Colombia:
chief of state: 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
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 May
1999); note - the interim government of President Tajiddine Ben Said
MASSOUNDE, which had assumed power on 6 November 1998 upon the death
of President Mohamed TAKI Abdulkarim, was overthrown in a bloodless
coup 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