Congo, Republic of the
chief of state: 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
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 seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 10 March 2002 (next
to be held in 2009)
election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent
of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 89.4%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU
2.7%
Cook Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952), represented by Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001); New
Zealand High Commissioner John BRYAN (since 6 September 2005),
representative of New Zealand
head of government: Prime Minister Jim MARURAI (since 14 December
2004); Deputy Prime Minister Terepai MAOATE (since 9 August 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively
responsible 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 majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually becomes prime minister
Coral Sea Islands
administered from Canberra by the Department of
the Environment, Sport, and Territories
Costa Rica
chief of state: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8
May 2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006);
Second Vice President Kevin CASAS Zamora (since 8 May 2006); note -
the president is both the chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (since 8 May
2006); First Vice President Laura CHINCHILLA (since 8 May 2006);
Second Vice President Kevin CASAS Zamora (since 8 May 2006)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by the president
elections: president and vice presidents elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single four-year term; election last held 5
February 2006 (next to be held February 2010)
election results: Oscar ARIAS Sanchez elected president; percent of
vote - Oscar ARIAS Sanchez (PLN) 40.9%; Otton SOLIS (PAC) 39.8%,
Otto GUEVARA Guth (PML) 8%, Ricardo TOLEDO (PUSC) 3%
Cote d'Ivoire
chief of state: President Laurent GBAGBO (since 26
October 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Charles Konan BANNY (since 7
December 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note -
under the current power-sharing agreement Prime Minister BANNY and
President GBAGBO share the authority to appoint ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held 26 October 2000 (next to be
held by October 2007, after the government postponed elections in
2005 and 2006); prime minister appointed by the president (current
Prime Minister BANNY was appointed by African Union mediators as
part of the existing power-sharing agreement)
election results: Laurent GBAGBO elected president; percent of vote
- Laurent GBAGBO 59.4%, Robert GUEI 32.7%, Francis WODIE 5.7%, other
2.2%
Croatia
chief of state: President Stjepan (Stipe) MESIC (since 18
February 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Ivo SANADER (since 9 December
2003); Deputy Prime Ministers Jadranka KOSOR (since 23 December
2003) and Damir POLANCEC (since 15 February 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers named by the prime minister and
approved by the parliamentary Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held 16 January 2005
(next to be held January 2010); the leader of the majority party or
the leader of the majority coalition is usually appointed prime
minister by the president and then approved by the Assembly
election results: Stjepan MESIC reelected president; percent of vote
- Stjepan MESIC 66%, Jadranka KOSOR (HDZ) 34% in the second round
Cuba
chief of state: 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
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)
cabinet: Council of Ministers proposed by the president of the
Council of State and appointed by the National Assembly or the
31-member Council of State, elected by the Assembly to act on its
behalf when it is not in session
elections: president and vice presidents elected by the National
Assembly for a term of five years; election last held 6 March 2003
(next to be held in 2008)
election results: Fidel CASTRO Ruz reelected president; percent of
legislative vote - 100%; Raul CASTRO Ruz elected vice president;
percent of legislative vote - 100%
note: due to an ongoing health problem, Fidel CASTRO Ruz
provisionally transferred power to his brother Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz
on 31 July 2006, in accordance with the Cuban Constitution; CASTRO
has not yet reclaimed control of the government
Cyprus
chief of state: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March
2003); 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
head of government: President Tassos PAPADOPOULOS (since 1 March
2003); note - 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 16 February 2003 (next to be held February 2008)
election results: Tassos PAPADOPOULOS elected president; percent of
vote - Tassos PAPADOPOULOS 51.5%, Glafkos KLIRIDIS 38.8%, Alekos
MARKIDIS 6.6%
note: Mehmet Ali TALAT became "president" of the "TRNC", 24 April
2005, after "presidential" elections on 17 April 2005; results -
Mehmet Ali TALAT 55.6%, Dervis EROGLU 22.7%; Ferdi Sabit SOYER is
"TRNC prime minister" and heads the Council of Ministers (cabinet)
in coalition with "Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister"
Turgay AVCI
Czech Republic
chief of state: President Vaclav KLAUS (since 7 March
2003)
head of government: Prime Minister Mirek TOPOLANEK (since 9 January
2007), Deputy Prime Minister Petr NECAS (since 9 January 2007),
Deputy Prime Minister Jiri CUNEK (since 9 January 2007), Deputy
Prime Minister Martin BURSIK (since 9 January 2007), and Deputy
Prime Minister Alexandr VONDRA (since 9 January 2007)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of
the prime minister
elections: president elected by Parliament for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); last successful election held 28
February 2003 (after earlier elections held 15 and 24 January 2003
were inconclusive; next election to be held January 2008); prime
minister appointed by the president
election results: Vaclav KLAUS elected president on 28 February
2003; Vaclav KLAUS 142 votes, Jan SOKOL 124 votes (third round;
combined votes of both chambers of parliament)
Denmark
chief of state: Queen MARGRETHE II (since 14 January 1972);
Heir Apparent Crown Prince FREDERIK, elder son of the monarch (born
26 May 1968)
head of government: Prime Minister Anders Fogh RASMUSSEN (since 27
November 2001)
cabinet: Council of State appointed by the monarch
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch