Malaysia
chief of state: Paramount Ruler Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni
Almarhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, the Raja of Perlis (since 12
December 2001)
head of government: Prime Minister ABDULLAH bin Ahmad Badawi (since
31 October 2003); Deputy Prime Minister NA (since 31 October 2003)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister from among the
members of Parliament with consent of the paramount ruler
elections: paramount ruler elected by and from the hereditary rulers
of nine of the states for five-year terms; election last held 12
December 2001 (next to be held NA 2006); prime minister designated
from among the members of the House of Representatives; following
legislative elections, the leader of the party that wins a plurality
of seats in the House of Representatives becomes prime minister
election results: Tuanku SYED SIRAJUDDIN ibni Almarhum Tuanku Syed
Putra Jamalullail elected paramount ruler
Maldives
chief of state: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11
November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM (since 11
November 1978); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
cabinet: Cabinet of Ministers appointed by the president; note -
need not be members of Majlis
elections: president nominated by the Majlis and then the nomination
must be ratified by a national referendum (at least a 51% approval
margin is required); president elected for a five-year term;
election last held 16 October 1998 (next to be held NA October 2003)
election results: President Maumoon Abdul GAYOOM reelected in
referendum held 17 October 2003; percent of popular vote - Maumoon
Abdul GAYOOM 90.3%
Mali
chief of state: President Amadou Toumani TOURE (since 8 June
2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ahmed Mohamed Ag HAMANI (since 9
June 2002)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(two-term limit); election last held 12 May 2002 (next to be held NA
May 2007); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Amadou Toumani TOURE elected president; percent of
vote - Amadou Toumani TOURE 64.4%, Soumaila CISSE 35.6%
Malta
chief of state: President Guido DE MARCO (since 4 April 1999)
head of government: Prime Minister Eddie FENECH ADAMI (since 6
September 1998); Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence GONZI (since 4 April
1999)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the advice of the
prime minister
elections: president elected by the House of Representatives for a
five-year term; election last held NA April 1999 (next to be held by
April 2004); following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party or leader of a majority coalition is usually
appointed prime minister by the president for a five-year term; the
deputy prime minister is appointed by the president on the advice of
the prime minister
election results: Guido DE MARCO elected president; percent of House
of Representatives vote - 54%
Man, Isle of
chief of state: Lord of Mann Queen ELIZABETH II (since
6 February 1952), represented by Lieutenant Governor Ian MACFADYEN
(since 26 October 2002)
head of government: Chief Minister Richard CORKILL (since 6 December
2001)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: the monarch is hereditary; lieutenant governor appointed
by the monarch for a five-year term; the Chief Minister is elected
by the Tynwald; election last held 6 December 2001 (next to be held
NA December 2006)
election results: Richard CORKILL elected chief minister by the
Tynwald
Marshall Islands
chief of state: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3
January 2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Kessai Hesa NOTE (since 3 January
2000); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president from among the members of
Parliament
elections: president elected by Parliament from among its own
members for a four-year term; election last held 15 November 1999
(next to be held NA November 2003)
election results: Kessai Hesa NOTE elected president; percent of
Parliament vote - 100%
Martinique
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since
17 May 1995); Prefect Michel CADOT (since 21 June 2000)
head of government: President of the General Council Claude LISE
(since 22 March 1992); President of the Regional Council Alfred
MARIE-JEANNE (since NA March 1998)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of Interior; the presidents of the General and
Regional Councils are elected by the members of those councils
Mauritania
chief of state: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA
(since 12 December 1984)
head of government: Prime Minister Sghair Ould M'BARECK (since 6
July 2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a six-year term;
election last held 7 November 2003 (next to be held NA 2009); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: President Maaouya Ould Sid Ahmed TAYA reelected
for a third term with 60.8% of the vote
Mauritius
chief of state: President Sir Anerood JUGNAUTH (since 7
October 2003) and Vice President (vacant; a new Vice President will
be determined by assembly elections on NA December 2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Paul BERENGER (since 30 September
2003)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
elections: president and vice president elected by the National
Assembly for five-year terms; election last held 25 February 2002
(next to be held NA 2007); prime minister and deputy prime minister
appointed by the president, responsible to the National Assembly
election results: Karl OFFMANN elected president and Raouf BUNDHUN
elected vice president; percent of vote by the National Assembly -
NA%; note - Karl OFFMANN and Raouf BUNDHUN stepped down on 30
September 2003
Mayotte
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC of France (since 17
May 1995), represented by Prefect Jean-Jacques BROT (since 3 July
2002)
head of government: President of the General Council Younoussa
BAMANA (since NA 1977)
cabinet: NA
elections: French president elected by popular vote for a five-year
term; prefect appointed by the French president on the advice of the
French Ministry of the Interior; president of the General Council
elected by the members of the General Council for a six-year term