European Prime Ministers. "Good company"
The presidential rating is, of course, a very subjective list compiled by sociologists and political scientists in almost every major country. But still, it reflects the main trends in such a changeable area. Disputes often arise on the basis of which to make such a rating. American presidents, for example, are always judged by polls. One of the objective criteria is the level of wages. The list presented to you estimated the income of the heads of state in 2016.
Francois Hollande
Now the ex-leader of France was in the ranking of presidents in 8th place at the end of last year. He headed one of the largest European countries for 5 years, since 2012.
During his reign, he did a lot to remain in the memory of the people. For example, he approved a bill on same-sex marriages. In addition, he took another step demonstrating European tolerance: he allowed same-sex partners to adopt children. It is worth noting that the expansion of the rights of sexual minorities was one of the main points of the election program of Hollande and his supporters in the party. In this they kept their word.
True, not all Frenchmen agreed with such a policy. Due to the legalization of same-sex marriage, numerous protest rallies and demonstrations took place across the country. This was especially not liked by the right-wing parties that found themselves in opposition, and the Catholic Church.
In the ranking of presidents, the position of the head of France is usually much lower, but by the end of his term, Hollande became an extremely unpopular politician in his homeland. His trust rating has fallen to a record 12%, making him one of the most unpopular French presidents ever. In addition, last year parliament threatened him with impeachment, suspecting him of disclosing state secrets.
Hollande's salary is $194,000.
Recep Tayyip Erdogan
The Turkish leader has been in charge of the country since 2014. The election he won was the first direct democratic vote in that country. 2016 was not an easy year for Erdogan. In the summer, part of the military elite tried to carry out a coup d'état, which was suppressed. After that, Turkey began to tighten laws against the opposition and strengthen presidential power, which was negatively assessed by many partner countries.
The coup attempt was very bloody. The mutiny killed 238 people. Erdogan himself narrowly escaped capture. He left the hotel shortly before they began to storm it.
Erdogan seeks to strengthen his power on all fronts. So, at the moment, 26,000 people are accused of involvement in the coup. Many of them are in prisons, the rest have lost their jobs, as a rule, these are law enforcement officers.
At the moment, a campaign has been launched in the country to return to the criminal code such punishment as the death penalty.
The president's salary is $197,000.
Shinzo Abe
His annual income is $203,000. He has been in charge of the country since 2006. In this post, Abe will be remembered as a politician who began to pursue a peculiar economic policy. He managed to revive the economy, which over the previous two decades had been plagued by stagnation and deflation.
One method was to artificially devalue the yen by doubling the money supply. This method is not new; the leaders of other countries have used it repeatedly. On the one hand, it can be very effective, on the other hand, it can provoke international currency wars, which is what critics of the Japanese prime minister are afraid of.
Theresa May
Rounding out the top five is British Prime Minister Theresa May. She receives $215,000.
For her, 2016 was also a defining year in many ways. In the UK, a nationwide referendum was held, in which the majority of the British voted in favor of leaving the European Union. May supported the previous British prime minister and was opposed to secession from Europe.
However, the Eurosceptics won the vote. Cameron stepped down and May took over. Much is expected of her. First of all, a smooth exit of the country from the eurozone, which will last for more than one year. It should also be noted that May became only the second woman in the history of Great Britain, after which she managed to take this post.
Russian President
It is impossible not to mention the national head of state in this list. Although he ended up in 9th place, receiving $ 136,000 a year.
But in the rating of Russian presidents, Vladimir Putin, of course, is in the lead. Yes, and according to polls of authoritative publications, he has repeatedly been among the most authoritative people on the planet. For several years now.
At the moment, Putin is holding the presidency for the third time. His last term at the moment was marked by serious steps in foreign and domestic policy. In particular, the Crimean peninsula was included in the country, after which a number of foreign countries imposed severe economic sanctions against Russia. In response, Putin decided on retaliatory counter-sanctions, which banned the import of food products from states that wished to impose sanctions.
Jacob Zuma
Such high earnings allowed him to take a very high place in this ranking of world presidents. In South Africa, the head of state is not elected by members of parliament. Zuma received support from MPs in 2009. Since then, he has been in office for the second time. His government pays great attention to economic development and infrastructure construction.
Angela Merkel
She has been Chancellor of Germany since 2005. During this time, she managed to become one of the most authoritative politicians in the European Union.
