALILOVIC (since 27 February 2001); note - president and vice president rotate every year; President of the Republika Srpska: Mirko SAROVIC (since 11 November 2000)
Botswana:chief of state: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
head of government: President Festus MOGAE (since 1 April 1998) and Vice President Seretse Ian KHAMA (since 13 July 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 16 October 1999 (next to be held NA October 2004); vice president appointed by the president
election results: Festus MOGAE elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote - 54.3%
Brazil:chief of state: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since1 January 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995);note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
head of government: President Fernando Henrique CARDOSO (since 1 January 1995); Vice President Marco MACIEL (since 1 January 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 4 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2002)
election results: Fernando Henrique CARDOSO reelected president; percent of vote - 53%
British Indian Ocean Territory: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Commissioner John WHITE (since NA); Administrator Louise SAVILL (since NA); note - both reside in the UK
cabinet: NA
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; commissioner and administrator appointed by the monarch
British Virgin Islands: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor Francis J. SAVAGE (since NA)
head of government: Chief Minister Ralph T. O'NEAL (since 15 May 1995)
cabinet: Executive Council appointed by the governor from members of the Legislative Council
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed by the monarch; chief minister appointed by the governor from among the members of the Legislative Council
Brunei:chief of state: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANALBolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chiefof state and head of government
head of government: Sultan and Prime Minister Sir HASSANAL Bolkiah (since 5 October 1967); note - the monarch is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Cabinet Ministers appointed and presided over by the monarch; deals with executive matters; note - there is also a Religious Council (members appointed by the monarch) that advises on religious matters, a Privy Council (members appointed by the monarch) that deals with constitutional matters, and the Council of Succession (members appointed by the monarch) that determines the succession to the throne if the need arises
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary
Bulgaria:chief of state: President Petar STOYANOV (since 22January 1997); Vice President Todor KAVALDZHIEV (since 22 January1997)
head of government: Chairman of the Council of Ministers (PrimeMinister) Ivan KOSTOV (since 19 May 1997); Deputy Prime MinisterPetur ZHOTEV (since 21 December 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers elected by the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 27 October and 3 November 1996 (next to be held NA 2001); chairman of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) nominated by the president; deputy prime ministers nominated by the prime minister
election results: Petar STOYANOV elected president; percent of vote- Petar STOYANOV 59.73%
Burkina Faso:chief of state: President Blaise COMPAORE (since 15October 1987)
head of government: Prime Minister Ernest Paramanga YONLI (since 6November 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on therecommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; the president may serve unlimited terms; election last held 15 November 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of the legislature
election results: Blaise COMPAORE reelected president with 87.5% percent of the vote, 56% of voter turnout
note: President COMPAORE faces an increasingly well-coordinated opposition; recent charges against a former member of his Presidential Guard in the 1998 assassination of a newspaper editor signify an attempt to defuse chronic areas of dissatisfaction
Burma:chief of state: Prime Minister and Chairman of the StatePeace and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992);note - the prime minister is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
head of government: Prime Minister and Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council Gen. THAN SHWE (since 23 April 1992); note - the prime minister is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: State Peace and Development Council (SPDC); military junta, so named 15 November 1997, which initially assumed power 18 September 1988 under the name State Law and Order Restoration Council; the SPDC oversees the cabinet
elections: none; the prime minister assumed power upon resignation of the former prime minister
Burundi:chief of state: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim presidentsince 27 September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), FirstVice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA June 1998), SecondVice President Mathias SINAMENYE (since NA June 1998); note - thepresident is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Pierre BUYOYA (interim president since 27 September 1996, officially sworn in 11 June 1998), First Vice President Frederic BAMVUGINYUMVIRA (since NA June 1998), Second Vice President Mathias SINAMENYE (since NA June 1998); note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by president
elections: NA; current president assumed power following a coup on 25 July 1996 in which former President NTIBANTUNGANYA was overthrown
Cambodia:chief of state: King Norodom SIHANOUK (reinstated 24September 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister HUN SEN (since 30 November 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is chosen by a Royal Throne Council;prime minister appointed by the monarch after a vote of confidenceby the National Assembly
Cameroon:chief of state: President Paul BIYA (since 6 November1982)
