Papua New Guinea
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by acting governor general Michael OGIO
(since 20 December 2010)
note: governor general Sir Paulias MATANE (since 29 June 2004) was
replaced on 10 December 2010 when his reappointment to the office in
May 2010 was declared null and void
head of government: Acting Prime Minister Sam ABAL (since 14
December 2010)
note: Prime Minister Sir Michael SOMARE (since 2 August 2002)
stepped aside on 14 December 2010 because he was to be referred to a
tribunal for not submitting three annual fiscal returns; Deputy
Prime Minister Don POYLE (since 20 June 2010) was replaced on 9
December 2010 by Sam ABAL
cabinet: National Executive Council appointed by the governor
general on the recommendation of the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general
nominated by parliament and appointed by the chief of state;
following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or
leader of the majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by
the governor general acting in accordance with a decision of the
parliament
Paraguay
chief of state: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez
(since 15 August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15
August 2008); note - the president is both the chief of state and
head of government
head of government: President Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez (since 15
August 2008); Vice President Federico FRANCO (since 15 August 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for a single five-year term; election last held on
20 April 2008 (next to be held in April 2013)
election results: Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez elected president;
percent of vote - Fernando Armindo LUGO Mendez 40.8%, Blanca OVELAR
30.6%, Lino OVIEDO 21.9%, Pedro FADUL 2.4%, other 4.3%
Peru
chief of state: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July
2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas (since 28 July
2006); Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28
July 2006); note - the president is both the chief of state and head
of government
head of government: President Alan GARCIA Perez (since 28 July
2006); First Vice President Luis GIAMPIETRI Rojas (since 28 July
2006); Second Vice President Lourdes MENDOZA del Solar (since 28
July 2006)
note: Prime Minister Jose Antonio CHANG Escobedo (since 14 September
2010) does not exercise executive power; this power rests with the
president
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for nonconsecutive reelection); presidential and
congressional elections last held on 9 April 2006 with runoff
election held on 4 June 2006; next to be held in April 2011
election results: Alan GARCIA Perez elected president in runoff
election; percent of vote - Alan GARCIA Perez 52.5%, Ollanta HUMALA
Tasso 47.5%
Philippines
chief of state: President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June
2010); Vice President Jejomar BINAY (since 30 June 2010); note -
president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Benigno AQUINO (since 30 June 2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with consent of
Commission of Appointments
elections: president and vice president elected on separate tickets
by popular vote for a single six-year term; election held on 10 May
2010; Benigno AQUINO declared winner and took office on 30 June
2010; next election to be held in May 2016
election results: Benigno AQUINO elected president; percent of vote
- Benigno AQUINO 42.1%, Joseph ESTRADA 26.3%, seven others 31.6%;
Jejomar BINAY elected vice president; percent of vote Jejomar BINAY
41.6%, Manuel ROXAS 39.6%, six others 18.8%
Pitcairn Islands
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6
February 1952); represented by UK High Commissioner to New Zealand
and Governor (nonresident) of the Pitcairn Islands George FERGUSSON
(since April 2006); Commissioner (nonresident) Leslie JAQUES (since
September 2003) serves as liaison between the governor and the
Island Council
head of government: Governor George FERGUSSON (since April 2006);
Mayor and Chairman of the Island Council Mike WARREN (since 1
January 2008)
cabinet: NA
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; governor and commissioner
appointed by the monarch; island mayor elected by popular vote for a
three-year term; election last held in December 2007 (next to be
held in December 2010)
election results: Mike WARREN elected mayor and chairman of the
Island Council
Poland
chief of state: President Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI (since 6
August 2010)
head of government: Prime Minister Donald TUSK (since 16 November
2007); Deputy Prime Minister Waldemar PAWLAK (since 16 November 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers responsible to the prime minister and
the Sejm; the prime minister proposes, the president appoints, and
the Sejm approves the Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 20 June and 4
July 2010 (next to be held in 2015); prime minister and deputy prime
ministers appointed by the president and confirmed by the Sejm
election results: Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI elected president; percent of
popular vote - Bronislaw KOMOROWSKI 53%, Jaroslaw KACZYNSKI 47%
Portugal
chief of state: President Anibal CAVACO SILVA (since 9
March 2006)
head of government: Prime Minister Jose SOCRATES Carvalho Pinto de
Sousa (since 12 March 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president on the
recommendation of the prime minister
note: there is also a Council of State that acts as a consultative
body to the president
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 January 2006
(next to be held in January 2011); following legislative elections,
the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority coalition
usually appointed prime minister by the president
election results: Anibal CAVACO SILVA elected president; percent of
vote - Anibal CAVACO SILVA 50.6%, Manuel ALEGRE 20.7%, Mario Alberto
Nobre Lopes SOARES 14.3%, Jeronimo DE SOUSA 8.5%, Franciso LOUCA 5.3%
Puerto Rico
chief of state: President Barack H. OBAMA (since 20
January 2009); Vice President Joseph R. BIDEN (since 20 January 2009)
head of government: Governor Luis FORTUNO (since 2 January 2009)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor with the consent of the
legislature
elections: under the US Constitution, residents of unincorporated
territories, such as Puerto Rico, do not vote in elections for US
president and vice president; however, they may vote in Democratic
and Republican party presidential primary elections; governor
elected by popular vote for a four-year term (no term limits);
election last held on 4 November 2008 (next to be held in November
2012)
election results: Luis FORTUNO elected governor with 52.8% of the
vote
Qatar
chief of state: Amir HAMAD bin Khalifa Al Thani (since 27 June
1995 when, as heir apparent, he ousted his father, Amir KHALIFA bin
Hamad Al Thani, in a bloodless coup); Heir Apparent TAMIM bin Hamad
bin Khalifa Al Thani, fourth son of the amir (selected Heir Apparent
by the amir on 5 August 2003); note - Amir HAMAD also holds the
positions of Minister of Defense and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces
head of government: Prime Minister HAMAD bin Jasim bin Jabir Al
Thani (since 3 April 2007); Deputy Prime Minister Abdallah bin Hamad
al-ATIYAH (since 3 April 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the amir
elections: the amir is hereditary
note: in April 2007, Qatar held nationwide elections for a 29-member
Central Municipal Council (CMC), which has limited consultative
powers aimed at improving the provision of municipal services; the
first election for the CMC was held in March 1999
Romania
chief of state: President Traian BASESCU (since 20 December
2004)
head of government: Prime Minister Emil BOC (since 22 December
2008); Deputy Prime Minister Marko BELA (since 23 December 2009)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 22 November 2009
with runoff on 6 December 2009 (next to be held in November-December
2014); prime minister appointed by the president with the consent of
the Parliament
election results: Traian BASESCU reelected president; percent of
vote - Traian BASESCU 50.3%, Mircea GEOANA 49.7%