Justin Trudeau
He headed the state in 2015. He pays great attention to the equality of women. So, in his cabinet of ministers there are exactly 15 men and women each. In addition, the most popular nationalities living in Canada are represented.
Rating leader
The first place in this list at the end of 2016 was taken by the American President Barack Obama. He receives $400,000.
At the same time, in the ranking of US presidents in his history, he occupies a very low position. Many of his decisions have been repeatedly criticized and challenged. So, in the ranking of US presidents in the history of Obama, only 12th place. The leader, by the way, is Abraham Licoln. Obama, who began by winning the Nobel Peace Prize at the very beginning of his term, then disappointed many with his aggressive foreign policy.
Therefore, in the rating of American presidents, he is located so low. Americans value stability and self-confidence first and foremost. Obama, on the other hand, failed to solve the main problem that confronted him - to defeat Islamic terrorism.
At the same time, there were many positive things in his work. That is why in the ranking of US presidents, the list of which in recent years is known to everyone, he bypassed both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
It is worth noting that the current president of the United States, billionaire Donald Trump, will no longer be able to top this list. He stated that he would work for a symbolic payment of $1.
A selection of photographs of the heads of state of the world taken during summit meetings in different years.
Friendly Embrace of Israeli Prime Minister Begin and US President Carter: The result of the Camp David summit was a meeting between US President Carter and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin on September 17, 1978 in the East Room of the White House. It was signed a peace agreement on the Middle East. (UPI Photo/Darryl Heikes/Files).
The reaction of US President Bill Clinton (right) to the response given to journalists by Russian President Boris Yeltsin on June 20, 1997, in Denver, Colorado, USA. On June 20, the two met at a dinner for representatives of the G8 countries.
Meeting of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi: Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (right) and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi laugh at a press conference they gave after their meeting in the Kremlin, Moscow, November 6, 2008. Leaders of the two countries discussed options for Russia's cooperation with NATO and the EU. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)
450 Friendship of Presidents of the World
Iranian President Ahmadinejad embraces Algerian President Bouteflika during an official welcome ceremony in Tehran, Iran, August 11, 2008. (UPI Photo/Mohammad Kheirkhah) #
U.S. President George W. Bush laughs heartily at Gorbachev trying to master the controls of the golf carts used to drive the Camp David summit, June 2, 1990. (UPI Photo/Files) #
Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) together with First Deputy Prime Minister and main presidential candidate Dmitry Medvedev in the city of Penza (700 km from Moscow) at a sports festival, January 23, 2008. Putin supported Medvedev during the election race until voting day - March 2, 2008. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)
President Bush welcomes Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi. Silvio Berlusconi embraces George W. Bush as he admonishes the President of the United States during the official welcoming ceremony, White House, Washington, October 13, 2008. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch) #
French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, and US President George W. Bush raise glasses during a guest reception at the White House, Washington, November 6, 2007. (UPI Photo/Aude Guerrucci/POOL) #
Meeting between President Obama and the Chancellor of Germany. On November 3, 2009, US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met in the Oval Office of the White House. (UPI/Olivier Douliery/Pool)
Handshake between Soviet leader Gorbachev and US President Reagan. President Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev shake hands after the signing of the nuclear weapons agreement, December 8, 1987, White House. (UPI/File)
Afghan President Hamid Karzai (left) greets the Iranian president during his visit to Kabul, Afghanistan March 10, 2010. During the visit, Ahmadinejad said he did not consider the presence of foreign troops to be a solution to the conflicts in Afghanistan. (UPI/pool)
G8 summit in L'Aquila. Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso (left) reacts as Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi listens intently to Barack Obama's speech ahead of the G-8 meeting in L'Aquila, Italy, July 8, 2009. (UPI Photo/Alex Volgin) #
Meeting of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and German Chancellor Angela Merkel: Dmitry Medvedev and Angela Merkel walk along the corridor of St. Petersburg State University, October 2, 2008. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov) #
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak meets with his French counterpart and friend Nicolas Sarkozy: Nicolas Sarkozy (left) greets Hosni Mubarak during a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, February 9, 2009. The two leaders discussed ways to resolve the situation in the Middle East. (UPI Photo/Eco Clement)
George Bush Jr. shakes hands with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao during their meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, December 9, 2003. The two leaders discussed economic issues as well as the situation around the Korean Peninsula. (UPI Photo/Roger L. Wollenberg)