head of government: Prime Minister Peter Mafany MUSONGE (since 19September 1996)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from proposalssubmitted by the Prime Minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 12 October 1997 (next to be held NA October 2004); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President Paul BIYA reelected; percent of vote -Paul BIYA 92.6%; note - supporters of the opposition candidatesboycotted the elections, making a comparison of vote sharesrelatively meaningless
Canada:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),represented by Governor General Adrienne CLARKSON (since 7 October1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean CHRETIEN (since 4 November1993)
cabinet: Federal Ministry chosen by the prime minister from among the members of his own party sitting in Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch on the advice of the prime minister for a five-year term; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party in the House of Commons is automatically designated by the governor general to become prime minister
Cape Verde:chief of state: President Pedro PIRES (since 22 March2001)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose Maria Pereira NEVES (since 1 February 1991)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister from among the members of the National Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 11 and 25 February 2001 (next to be held NA February 2006); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly and appointed by the president
election results: Pedro PIRES elected president; percent of vote - Pedro PIRES (PAICV) 49.43%, Carlos VIEGA (MPD) 49.42%; note: the election was won by only twelve votes
Cayman Islands:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6February 1952); Governor and President of the Executive CouncilPeter SMITH (since 5 May 1999)
head of government: Kurt TIBBETTS (since November 2000)
cabinet: Executive Council (three members appointed by the governor, four members elected by the Legislative Assembly)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor is appointed by the monarch
Central African Republic: chief of state: President Ange-Felix PATASSE (since 22 October 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Martin ZIGUELE (since 1 April 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 19 September 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ange-Felix PATASSE reelected president; percentof vote - Ange-Felix PATASSE 51.63%, Andre KOLINGBA 19.38%, DavidDACKO 11.15%
Chad:chief of state: President Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY (since 4December 1990)
head of government: Prime Minister Nagoum YAMASSOUM (since 13December 1999)
cabinet: Council of State, members appointed by the president onthe recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote to serve five-year term; if no candidate receives at least 50% of the total vote, the two candidates receiving the most votes must stand for a second round of voting; last held 20 May 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY elected president; percent of vote - Lt. Gen. Idriss DEBY 63%, Ngarlegy YORONGAR 16%, Saleh KEBZABO 7%
note: government coalition - MPS, UNDR, and URD
Chile:chief of state: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state andhead of government
head of government: President Ricardo LAGOS Escobar (since 11 March 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 12 December 1999, with runoff election held 16 January 2000 (next to be held NA December 2005)
election results: Ricardo LAGOS Escobar elected president; percent of vote - Ricardo LAGOS Escobar 51.32%, Joaquin LAVIN 48.68%
China:chief of state: President JIANG Zemin (since 27 March 1993)and Vice President HU Jintao (since 16 March 1998)
head of government: Premier ZHU Rongji (since 18 March 1998); Vice Premiers QIAN Qichen (since 29 March 1993), LI Lanqing (29 March 1993), WU Bangguo (since 17 March 1995), and WEN Jiabao (since 18 March 1998)
cabinet: State Council appointed by the National People's Congress (NPC)
elections: president and vice president elected by the National People's Congress for five-year terms; elections last held 16-18 March 1998 (next to be held NA March 2003); premier nominated by the president, confirmed by the National People's Congress
election results: JIANG Zemin reelected president by the Ninth National People's Congress with a total of 2,882 votes (36 delegates voted against him, 29 abstained, and 32 did not vote); HU Jintao elected vice president by the Ninth National People's Congress with a total of 2,841 votes (67 delegates voted against him, 39 abstained, and 32 did not vote)
Christmas Island: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Cocos (Keeling) Islands: chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by the Australian governor general
head of government: Administrator (non-resident) William Leonard TAYLOR (since 4 February 1999)
cabinet: NA
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; administrator appointed by the governor general of Australia and represents the monarch and Australia
Colombia:chief of state: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August1998); Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998); note- the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Andres PASTRANA (since 7 August 1998); Vice President Gustavo BELL Lemus (since 7 August 1998); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet Cabinet consists of a coalition of the two dominant parties - the PL and PSC - and independents
elections: president elected by popular vote for a four-year term; election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002); vice president elected by popular vote for a four-year term in a new procedure that replaces the traditional designation of vice presidents by newly elected presidents; election last held 31 May 1998 (next to be held NA May 2002)
