Comoros
chief of state: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May
2006)
head of government: President Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI (since 26 May
2006)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: as defined by the 2001 constitution, the presidency
rotates every four years among the elected presidents from the three
main islands in the Union; election last held on 14 May 2006 (next
to be held on 7 November 2010)
election results: Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI elected president; percent of
vote - Ahmed Abdallah SAMBI 58.0%, Ibrahim HALIDI 28.3%, Mohamed
DJAANFAMI 13.7%
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
chief of state: President Joseph
KABILA (since 17 January 2001);
head of government: Prime Minister Adolphe MUZITO (since 10 October
2008)
cabinet: Ministers of State appointed by the president
elections: under the new constitution the president elected by
popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term);
elections last held on 30 July 2006 and on 29 October 2006 (next to
be held on 27 November 2011); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Joseph KABILA elected president; percent of vote
(second round) - Joseph KABILA 58%, Jean-Pierre BEMBA Gombo 42%
note: Joseph KABILA succeeded his father, Laurent Desire KABILA,
following the latter's assassination in January 2001; negotiations
with rebel leaders led to the establishment of a transitional
government in July 2003 with free elections held on 30 July 2006 and
a run-off on 29 October 2006 confirming Joseph KABILA as president
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); note - the position of prime minister was abolished in
September 2009
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 on 12 July 2009
(next to be held in 2016)
election results: Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO reelected president; percent
of vote - Denis SASSOU-NGUESSO 78.6%, Joseph Kignoumbi Kia MBOUNGOU
7.5%, Nicephore Fylla de SAINT-EUDES 7%
Cook Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February
1952) represented by Sir Frederick GOODWIN (since 9 February 2001);
New Zealand High Commissioner Linda TE PUNI (since 3 June 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Henry PUNA (since 30 November
2010)
cabinet: Cabinet chosen by the prime minister; collectively
responsible to Parliament
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the UK representative
appointed by the monarch; the New Zealand high commissioner
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 Australian
Attorney-General's Department
Costa Rica
chief of state: President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (since
8 May 2010); First Vice President Alfio PIVA Mesen (since 8 May
2010); Second Vice President Luis LIBERMAN Ginsburg (since 8 May
2010); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of
government
head of government: President Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (since 8 May
2010); First Vice President Alfio PIVA Mesen (since 8 May 2010);
Second Vice President Luis LIBERMAN Ginsburg (since 8 May 2010)
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 on 7
February 2010 (next to be held in February 2014)
election results: Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda elected president;
percent of vote - Laura CHINCHILLA Miranda (PLN) 46.7%; Otton SOLIS
(PAC) 25.1%, Otto GUEVARA Guth (ML) 20.8%
Cote d'Ivoire
chief of state: President Alassane OUATTARA (since 4
December 2010); note - former President Laurent GBAGBO has refused
to cede power
head of government: Prime Minister Guillaume SORO (since 4 April
2007); note - on 4 December 2010, Gilbert Marie N'GBO AKE was also
appointed to the position by former president GBAGBO
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president; note -
under the current power-sharing agreement the prime minister and the
president share the authority to appoint ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 31 October and 28 November
2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Alassane OUATTARA elected president; percent of
vote - Alassane OUATTARA 54.1%, Laurent GBAGBO 45.9%; note -
President OUATTARA was declared winner by the election commission
and took the oath of office on 4 December, Prime Minister SORO
resigned from the incumbent administration and was subsequently
appointed to the same position by OUATTARA; former president GBAGBO
refused to cede and on 5 December appointed Gilbert Marie N'GBO AKE
as Prime Minister
Croatia
chief of state: President Ivo JOSIPOVIC (since 18 February
2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Jadranka KOSOR (since 6 July
2009); Deputy Prime Ministers Bozidar PANKRETIC (since 6 July 2009),
Darko MILINOVIC (since 13 November 2009), Domagoj Ivan MILOSEVIC
(since 29 December 2010), Petar COBANKOVIC (since 29 December 2010),
Slobodan UZELAC (since 12 January 2008), Gordan JANDROKOVIC (since
29 December 2010)
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 on 10 January 2010
(next to be held in December 2015); the leader of the majority party
or the leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime
minister by the president and then approved by the assembly
election results: Ivo JOSIPOVIC elected president; percent of vote
in the second round - Ivo JOSIPOVIC 60%, Milan BANDIC 40%
Cuba
chief of state: President of the Council of State and President
of the Council of Ministers Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24
February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and
First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Jose Ramon MACHADO
Ventura (since 24 February 2008); 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 Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz (president since 24
February 2008); First Vice President of the Council of State and
First Vice President of the Council of Ministers Jose Ramon MACHADO
Ventura (since 24 February 2008)
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 five-year term; election last held on 24 February
2008 (next to be held in 2013)
election results: Gen. Raul CASTRO Ruz elected president; percent of
legislative vote - 100%; Jose Ramon MACHADO Ventura elected vice
president; percent of legislative vote - 100%
Curacao
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX of the Netherlands (since 30
April 1980); represented by Governor General Frits GOEDGEDRAG (since
10 October 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Gerrit SCHOTTE (since 10 October
2010)
cabinet: Executive Council
elections: the monarch is hereditary; governor general appointed by
the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the
majority party is usually elected prime minister by the parliament