During an official welcoming ceremony in New Delhi, Nicolas Sarkozy (right) greets Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as Indian President Pratibha Patil (middle) watches on January 25, 2008. Nicolas Sarkozy was scheduled for a two-day visit to strengthening relations between the two countries, including in economic terms, against the backdrop of a rapidly prosperous Asian economy. (UPI Photo)
Angela Merkel and Vladimir Putin talk before photographing the participants of the G8 summit, Germany, June 7, 2007. The summit was held from June 6 to 8 in the resort town of Heiligendamm. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (left) hugs French President Nicolas Sarkozy before the two attend a press conference in London on March 12, 2010. (UPI/Hugo Philpott) #
Dmitry Medvedev and his colleague, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez at a press conference after their meeting at the country residence of the Russian President, September 10, 2009. Chavez said that his country accepts the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, seceded from Georgia. (UPI/Anatoli Zhdanov)
Nicolas Sarkozy (left) greets Angela Merkel during her official visit to the Élysée Palace in Paris, December 6, 2007. After some differences of opinion, Paris and Berlin reached agreement on many issues. (UPI Photo/Eco Clement)
The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China at the "BRIC Summit". (From left) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, Chinese President Hu Jintao and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pose for reporters ahead of the BRIC summit in Yekaterinburg, June 16, 2009. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)
Yasser Arafat and Algerian President Bouteflika. March 26, 2001 - Amman, Jordan: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat greets Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflik at the Royal Palace. Both leaders will attend the Arab Heads of State Summit. This meeting will be the first formal talks since Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait split the Arab world. (rlw/Arafat Press Office UPI)
Meeting of French President Nicolas Sarkozy and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Nicolas Sarkozy (left) and Dmitry Medvedev before the start of the Russia-EU summit in Nice, November 14, 2007. At the summit, Sarkozy urged the US and Russia to end their disputes over nuclear weapons and nuclear shields and focus on ensuring continued security in Europe. (UPI Photo/Anatoli Zhdanov)
Meeting between the leader of Venezuela and his Iranian counterpart: Iranian President Ahmadinejad (right) shakes hands with Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez during an official welcoming ceremony in Tehran, Iran, July 1, 2007. Chavez arrived in Iran on a two-day visit to strengthen the political and economic ties between the two countries. (UPI Photo/Mohammad Kheirkhah)
Group photo of G8 and G5 leaders in L'Aquila. (From left) German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gather for a traditional group photo during a summit in L'Aquila, Italy, July 9, 2009. (UPI Photo /Alex Volgin)
On March 19, the permanent president of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, announced that. He stayed in his post for almost 30 years and was the most "long-ruling" head of state in the post-Soviet space. We decided to rank the current political centenarians in countries with a republican or mixed form of government, where the head of state is elected - at least formally. The result surprised us: the list included the heads of seven African countries, one representative each from the countries of the Middle East and Central Asia, and one head of a European country.
1st place: President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
39 years of continuous reign
Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo became President of Equatorial Guinea almost 40 years ago, in 1979, after the overthrow of the country's first president, his uncle Francisco Macias Nguema Biyogo.
In Equatorial Guinea, a cult of the president's personality flourishes. In 2003, the state press announced that Teodoro Obiang Nguema was "like God in heaven" and was "in constant contact with the Almighty", with the president having "all power over men and things".
It is not surprising that Mbasogo is re-elected with enviable constancy - in the last elections of 2016, according to official data, 93.53% of voters voted for him. The next elections will be held in Equatorial Guinea in 2023. Now Mbasogo, 76, is unlikely to run for another term, having been diagnosed with cancer.
2nd Place: Cameroonian President Paul Biya
36 years of continuous reign
Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon as president for nearly 37 years. Considering that before that, for another seven years, he headed the government of Cameroon and was the country's prime minister, then his political experience is 44 years.
In October last year, despite his advanced age - 86 years, Paul Biya was re-elected president of the country for a seven-year term.
3rd Place: Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
33 years of continuous reign
Ugandan President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, 74, has been in power for 33 years. Having come to power as a result of a military coup, he promised that his government would govern the country during a four-year transitional period until a new constitution was drafted and elections were held. Then elections were held, then another, and another - and, according to official data, it was Museveni who won them.