election results: no candidate received more than 50% of the total vote, therefore, a run-off election to select a president from the two leading candidates was held 21 June 1998; Andres PASTRANA elected president; percent of vote - 50.3%; Gustavo BELL elected vice president; percent of vote - 50.3%
Comoros:chief of state: President AZALI Assoumani (since 6 May1999); note - the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben SaidMASSOUNDE, which had assumed power on 6 November 1998 upon the deathof President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a bloodlesscoup on 30 April 1999
head of government: Prime Minister Hamada MADI (since late November 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 6 and 16 March 1996 (next to be held NA); prime minister appointed by the president
note: President AZALI claimed a one-year term at the time of the coup; but elections, promised for spring 2000, were not held
election results: results of the last presidential election before the coup were: Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim elected president; percent of vote - 64.3%
Congo, Democratic Republic of the: chief of state: Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - the president succeeded his father Laurent Desire KABILA after his assassination on 16 January 2001; as president he is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: Joseph KABILA (since 26 January 2001); note - the president succeeded his father Laurent Desire KABILA after his assassination on 16 January 2001; as president he is both chief of state and head of government
cabinet: National Executive Council, appointed by the president
elections: before Laurent Desire KABILA seized power, the president was elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 29 July 1984 (next was scheduled to be held in May 1997); formerly, the prime minister was elected by the High Council of the Republic; note - elections were not held in 1991 as called for by the constitution
election results: results of the last election were: MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga reelected president in 1984 without opposition
note: Marshal MOBUTU Sese Seko Kuku Ngbendu wa Za Banga was president from 24 November 1965 until forced into exile on 16 May 1997 when his government was overthrown militarily by Laurent Desire KABILA, who immediately assumed governing authority; KABILA pledged to hold elections by April 1999, but in December 1998 announced that elections would be postponed until all foreign military forces attempting to topple the government had withdrawn from the country; KABILA was assassinated in January 2001 and was succeeded by his son Joseph KABILA
Congo, Republic of the:chief of state: President DenisSASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war inwhich he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO (since 25 October 1997, following the civil war in which he toppled elected president Pascal LISSOUBA); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 16 August 1992 (next was to be held 27 July 1997 but will be delayed for several years pending the drafting of a new constitution)
election results: Pascal LISSOUBA elected president in 1992; percent of vote - Pascal LISSOUBA 61.3%, Bernard KOLELAS 38.7%; note - LISSOUBA was deposed in 1997, replaced by Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO
Cook Islands:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February1952), represented by Apenera SHORT (since NA); New Zealand HighCommissioner Jon JONESSEN (since NA January 1998), representative ofNew Zealand
head of government: Prime Minister Dr. Terepai MAOATE (since 18November 1999); Deputy Prime Minister Norman GEORGE (since NA)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectivelyresponsible to Parliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the UK representative is appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner is appointed by the New Zealand Government; following legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins the most seats usually becomes prime minister
note: ten years of rule by the Cook Islands Party (CIP) came to an end 18 November 1999 with the resignation of Prime Minister Joe WILLIAMS; WILLIAMS had led a minority government since October 1999 when the New Alliance Party (NAP) left the government coalition and joined the main opposition Democratic Alliance Party (DAP); on 18 November 1999, DAP leader Dr. Terepai MAOATE was sworn in as prime minister
Coral Sea Islands: administered from Canberra by the Department of the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Costa Rica:chief of state: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since8 May 1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May1998); note - president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
head of government: President Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (since 8 May 1998); First Vice President Astrid FISCHEL Volio (since 8 May 1998), Second Vice President Elizabeth ODIO Benito (since 8 May 1998); note - president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year terms; election last held 1 February 1998 (next to be held 3 February 2002)
election results: Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ elected president; percentof vote - Miguel Angel RODRIGUEZ (PUSC) 46.6%, Jose Miguel CORRALES(PLN) 44.6%
Cote d'Ivoire:chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26October 2000); note - took power following a popular overthrow ofthe interim leader Gen. Robert GUEI who had claimed a dubiousvictory in presidential elections; Gen. GUEI himself had assumedpower on 25 December 1999, following a military coup against thegovernment of former President Henri Konan BEDIE
head of government: Prime Minister and Minister of Planning and Development Affi N'GUESSAN (since 27 October 2000) appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 26 October 2000 (next is scheduled to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote- Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other2.2%
