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President of Agausia
Style
Commander in Chief (military)
Residence
(Ḱlement́inas Sasakle)
Term Length
renewable once, consecutively
Assumed Office
Prime Minister
Preceded by
Signature
The president of Agausia (Agausian: Agûzës Ṕrezident́i) is the Agausian head of state. The president represents the nation in international relations, administers the foreign political activity of the state, conducts negotiations and concludes international treaties. The president is directly elected by the citizens of Agausia for a five-year term of office (whether the presidential election is early or scheduled), limited to two terms consecutively. As of 2017 no president has served two consecutive terms in office.
Since the office's establishment on 5 December 1991, there have been seven presidents of Agausia. Boris Kundakchi (independent) was the inaugural president, serving 1992 - 1997.
The current office holder is Simon Ayovikara (Simon Aioviḱara) who took office in 2017. He won reelection in 2022 and will be term limited in 2027. Ayovikara is a member of the Social Democratic Party; the current ruling party of Agausia.
Elections and eligibility [back to contents]
Elections for president happen on the last Saturday in August. Agausia's electoral law provides for a two-round electoral system to elect the president; a candidate must win an absolute majority of all votes cast. If no candidate obtains an absolute majority in the first round of voting then the two highest polling candidates contest a run-off second ballot.
The Agausian Constitution codifies the last Monday in May, in the year of a election, as the legal start date of campaigning in Agausia. Prior to this point candidates are permitted to fundraise and make personal statements but are forbidden from taking interviews. Failure to adhere to campaign law can result in large fines and or disqualification of the candidate.
The second round of voting happens on the last Saturday in September.
According to the Constitution, to be elected president a candidate must be a Agausian citizen who has attained the age of 35, has the right to vote, and has resided in the country for the past 10 years and has full command of the Agausian state language.
An incoming president is inaugurated on the first Monday in October, following an election.
The last elections were held 24 September 2022. The next are scheduled for 28 August 2027.
Duties and powers [back to contents]
According to the Constitution, the president is the guarantor of state sovereignty and territorial indivisibility of Agausia, the observer of the Constitution and human rights and freedoms. As stated in the constitution, the president ensures state independence, national security and the legal succession of the state. The president of Agausia belongs to the executive branch of government. The Prime Minister is Agausia's head of government. Thus, the president serves to represent the country and government as a whole. The president is obliged by the Constitution to prevent any actions of the executive, legislative and judicial branches from taking effect and interfering with the powers of the Constitution. In addition, the president is barred by the Constitution from heading a political party.
The president has the power to submit a proposal for the nomination of the Prime Minister; the Parliament of Agausia, through a constitutional majority, has to support the candidacy. Laws passed by the parliament have to be signed by the president to become officially promulgated. The president also has the authority to create consultative, advisory and other subordinate government bodies for their authority with the use of the state budget. The president may address the nation and the parliament with his annual and special addresses on the issues of Agausia. They may also call for the conduction of national referendums.
The president represents the country and government as a whole in international affairs. The president does have the authority to conduct negotiations, but not to sign treaties on behalf of the Agausian government. The ratification of treaties and the right to recognize foreign nations rests solely with the parliament. The president may appoint and dismiss heads of diplomatic missions of Agausia to other states and to international organizations and accept the recall of diplomatic representatives to Agausia of foreign states.
Regarding the checks and balances system of the Agausian government, the president can veto laws adopted by the parliament (except constitutional amendments). The president wields high power in the legislative branch of government; as may disband the parliament and call for early elections. The legislative branches' check on the president includes the right to overturn a presidential veto with a majority of the members of Parliament present but at least 3/5 of the total number of the members of Parliament (87 members).
In addition to serving as the head of state, the president is the Agausian Army's Supreme Commander-in-Chief and the Head of the National Defense Council, which advises the president regarding national security policy on domestic and international matters. The president can submit a declaration of war to the parliament and order the use of the Agausian Army and military formations in defense of aggression. Martial law can also be declared on the territory of Agausia if state independence is deemed in danger. With the confirmation of the parliament, a state of emergency or zones of ecological emergency can also be adopted by the president.
Presidents may also grant pardons and reprieves.
List of presidential appointments [back to contents]
Heads of diplomatic missions of Agausia ambassadors
Prime Minister of Agausia (consent of parliament)
Members of Cabinet of Ministers of Agausia (submission of Prime-Minister & consent of parliament)
Prosecutor General of Agausia (consent of parliament)
Chief Justice of Superior Cassation Court (consent of parliament)
Chief Justice of Constitutional Court (consent of parliament)
Chief Justice of Supreme Administrative Court (consent of parliament)
Board of the National Bank
Various senior military officials
Various positions to public offices as provided by law
The appointment the Chief Justice(s) is made by the President of Agausia (with the advice of the Magistrate Council) following a two-thirds (97/145) resolution by the Agausian Parliament. All of the nation's judges have security of tenure until the mandatory retiring age of 65 (or 68 if they wish to extend), or until impeachment; unless specifically stated otherwise.
The Prosecutor General is nominated to the office by the President and appointed by a simple majority of parliament. If the nomination falls the President must nominate another candidate within 30 days. The term of of the Prosecutor General is five years. The resignation of the Prosecutor General before the end of their term should be approved by both the majority of Parliament and the President.
Impeachment and succession
[back to contents]
The Parliament has the power to impeach the President, provided they have committed a crime or violated a provision outlined in the constitution. A motion to impeach the president can be, halted and or overturned by the Constitutional Court, if no evidence is provided against the sitting president. A Motion of no confidence requires a simple majority (73/145 MPs).
In the event that a president is incapable of committing their duties as president, the Chairperson of the parliament becomes the acting president until a new president is elected; the acting president will serve until elections can be arranged. Elections ensue unless there is less than one year in the term in which the acting president serves with a caretaker cabinet. The acting president is not given the authority to address the nation or parliament, dismiss the legislative branch, appoint candidates for parliamentary approval of government or judicial posts. The acting president cannot call for a referendum, grant military ranks, state orders or exercise their right of pardon. There are no constitutional provisions for presidential succession in case both the president and chairman's posts are vacant.
List of presidents [back to contents]
No. | Name (Birth - Death) | Term of office | Political party |
1 | Boris Kundakchi (1930 - 2013) | 1992 - 1997 | |
2 | Beniamin Shevchenko (1929 - 2024) | 1997 - 2002 | |
3 | Luka Kapanadze (1947 - 2004) | 2002 - 2004 | |
4 | Vladimer Zorikin (1950 - 2017) | 2004 - 2007 | |
5 | Melor Olarazi (1942 - 2015) | 2007 - 2012 | |
6 | Eduard Avagyan (1942 - ) | 2012 - 2017 | |
7 | Simon Ayovikara (1955 - ) | 2017 - c. |
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