The 2001-2006 cadence was the last time Museveni was allowed by the Ugandan constitution. However, in 2005, changes were prepared to the country's basic law, allowing the president to be elected again. In the same year, the Ugandan parliament removed the limit on the number of presidential terms.
In the 2016 elections, Museveni was re-elected president with a score of 60.62%. And he is going to run in the next elections in 2021.
4th place: Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir
Omar al-Bashir came to power in Sudan in a military coup in 1989. He headed the National Salvation Revolution Command Council, which ruled Sudan for several years, and after the dissolution of the Council, he became President of Sudan.
Since then, he has consistently won presidential elections - most recently in 2015, where, according to official data, he won with 94.05% of the vote.
Omar al-Bashir, 75, has no intention of leaving office despite being labeled a dictator and the International Criminal Court has issued a warrant for his arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
5th place: Iranian leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei
29 years of continuous reign
Ali Khamenei. Photo: Reuters Ali Hosseini Khamenei is the Ayatollah, Supreme Leader of Iran. There is no analogue of such a position in other states, the chief theologian and leader of the state is slightly higher than the president of Iran: not a single decision comes into force without being approved by the Supreme Leader. And even the president of Iran, who won the election, becomes it only after being approved by the leader of the state.
Khamenei became Iran's Supreme Leader after the death of Islamic Revolution leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Mousavi Khomeini in 1989 and has been guiding the country's development for 29 years.
Khamenei, 79, will be Iran's leader until his death, although in theory Iran's Council of Experts, made up of influential theologians, could remove him from this post.
6th: Chadian President Idriss Deby
28 years of continuous reign
Idris Deby. Photo: Reuters The 67-year-old President of Chad, Idriss Deby, has been ruling the country for 28 years. He was re-elected in 2016 and is set to run in the next election in 2021.
7th place: Tajik President Emomali Rahmon
26 years of continuous reign
Emomali Rahmon, after Nazarbayev left his post, became the most "long-playing" head of state in the post-Soviet space. In December 1992, he took the post of chairman of the Supreme Council of Tajikistan (this post is equivalent to the presidential one), and in 1994 - the post of president of Tajikistan. In addition, he bears the title of "Leader of the Nation" ("Peshvoi Millat").
Under Rahmon, the Constitution of Tajikistan was changed several times (familiar, isn't it?). In 1999, the country held a referendum on amendments to the constitution, including amendments to increase the presidential term from four to seven years. In 2003, another referendum was held to change the constitution: the president was allowed to serve not one, but two seven-year terms in a row, and restrictions on the age of a presidential candidate were removed. And finally, in 2016, as a result of a constitutional referendum, amendments were adopted that removed restrictions on the number of re-elections to the presidency from the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon.
The next presidential election in Tajikistan will be held in 2020 - 66-year-old Emomali Rahmon has already announced his desire to run for the post of head of state.
8th: Eritrean President Isaias Afewerki
25 years of continuous reign
In April 1993, Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia, and Isaias Afewerki became president of the new state. Initially, the president was supposed to be elected by parliament for a five-year term. But in 1997, Isaias Afewerki (to hell with formalities!) simply took and canceled the presidential election.
Therefore, the 73-year-old Isaias Afewerka does not care about re-election issues. As well as the glory of the dictator.
9th place: President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko
24 years of continuous reign
Alexander Lukashenko became President of Belarus on July 20, 1994. In three months, he will celebrate his 25th anniversary as head of state. To date, this is a record among all European heads of state - with the exception of monarchs. And the second place among the leaders in the post-Soviet space.
The President of Belarus has a chance to break world records: 64-year-old Alexander Lukashenko is now serving his fifth presidential term and is going to run for the post of head of state for the sixth time - he talks about this (however, it is still unknown when the next elections will be held - in 2019 or 2020). And taking into account the fact that the limit on the number of presidential terms was removed from our constitution as a result of a referendum in 2004, Alexander Grigoryevich can become president for the seventh and eighth times ...
10th place: President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso
21 years of uninterrupted reign
Denis Sassou Nguesso first became President of the People's Republic of the Congo back in 1979. At that time, the country was betting on the Marxist-Leninist course and friendship with the USSR. After the collapse of the socialist camp, the People's Republic of the Congo became simply the Republic of the Congo and proclaimed a course towards a market economy, and Denis Sassou Nguesso failed miserably in the 1992 presidential elections.