Croatia:chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18February 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Ivica RACAN (since 27 January 2000); Deputy Prime Ministers Goran GRANIC (since 27 January 2000), Zeljka ANTUNOVIC (since 27 January 2000), Slavko LINIC (since 27 January 2000)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and approved by the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 7 February 2000 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister nominated by the president in line with the balance of power in the Assembly
election results: Stjepan MESIC elected president; percent of vote - Stjepan MESIC (HNS) 56%, Drazen BUDISA (HSLS) 44%
note: government coalition - SDP, HSLS, HSS, LP, HNS, IDS
Cuba:chief of state: President of the Council of State andPresident of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (primeminister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office wasabolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President ofthe Council of State and First Vice President of the Council ofMinisters Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - thepresident is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President of the Council of State and President of the Council of Ministers Fidel CASTRO Ruz (prime minister from February 1959 until 24 February 1976 when office was abolished; president since 2 December 1976); First Vice President of the Council of State and First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (since 2 December 1976); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the Council of State, appointed by the National Assembly; note - there is also a Council of State whose members are elected by the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 24 February 1998 (next election unscheduled)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent oflegislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;percent of legislative vote - 100%
Cyprus:chief of state: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28February 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state andhead of government; post of vice president is currently vacant;under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a TurkishCypriot
head of government: President Glafcos CLERIDES (since 28 February 1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government; post of vice president is currently vacant; under the 1960 constitution, the post is reserved for a Turkish Cypriot
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed jointly by the president and vice president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held 15 February 1998 (next to be held NA February 2003)
election results: Glafcos CLERIDES reelected president; percent of vote - Glafcos CLERIDES 50.8%, George IAKOVOU 49.2%
note: Rauf R. DENKTASH has been "president" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 13 February 1975 ("president" elected by popular vote for a five-year term); elections last held 15 April 2000 (next to be held NA April 2005); results - Rauf R. DENKTASH reelected president after the other contender withdrew; Dervis EROGLU has been "prime minister" of the Turkish Cypriot area since 16 August 1996; there is a Council of Ministers (cabinet) in the Turkish Cypriot area
Czech Republic:chief of state: President Vaclav HAVEL (since 2February 1993)
head of government: Prime Minister Milos ZEMAN (since 17 July 1998); Deputy Prime Ministers Vladimir SPIDLA (since 22 July 1998), Pavel RYCHETSKY (since 22 July 1998), Jan KAVAN (since 8 December 1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; election last held 20 January 1998 (next to be held NA January 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaclav HAVEL reelected president; Vaclav HAVELreceived 47 of 81 votes in the Senate and 99 out of 200 votes in theChamber of Deputies (second round of voting)
Denmark:chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January1972); Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch(born 26 May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Poul Nyrup RASMUSSEN (since 25January 1993)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved byParliament
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; prime ministerappointed by the monarch
Djibouti:chief of state: President GUELLEH Ismail Omar (since 8May 1999);
head of government: Prime Minister DILLEITA Mohamed Dilleita (since 4 March 2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 9 April 1999 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: GUELLEH Ismail Omar elected president; percent of vote - GUELLEH Ismail Omar 74.4%, IDRIS Moussa Ahmed 25.6%
Dominica:chief of state: President Vernon Lordon SHAW (since 6October 1998)
head of government: Prime Minister Pierre CHARLES (since 1 October2000); note - assumed post after death of Roosevelt DOUGLAS
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Assembly for a five-year term; election last held 6 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Vernon Lordon SHAW elected president; percent of legislative vote - NA%
Dominican Republic:chief of state: President Rafael Hipolito MEJIADominguez (since 16 August 2000); Vice President MilagrosORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August 2000); note - the president is both thechief of state and head of government
head of government: President Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (since 16 August 2000); Vice President Milagros ORTIZ-BOSCH (since 16 August 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet nominated by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term; election last held 16 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2004)
election results: Raphael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez electedpresident; percent of vote - Rafael Hipolito MEJIA Dominguez (PRD)49.87%, Danilo MEDINA (PLD) 24.95%, Joaquin BALAGUER (PRSC) 24.6%
