Sweden
chief of state: King CARL XVI GUSTAF (since 19 September
1973); Heir Apparent Princess VICTORIA Ingrid Alice Desiree,
daughter of the monarch (born 14 July 1977)
head of government: Prime Minister Fredrik REINFELDT (since 5
October 2006); Deputy Prime Minister Jan BJORKLUND (since 5 October
2010)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the
majority coalition usually becomes the prime minister
Switzerland
chief of state: President of the Swiss Confederation
Micheline CALMY-REY (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Eveline
WIDMER-SCHLUMPF (since 1 January 2011); note - the president is both
the chief of state and head of government representing the Federal
Council; the Federal Council is the formal chief of state and head
of government whose council members, rotating in one-year terms as
federal president, represent the Council
head of government: President of the Swiss Confederation Micheline
CALMY-REY (since 1 January 2011); Vice President Eveline
WIDMER-SCHLUMPF (since 1 January 2011)
cabinet: Federal Council or Bundesrat (in German), Conseil Federal
(in French), Consiglio Federale (in Italian) is elected by the
Federal Assembly usually from among its members for a four-year term
elections: president and vice president elected by the Federal
Assembly from among the members of the Federal Council for a
one-year term (they may not serve consecutive terms); election last
held on 8 December 2010 (next to be held in early December 2011)
election results: Micheline CALMY-REY elected president; number of
Federal Assembly votes - 106 of 189; Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF elected
vice president; current Vice President Eveline WIDMER-SCHLUMPF is
slated to become president on 1 January 2012
Syria
chief of state: President Bashar al-ASAD (since 17 July 2000);
Vice President Farouk al-SHARA (since 11 February 2006) oversees
foreign policy; Vice President Najah al-ATTAR (since 23 March 2006)
oversees cultural policy
head of government: Prime Minister Muhammad Naji al-UTRI (since 10
September 2003); Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdallah
al-DARDARI (since 14 June 2005)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president
elections: president approved by popular referendum for a second
seven-year term (no term limits); referendum last held on 27 May
2007 (next to be held in May 2014); the president appoints the vice
presidents, prime minister, and deputy prime ministers
election results: Bashar al-ASAD approved as president; percent of
vote - Bashar al-ASAD 97.6%
Taiwan
chief of state: President MA Ying-jeou (since 20 May 2008);
Vice President Vincent SIEW (since 20 May 2008)
head of government: Premier (President of the Executive Yuan) WU
Den-yih (since 10 September 2009); Vice Premier (Vice President of
Executive Yuan) Sean CHEN (since 17 May 2010)
cabinet: Executive Yuan - (ministers appointed by president on
recommendation of premier)
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ticket
by popular vote for four-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held on 22 March 2008 (next to be held in March 2012);
premier appointed by the president; vice premiers appointed by the
president on the recommendation of the premier
election results: MA Ying-jeou elected president; percent of vote -
MA Ying-jeou 58.45%, Frank HSIEH 41.55%
Tajikistan
chief of state: President Emomali RAHMON (since 6
November 1994; head of state and Supreme Assembly chairman since 19
November 1992)
head of government: Prime Minister Oqil OQILOV (since 20 January
1999)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president, approved
by the Supreme Assembly
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 6 November 2006
(next to be held in November 2013); prime minister appointed by the
president
election results: Emomali RAHMON reelected president; percent of
vote - Emomali RAHMON 79.3%, Olimjon BOBOEV 6.2%, other 14.5%
Tanzania
chief of state: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December
2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001);
note - the president is both chief of state and head of government
head of government: President Jakaya KIKWETE (since 21 December
2005); Vice President Dr. Ali Mohammed SHEIN (since 5 July 2001)
note: Zanzibar elects a president who is head of government for
matters internal to Zanzibar; Ali Mohamed SHEIN elected to that
office on 31 October 2010, sworn in 3 November 2010
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president from among the members
of the National Assembly
elections: president and vice president elected on the same ballot
by popular vote for five-year terms (eligible for a second term);
election last held on 31 October 2010 (next to be held in 2015);
prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Jakaya KIKWETE elected president; percent of vote
- Jakaya KIKWETE 61.2%, Wilbrod SLAA 26.3%, Ibrahim LIPUMBA 8.1%,
other 4.5%
Thailand
chief of state: King PHUMIPHON Adunyadet, also spelled
BHUMIBOL Adulyadej (since 9 June 1946)
head of government: Prime Minister ABHISIT Wetchachiwa, also spelled
ABHISIT Vejjajiva (since 17 December 2008); Deputy Prime Minister
SANAN Kachornprasat, also spelled SANAN Kachornparsart (since 7
February 2008); Deputy Prime Minister SUTHEP Thueaksuban, also
spelled SUTHEP Thaugsuban (since 22 December 2008); Deputy Prime
Minister TRAIRONG Suwannakhiri (since 18 January 2010)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
note: there is also a Privy Council advising the king
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; according to 2007
constitution, the prime minister elected from among members of House
of Representatives; following national elections for House of
Representatives, the leader of the party positioned to organize a
majority coalition usually becomes prime minister by appointment by
the king; the prime minister limited to two four-year terms
Timor-Leste
chief of state: President Jose RAMOS-HORTA (since 20 May
2007); note - the president plays a largely symbolic role but is
able to veto legislation, dissolve parliament, and call national
elections
head of government: Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana GUSMAO (since 8
August 2007), note - he formerly used the name Jose Alexandre
GUSMAO; Vice Prime Minister Jose Luis GUTERRES (since 8 August 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(eligible for a second term); election last held on 9 April 2007
with run-off on 8 May 2007 (next to be held in May 2012); following
elections, president appoints leader of majority party or majority
coalition as prime minister
election results: Jose RAMOS-HORTA elected president; percent of
vote - Jose RAMOS-HORTA 69.2%, Francisco GUTTERES 30.8%
Togo
chief of state: President Faure GNASSINGBE (since 4 May 2005);
head of government: Prime Minister Gilbert HOUNGBO (since 7
September 2008)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president and the
prime minister
elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term
(no term limits); election last held on 4 March 2010 (next to be
held in 2015); prime minister appointed by the president
election results: Faure GNASSINGBE reelected president; percent of
vote - Faure GNASSINGBE 60.9%, Jean-Pierre FABRE 33.9%, Yawovi
AGBOYIBO 3%, other 2.2%
Tokelau
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952);
represented by Governor General of New Zealand Anand SATYANAND
(since 23 August 2006); New Zealand is represented by Administrator
David PAYTON (since 17 October 2006)
head of government: Foua TOLOA (since 21 February 2009); note -
position rotates annually among the 3 Faipule (village leaders)
cabinet: the Council for the Ongoing Government of Tokelau,
consisting of 3 Faipule (village leaders) and 3 Pulenuku (village
mayors), functions as a cabinet
elections: the monarchy is hereditary; administrator appointed by
the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade in New Zealand; the head
of government chosen from the Council of Faipule and serves a
one-year term