The economic crisis and political destabilization led to a civil war. Its outcome in 1997 was decided by the military intervention of neighboring Angola, which again made Denis Sassou Nguesso president of the Republic of the Congo.
Since then, Denis Sassou Nguesso has been re-elected to this post every seven years. The next elections will be held in 2023, and 75-year-old Denis Sassou Nguesso is going to take part in them.
Out of competition
In our ranking, we did not take into account the monarchy. But if we take them into account, then the Queen of Great Britain and a number of other countries - members of the British Commonwealth (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu) will become the undisputed leader in power. , Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis) 92-year-old Elizabeth II.
Elizabeth II. Photo: Reuters head of state- this is the highest official body, the first person in the structure of government of the country, the bearer of executive power, the guarantor of the constitution, sovereignty, freedoms and rights of citizens. In most countries, the head of state is one of the main components of the legislative and executive power. Without the signature of such a person, the law is considered invalid. At the same time, in each country, the forms, powers, legal form, competence and features of the choice of the head of state may differ.
Types of heads of state
Today in the world there are two main types of first persons of state formations:
1. Individual head of state:
The peculiarity of such a ruler is to obtain his status by inheritance, that is, representatives of the reigning dynasty can rule the state. At the same time, the procedure for the transfer of power is determined at the legislative level or based on the customs of the people. In some countries, such heads of state are appointed or elected;
- the president. In this case, the first person of the country can be chosen for a certain term (by the government, by the people).
2. Collegial government of the state. For example, in Andorra, the role of the head is assumed by two persons - the bishop of the Spanish diocese and the president of France. In Switzerland, the head of state is the Federal Council.
Forms of heads of state
In modern practice, six main forms can be distinguished that allow certain bodies to implement the functions of the ruler of the state:
1. Monarch is one of the oldest forms of government. Such a ruler can obtain his seat in three ways:
- by inheritance. This option is the most popular. Examples include Belgium, the Netherlands, Thailand, the UK, Japan, and so on;
- be nominated to his position or chosen by the family of elders. This form of selection is popular in countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia and so on;
- to be elected other monarchs leading the subjects of the country. The only such example in the world practice is Malaysia. The peculiarity of this country is that the head of state is elected by the sultans for a five-year term.
2. President. Such a head of state can be chosen in three ways - by a vote of parliament, by the will of the people, or by recommendations of special boards. The latter are formed from representatives of local authorities and members of the parliamentary board.
3.collegial body. Such a governing body is elected by parliament and has a limited term of office. For example, the collegial body was considered ruling under the USSR, now - in Cuba and in a number of other countries. Peculiarity 
collegiate body - the inability to make any final decisions, so this right is given to one of the representatives (as a rule, this is the head of the collegiate body). It is he who can sign documents, accept diplomas from ambassadors of other countries, conduct foreign policy activities, and so on.
4. Supreme ruler concurrently. Here we are talking about the performance of the main functions of the head of government - the prime minister. For example, a similar form is popular in Germany, where there are several subjects of the Federation (lands). Moreover, each "land" has its own government and parliament.
5. Governor General. Usually. is the representative of the British monarch. If you remember the history, then Great Britain previously had many colonies around the world, which today are united in the Commonwealth. Since 1950, many countries have become republics (for example, India), but at the same time they recognized the Queen of Great Britain as their ruler. Today, out of 49 states, she is the ruler of only 17. These include Barbados, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and so on.
In turn, the governor-general is not a ruler in its purest form, but a protege who performs the functions of the head of state. At the same time, the form of his government is very conditional, like the reign of the Queen herself.
6. Junta- this is a government body that has achieved the right to lead through a coup d'état, illegally. Most often, the junta is a military people who first led the movement, and then chose a president for themselves (as a rule, this is the commander of the movement). Such bodies are usually the case for countries in Latin America (in the 1920s), Africa, and so on. The leader of the junta assumes the main powers - the supreme commander in chief, military leader, executive and legislative body.
7. Head of state (head). Such an original form of government exists in the Iraqi state. Here, according to the constitution, an experienced person who has the appropriate training and certain personal qualities is appointed to the role of "leader". The powers of such a leader include setting the date for the presidential election and performing a number of other functions.
8. tribal chief- such a ruler is very exotic, but in terms of his legitimacy he is no different from the colleagues described above. The tribal chief is chosen by the people and leads his state. For example, the chief of Western Samoa is a lifelong ruler. After his death, a new president will be chosen.