Ecuador:chief of state: President Gustavo NOBOA Bejarano (since 22January 2000) selected president following coup that deposedPresident MAHUAD; Vice President Pedro PINTO Rubianes (since 28January 2000) elected by National Congress from a slate ofcandidates submitted by President NABOA; note - the president isboth the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Gustavo NOBOA Bejarano (since 22 January 2000) selected president following coup that deposed President MAHUAD; Vice President Pedro PINTO Rubianes (since 28 January 2000) elected by National Congress from a slate of candidates submitted by President NABOA; note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for four-year term (no reelection); election last held 31 May 1998; runoff election held 12 July 1998 (next to be held NA 2002)
election results: results of the last election prior to the coup were: Jamil MAHUAD elected president; percent of vote - 51%
note: a military-indigenous coup toppled democratically elected President Jamil MAHAUD on 21 January 2000; the military quickly handed power over to Vice President Gustavo NOBOA on 22 January; National Congress then elected a new vice president from a slate of candidates submitted by NOBOA; the new administration is scheduled to complete the remainder of MAHAUD's term, due to expire in January 2003
Egypt:chief of state: President Mohammed Hosni MUBARAK (since 14October 1981)
head of government: Prime Minister Atef OBEID (since 5 October 1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president
elections: president nominated by the People's Assembly for a six-year term, the nomination must then be validated by a national, popular referendum; national referendum last held 26 September 1999 (next to be held NA October 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: national referendum validated President MUBARAK's nomination by the People's Assembly to a fourth term
El Salvador:chief of state: President Francisco FLORES Perez(since 1 June 1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt(since 1 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of stateand head of government
head of government: President Francisco FLORES Perez (since 1 June 1999); Vice President Carlos QUINTANILLA Schmidt (since 1 June 1999); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket by popular vote for five-year terms; election last held 7 March 1999 (next to be held NA March 2004)
election results: Francisco FLORES Perez elected president; percentof vote - Francisco FLORES (ARENA) 52%, Facundo GUARDADO (FMLN) 29%,Ruben ZAMORA (CDU) 7.5%, other (no individual above 3%) 11.5%
Equatorial Guinea:chief of state: President Brig. Gen. (Ret.)Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO (since 3 August 1979 when he seizedpower in a military coup)
head of government: Prime Minister Candido Muatetema RIVAS (since26 February 2001); First Deputy Prime Minister Miguel OYONO NDONG(since NA January 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Demetrio Elo NDONGNZE FUMU (since NA January 1998)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote to a seven-year term; election last held 25 February 1996 (next to be held NA February 2003); prime minister and vice prime ministers appointed by the president
election results: President Teodoro OBIANG NGUEMA MBASOGO reelected with 98% of popular vote in elections marred by widespread fraud
Eritrea:chief of state: President ISAIAS Afworki (since 8 June1993); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment and is head of the State Council and National Assembly
head of government: 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
cabinet: State Council is the collective executive authority
elections: president elected by the National Assembly; election last held 8 June 1993 (next tentatively scheduled for December 2001)
election results: ISAIAS Afworki elected president; percent ofNational Assembly vote - ISAIAS Afworki 95%
Estonia:chief of state: President Lennart MERI (since 5 October1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Mart LAAR (since 29 March 1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister, approved by Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term; if he or she does not secure two-thirds of the votes after three rounds of balloting, then an electoral assembly (made up of Parliament plus members of local governments) elects the president, choosing between the two candidates with the largest percentage of votes; election last held August-September 1996 (next to be held in the fall of 2001); prime minister nominated by the president and approved by Parliament
election results: Lennart MERI reelected president by an electoral assembly after Parliament was unable to break a deadlock between MERI and RUUTEL; percent of electoral assembly vote - Lennart MERI 61%, Arnold RUUTEL 39%
Ethiopia:chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since 22 August1995)
head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA 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; election last held NA June 1995 (next to be held NA May 2001); prime minister designated by the party in power following legislative elections
election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote by the House of People's Representatives - NA%
Falkland Islands (Islas Malvinas):chief of state: Queen ELIZABETHII (since 6 February 1952)
head of government: Governor Donald LAMONT (since NA May 1999);Chief Executive A. M. GURR (since NA); Financial Secretary D. F.HOWATT (since NA)
cabinet: Executive Council; three members elected by theLegislative Council, two ex officio members (chief executive and thefinancial secretary), and the governor
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; governor appointed bythe monarch
Faroe Islands:chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II of Denmark (since14 January 1972), represented by High Commissioner Ms. VibekeLARSEN, chief administrative officer (since NA)
head of government: Prime Minister Anfinn KALLSBERG (since 15 May 1998)
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 party that wins the most seats is usually elected prime minister by the Faroese Parliament; election last held 30 April 1998 (next to be held no later than April 2002)
