President of Saint-Baptiste
| President of Saint-Jean-Baptiste | |
|---|---|
| Président de Saint-Jean-Baptiste | |
 | |
| Office of the President | |
| Style | The Right Honourable |
| Residence | Place Rose, Port-Anne |
| Appointer | Direct popular vote |
| Term length | Five years Renewable once |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of Saint-Baptiste |
| Inaugural holder | Jean-Louis Galopin |
| Formation | 1 July 1947 |
| Salary | $100,000 annual |
| Website | www.president.sb |
The President of Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Principean: Président de Saint-Jean-Baptiste) is the head of state of Saint-Baptiste. Originally the highest post in a presidential republic, the President since the adoption of Saint-Baptiste's 1990 constitution takes the role of equal partner alongside the Prime Minister. The current President is Victor Azaïs, since 2021.
History and role
In Saint-Baptiste's original 1947 constitution, the role of President was granted sweeping powers, including a final veto over the Chamber of Deputies, the creation of the country's cabinet, and only minor checks and balances over the position. The president was initially voted directly by the electorate for a six-year term, renewable once. The passing of the 1948 Security Act overturned much of these checks on power, and Claude-Antoine Bachelet retained the role of President for forty-one years as a de facto dictator.
Democratization and the passing of a new constitution in 1990 has changed the role of President significantly, stripping the position's legislative functions and placing control over most government agencies and decisions in the hands of the newly-created post of Prime Minister. In the present day, the President of Saint-Baptiste acts as the executive head of the state, intended to be the "sober second reader" of legislation and a representative of Saint-Baptiste abroad. The President officially appoints and confirms the Prime Minister and their government, and has the right and responsibility to call elections, including a snap election. They also retain a notable veto power over the Chamber of Deputies, which can be repealed by a two-thirds majority in the legislature.
If the incumbent President is incapacitated or resigns during their term, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, more commonly referred to as the speaker, is appointed Acting President (Président par intérim) until a new election can be held within a hundred days of the vacancy.
List of Presidents
| No. | Portrait | Name (Birth–Death) |
Took office | Left office | Political party | Election |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
|
Séverin Jaccoud (1885–1953) |
1 July 1947 | 20 April 1950 (resigned) |
PCN | 1947 |
| 2 | 
|
Claude-Antoine Bachelet (1893–1984) |
20 April 1950 | 18 January 1984 (died in office) |
PCN | 1953 1959 1965 1971 1977 1983 |
| – | 
|
Cyrille Bachelet (born 1943) Acting President |
18 January 1984 | 15 March 1984 | PCN | – |
| Vacant under National Transitional Government (15 March 1984 – 24 April 1986) | ||||||
| – | 
|
David Rousselot (born 1931) Acting President |
24 April 1986 | 18 May 1986 | PAP | – |
| 3 | 
|
Samuel Lucy (1912–2000) |
18 May 1986 | 31 May 1992 | Independent | 1986 |
| 4 |
|
Cyrille Bachelet (born 1943) |
31 May 1992 | 30 May 2004 | PAP | 1992 1998 |
| 5 | 
|
Jean-Marc Granet (1954–2010) |
30 May 2004 | 28 February 2010 (assassinated) |
PAP | 2004 |
| – | 
|
Daniel Tremblay (born 1951) Acting President |
28 February 2010 | 16 May 2010 | POSB | – |
| 6 | 
|
Emmanuel Ménard (born 1944) |
16 May 2010 | 29 May 2022 | PAP | 2010 2016 |
| 7 | 
|
Victor Azaïs (1976–) |
29 May 2022 | Incumbent | Independent | 2022 |
List of living former Presidents
As of 2022, four former Presidents and acting Presidents are still alive. The last President to pass away was Jean-Marc Granet in 2010, at the age of 56.
Cyrille Bachelet
Served January-March 1984 (acting President) and 1992-2004 (President in own right)
Born 1943 (age 81)
David Rousselot
Served April-May 1986 (acting President)
Born 1931 (age 93)
Daniel Tremblay
Served February-May 2010 (acting President)
Born 1951 (age 73)
Emmanuel Ménard
Served 2010-2022
Born 1944 (age 80)