The power of the head of state
Depending on the type of supreme ruler and the constitution, the functions of the head of state may vary. But there are also common features:
1. In the field of public administration, the head of state has the right to declare a state of emergency (in part of the country or throughout the territory), act as commander in chief, participate in the formation of a new government structure (most often formally), the judiciary, make proposals for financial and credit policy countries, banking legislation and so on. In the last two functions, the role of the head of state is often reduced to raising the issue of resignation.
2. In the field of legislative administration, the head of state can put forward various initiatives, call regular or early elections, dissolve the lower (sometimes upper) chambers, and convene parliament. In addition, the supreme ruler has the right to make proposals for changes in the legislative sphere, can promulgate (authorize, publish) laws, apply to constitutional control bodies if there are doubts about the authenticity of a particular law.
Separately, it is worth highlighting the head of state's right to, which can be:
- absolute (resolutive). In this case, the first person of the state has the right to categorically cancel any legislative decision. Parliament or other governing structure is not able to overcome such a veto;
-relative (suspensive). The head of the country has the right to impose a ban on any decision, but the parliament can overcome it with a certain number of votes;
- selective. The head of the country is given the right to veto only some separate decrees and laws. In this case, as a whole, he must approve the bill.
3.In the field of foreign policy the head of state represents the country in the external "arena", appoints ambassadors and other employees of diplomatic structures, conducts international negotiations, participates in the ratification of agreements and treaties (if approved by parliament), and, if necessary, declares war or peace.
4. In the field of domestic politics the head of state has the right to pardon, to award medals (orders and other awards), to restore (grant) citizenship, to confer titles (titles), to participate in holidays and major events (opening roads, schools, government institutions, and so on).
Election of the head of state
In most countries of the world, there are two main types of leaders - the president and the monarch. Consider the features of their choice.
1. The President may be elected in several ways:
- by voting in parliament. Here the head of the country is chosen in Albania, Turkey, Hungary, Slovakia and other countries. In order to pass the first round, the applicant must gain an absolute majority, which is very rare with a large number of applicants. Most often, the right to vote is distributed among several main candidates. In the next round, the requirements may be less stringent. For example, in Slovakia, 2/3 of the votes of the members of parliament are required to elect the head of state. There is an opinion that the president elected by the parliament is "weak". In a way it is. Parliament is elected by the people, and the head of state is only elected by the representatives of power;
- by electoral vote. In this case, the voter votes for one of the electors. At the same time, the winners gather and determine the president from representatives of various parties. With this method of election, the president can be determined even before the electoral votes are counted. The head of state will be the one with the most electors. This form of choice is valid in the USA, Argentina and other countries;
- election of the supreme ruler(president) by an electoral commission, for example, the Federal Assembly in Germany, members of the upper and lower houses in India, collegiums of Italy (as a rule, it includes delegates of regional councils and members of the upper and lower houses);
By voting by the people (choice by voters). This is how the president is chosen in France, Mexico, Ukraine and a number of other countries. In some states, the president can be re-elected for a new term as many times as he likes (in France, Egypt). In a number of other countries, one person can be president no more than twice (USA, Germany). Also, the president is elected for two years in Argentina, then there are different terms of government. In the first case, the head of state is elected for 6 years, and the second - for 4 years. Such restrictions are introduced specifically to exclude various manifestations of authoritarianism.
2. The monarch, as a rule, receives his power by inheritance according to one of the systems of inheritance:
- salic. Only males can take the throne here. At the same time, the eldest son has the priority right to the throne. In turn, women are not allowed to rule. This form of choosing the head of state in Japan, Norway, Belgium. Moreover, in most countries, such a monarch performs the functions of a formal ruler. The main power is in the hands of the prime minister (for example, Japan);
- Castilian. In this form of inheritance, women, on an equal footing with men, receive the right to inherit the throne if the monarch had no sons. If the family has an older daughter and a younger son, then preference is given to the second (Denmark, Spain, the Netherlands, Great Britain);
- Swedish. Women can inherit the throne equally with men. However, no preference is given to the male gender. So, in Sweden, the king has an older daughter and a younger son. In the event of the departure of the head of state, the reins of government are transferred into the hands of the daughter;
- Austrian. With this form of inheritance, women can receive the throne, but only if there were no male representatives in all generations. But this is only in theory. In practice, under the Austrian system, women had never yet occupied the throne;
- Muslim. The throne is inherited not by any particular person, but by the ruling dynasty (the whole family). At the same time, the right to choose a ruler lies with her. Such a system works in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and other countries. The family also has the right to remove the ruler in case of his unsuccessful activities and to appoint another head of state from the family;
- tribal. Here the king is the leader of the tribe. At the same time, only the tribal council can determine the future heir to the throne. The latter consists of the sons of the deceased (deceased) head of state.