election results: Anfinn KALLSBERG elected prime minister; percent of parliamentary vote - 52.8%
note: coalition of People's Party, Republican Party and Home RuleParty
Fiji:note: armed ethnic Fijian terrorists, led by George SPEIGHTstormed the Parliament building on 19 May 2000; ethnic Indo-FijianPrime Minister Mahendra CHAUDHRY and his government were heldhostage for 56 days; following the attempted coup, the Commander ofthe Fiji Military Forces, naval Commodore Frank BAINIMARAMA declaredmartial law and dissolved the government on 29 May 2000; an interimgovernment, headed by interim Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE, wasappointed to serve until a new constitution was initiated andsubsequent elections held; in November 2000, Fiji's High Courtupheld the 1997 constitution and ruled that Ratu Sir Kamisese MARAremained the president; Justice Anthony GATES concluded that MARAshould recall the pre-May 19th Parliament and appoint a primeminister to form a new government; the Fiji Court of Appeals upheldGATES' decision on 1 March 2001; it ruled that the 1997 constitutionhad not been abrogated, Parliament had not been dissolved, onlyprorogued for six months, and that the presidency remained vacantsince MARA's resignation took effect 15 December 2000; PresidentRatu Josefa ILOILO reinstated QARASE's interim government as thecaretaker government and elections were scheduled for August 2001;approximately 23 fluid political parties are currently jockeying forpower
chief of state: President Ratu Josefa ILOILO (since NA 2000); VicePresident Jope SENILOLI (since NA 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Laisenia QARASE (since NA 2000);Deputy Prime Minister Epeli NAILATIKAU (since NA 2000)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the members of Parliament and is responsible to Parliament; note -there is also a Presidential Council that advises the president on matters of national importance and a Great Council of Chiefs which consists of the highest ranking members of the traditional chiefly system
elections: president elected by the Great Council of Chiefs for a five-year term; prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Ratu Josefa ILOILO elected president by the GreatCouncil of Chiefs; percent of vote - NA%
Finland:chief of state: President Tarja HALONEN (since 1 March2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Paavo LIPPONEN (since 13 April1995) and Deputy Prime Minister Sauli NIINISTO (since 13 April 1995)
cabinet: Council of State or Valtioneuvosto appointed by the president, responsible to Parliament
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term; election last held 6 February 2000 (next to be held NA February 2006); prime minister and deputy prime minister appointed from the majority party by the president after parliamentary elections
election results: Tarja HALONEN elected president; percent of vote- Tarja HALONEN (SDP) 51.6%, Esco AHO (Kesk) 48.4%
note: government coalition - SDP, Kok, Leftist Alliance (People'sDemocratic Union and Democratic Alternative), SFP, and Green Union
France:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995)
head of government: Prime Minister Lionel JOSPIN (since 3 June 1997)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the suggestion of the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; election last held 23 April and 7 May 1995 (next to be held by May 2002); prime minister nominated by the National Assembly majority and appointed by the president
election results: Jacques CHIRAC elected president; percent of vote, second ballot - Jacques CHIRAC (RPR) 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN (PS) 47.36%
French Guiana:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France(since 17 May 1995), represented by Prefect Dominique VIAN (since NAJanuary 1997)
head of government: President of the General Council Andre LECANTE (since NA March 1998); President of the Regional Council Antoine KARAM (since 22 March 1992)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the French Ministry of Interior; presidents of the General and Regional Councils are appointed by the members of those councils
French Polynesia:chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC ofFrance (since 17 May 1995), represented by High Commissioner of theRepublic Paul RONCIERE (since NA 1994)
head of government: President of the Territorial Government ofFrench Polynesia Gaston FLOSSE (since 4 April 1991); President ofthe Territorial Assembly Justin ARAPARI (since 13 May 1996)
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 seven-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
Gabon:chief of state: President El Hadj Omar BONGO (since 2December 1967)
head of government: Prime Minister Jean-Francois NTOUTOUME-EMANE(since 23 January 1999)
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; election last held 6 December 1998 (next to be held NA 2005); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: President El Hadj Omar BONGO reelected; percentof vote - El Hadj Omar BONGO 66.6%, Pierre MAMBOUNDOU 16.5%, Fr.Paul M'BA-ABESSOLE 13.4%
Gambia, The:chief of state: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet: Cabinet is appointed by the president
elections: the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 26 September 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001)
election results: Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH elected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.8%, Ousainou DARBOE 35.8%
Georgia:chief of state: President Eduard AmvrosiyevichSHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council10 March 1992; Council has since been disbanded; previously electedchairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head ofgovernment
head of government: President Eduard Amvrosiyevich SHEVARDNADZE (previously elected chairman of the Government Council 10 March 1992; Council has since been disbanded; previously elected chairman of Parliament 11 October 1992; president since 26 November 1995); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government