After succession to the throne, the coronation ceremony takes place. If a minor ruler gets the throne, then with the consent of one of the relatives, the regent becomes an assistant to the head of state. The latter can be approved by parliament or appointed by the government. Sometimes a small council of 2-3 people can be formed.
Criteria for appointment as head of state
The most stringent requirements are imposed when choosing one of the forms of an individual head of state - the president:
1. The presence of citizenship. Some countries require that a presidential candidate be a citizen of their state from birth (Colombia, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Estonia, and so on). Most often, certain restrictions are set - 5, 10, 15 years of citizenship of the country.
2.permanent residence on the territory of the state for a certain period of time before the election. For example, in Russia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan it is 10 years, in Kazakhstan - 15, in Mongolia - 5 years.
3. Reaching a certain age(most often aged 35 and over). In Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and other countries - 35 years, in Estonia, Latvia, Greece - 40 years and so on.
4. Having the right to vote. By the way, not all citizens of the country may have such a right. Much depends on proficiency in the state language (Ukraine, Moldova, Kazakhstan), higher education (Turkey, Azerbaijan), belonging to an indigenous nation (Turkmenistan, Syria), official religion (for example, Tunisia).
10. Sebastian Pinheira ($2.4 billion)
The impossibly rich but oddly robotic Sebastian Pinaira sits last on our list of billionaires, with a "modest" $2.4 billion in his pocket. The head of state was previously involved in the management of several large companies - Chile Apple, the ChiliVision television company (of which he owned 100% of the shares), and Chilean Airlines - investments in the latter and determined most of his future income. In 2010, he graduated to become the chief executive of an entire nation after being elected its president, and in the same year the nation's economy grew by 5.2% - possible proof that the ability to make money extends to the political arena as well? The Chilean "Number One" is currently also at 488 on the Forbes list of billionaires. If only all his money could do something to make him look less like a Terminator.
9. Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani ($2.4 billion)
Sheikh Hamad initially came to power by removing his father from the throne in a bloodless palace coup in 1995. The Emir of Qatar represents his country during state visits and is responsible for coordinating its development in the field of oil and natural gas reserves. The results are clearly visible in his 2.4 billion bank account. A militaristic emir who studied at the British Sandhurst Military Academy, he previously served as his country's Minister of Defense, and in this post he carried out a program of intensive modernization of the Qatari armed forces. He also has three wives and 24 children. Luckily, he has enough money to pay for babysitters!
8. Mohammed VI ($2.5 billion)
King Mohammed VI of Morocco made his billions in the form of his family's financial legacy and vast national phosphate reserves. As ruler of his own country, he wields powerful executive power, which he has used to weaken the sacred halo of the monarchy and strengthen the prime minister's position. He has also introduced some reforms to make the most corrupt parts of the government more accountable to the people - although some say these pro-democracy measures are still lacking. Mohammed also has a very impressive bank account: according to reports, he owns $ 2.5 billion, and he also has a solid suit to prove it. Some people must just be born lucky.
7. Hans-Adam II ($4 billion)
In addition to being the head of the tiny European state of Liechtenstein, Hans Adam II is also one of the richest rulers in the world, and simply the richest ruler in Europe. In this, he easily surpasses more famous monarchs, such as Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain and Queen Beatrix I of the Netherlands, which is probably quite humiliating for them.
Despite being the heir to a large family fortune as a member of the royal family, Adam has worked hard to earn his money: not only does he own the LGT banking group, but he was also put in charge of his family's financial affairs at the age of 27 years old, and has shown such good acumen that today their combined family fortune exceeds $ 7 billion. In 2004, he formally handed over most of the royal powers to his son, Prince Alois. Let's hope that the guy will show the same class as his daddy.
6. Silvio Berlusconi ($9 billion)
There is a joke that the official measure of political corruption is called Berlusconi. Dark machinations (among other things, Berlusconi was accused of embezzlement, tax fraud, and bribing judges) undoubtedly helped the Italian leader and entrepreneur to be ahead of the rest: he is not only officially the fifth richest head of state in the world, but also the longest-serving leader of the Great G8, the owner of the Italian football club AC Milan - and that's not counting the investment company that controls the largest Italian private television companies - and the fact that he is constantly observed in the arms of women decades younger than him. If it's bad, then we're not sure we want to be good. See, with a list of wrongdoings that includes signing laws designed to slow down prosecutions against himself, referring to Obama as "tanned," and comparing a German MEP to a Nazi concentration camp guard, it might not be worth $9 billion to be in his shoes. .
5. Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum ($12 billion)
Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum may be surprisingly low on our list. In 2009, Forbes estimated his fortune at 12 billion, but the ruler of Dubai's billionaire playground was apparently even richer, with a net worth in excess of 18 billion. However, when the recession hit in the late 2000s, Sheikh lost a lot of money, and when markets fell he was even forced to turn to neighboring Abu Dhabi for help. Through investment firm Dubai World, Al Maktoum has control over many corporations such as port operator DP World Ltd and real estate developer Nakheel Properties, the latter of which is helping shape Dubai's landscape, including the famous Palm Jameirah man-made archipelago. . His official website calls him "Leader", "Horse Rider", and "Poet". We would add "the stunningly wealthy Sheikh" to this list.
4. Khalifa bin Zayyad Al Nahyan ($15 billion)
The President of the United Arab Emirates and Emir of Abu Dhabi made his impressive fortune from a combination of real estate investments, inheritances, and oil. Due to his father's failing health, he was forced to act as president before he was officially accepted into office in 2004. He is widely promoted as a pro-Western modernizer by the United States, but has also been described as "aloof and uncharismatic" (according to correspondence released by Wikileaks). Look, this head of state is also the third richest monarch in the world, with a combined fortune of over $15 billion. Who needs charisma if he owns something like that?
3. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al Saud ($18 billion)
The current King of Saudi Arabia is not quite the king of this list, speaking only at number three. However, with an impressive $18 billion family fortune behind him - built on his country's unprecedented oil reserves - he is by no means the poorest of his kind. The former commander-in-chief of the Saudi Arabian National Guard has always been on close terms with the US, making frequent state visits to its presidents and expressing support for George W. Bush on the second anniversary of 9/11. He also appears to be a big fan of America's current president, saying "Praise be to God for bringing Obama to power," according to a private message released by Wikileaks.
2. Hassan al Bolqaya ($20 billion)
The Sultan of Brunei comes in second on our list with a personal net worth of $20 billion. With wealth based on his country's vast reserves of oil and natural gas, he has behind him a dynasty that is believed to be perhaps the oldest known to exist on the planet. The absolute monarch uses his untold wealth to provide his country's citizens with zero income taxes, free education, and universal health care - making it the ultimate national health service rolled into one.
1. Bumibol Adulyadesh ($30 billion)
With a net worth of $30 billion in 2009, King Bumibol Adulyadesh is the richest head of state on the planet. The king of Thailand is revered as a demigod in his own country - where he is considered virtually "untouchable" and any criticism directed at him can lead to a lengthy prison sentence. The king's personal wealth is impressive: he owns large stakes in several private companies - including Sammakorn, SCG, and Thai Insurance PLC - and also has extensive land holdings (although government officials emphasize that the latter is not included in his personal income calculation). wealth). In 2008, Forbes estimated Adulyadesh's personal fortune at $35 billion, but real estate and stock market crashes dropped that number by $5 billion over the next year. Proof that the king returns some of the love he receives from his people is his donations to various Thai development projects, in areas ranging from agriculture and public health to water supply and welfare. See, he doesn't just take.
Bonus: Vladimir Putin ($40 billion)
Former (and very likely future) President Vladimir Putin claims to have a combined fortune of a modest $150,000, but the head of the Russian government is suspected of having much more wealth. Whistleblowers like former government member Ivan Rybkin and political scientist Stanislav Belkovsky allege that the president controls secret assets in oil and gas companies like Gazprom and Gunvor...to a value in excess of $40 billion. These claims have never been verified, but if they are true, he is the richest guy on this list, and certainly deserves a place at the very top - even if he got his fortune through dirty rather than honest means.
