Prime Minister of Vetonia
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| Prime Minister of Vetonia | |
|---|---|
| Premer ministre de Vetonie Emprim Minister da Vetonia Vetoniens Foerstminister Betoniako lehen ministro Prim-ministrul Vetonia | |
| File:Coat of Arms of Vetonia.svg Coat of arms | |
| Federal Government of Vetonia | |
| Style | His Excellency |
| Member of | Council of Ministers |
| Residence | Orangeri, Independence Park, Andraid |
| Appointer | President of Vetonia |
| Term length | No term limit |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of 1916 |
| Inaugural holder | Adolf Svart |
| Formation | 1916 |
| Website | premier.gov.vt |
The Prime Minister of Vetonia (Javol: Premer ministre de Vetonie, Iverdonian: Emprim Minister da Vetonia, Rugrese: Vetoniens Foerstminister, Brillian: Betoniako lehen ministro, Rodenese: Prim-ministrul Vetonia) is the head of the federal government of Vetonia. The Prime Minister presides over the Council of Ministers, the country's main executive body and coordinates the activities of his ministers, guaranteeing the execution of the coalition agreement.
The Prime Minister is appointed, together with his ministers, by the President and is accountable before the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate. The Prime Minister can be dismissed by either the President or through a vote of no confidence in the Chamber and can only remain in office if he has the confidence of both the Chamber of Deputies and the President.
The current Prime Minister, Pierre Goulard, was appointed on 19 September 2018, serving as the xth Prime Minister.
History
During the constitutional convention debates of 1911, one of the most hotly-contested issues was the nature of the executive power. The convention's delegates were split between those favoring a unitary executive in the office of a president acting as both chief executive and head of state, and those favoring a collegial executive and the Setentrian consulate. A compromise was struck through the creation of a powerful presidency counter-balanced by a prime minister, who would be charged with domestic politics.
Although the Constitution envisioned the Prime Minister as an equal to the President, and superior in powers in day-to-day politics, the domineering personality of the first two presidents, August Blanc (1911-1935) and Carles Cabot (1935-1949), effectively subordinated the position to that of the President. Both Blanc and Cabot played a large role in determining ministers' portfolios, particularly foreign affairs and defense, and designated independent politicians to act as caretakers following government crises. They also often used their constitutional prerogatives to preside the Council of Ministers.
The authority of the Prime Minister was reinforced after 1949, as the post gained a clearer authority to control the agenda of the Government, and the role of the President in domestic politics diminished under President Joan Domncel (1949-1963). During this time, a political convention developed that although the President retained his power to freely designate the ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs, the President would heed the advice of the Prime Minister for naming the remaining members of the cabinet.
Functions and role
The Prime Minister is the head of government and chief executive of the Vetonian federal government. Unless the President is present, the Prime Minister presides the meetings of the Council of Ministers, coordinating across ministries and guaranteeing the execution of the government's coalition agreement. The Prime Minister holds an informal veto over any decision taken by the Council of Ministers, as no government decree or decision can be formalized unless signed by the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister is the only member of the cabinet who can request a vote of confidence from the Chamber of Deputies on the entire government. If he loses the vote, then the government is automatically dissolved. The Prime Minister can also summon joint sessions of both chambers of the National Assembly. The Prime Minister often acts as the link between the government and the President, meeting weekly with the President. The Prime Minister also serves as interim or caretaker President in case an incumbent President falls gravely ill or dies during their mandate.
After 1958, the Prime Minister also obtained a second coordinating power, as the chairman of the Conference of Premiers, a biannual meeting of the chief executives of the country's four states. In that role, the Prime Minister coordinates the work of the various executives in order to guarantee cohesion in shared competence's policy fields.
The Constitution gives the President the role of directing the country's foreign policy, as such, the Prime Minister's role is focused on domestic politics. By convention, the Prime Minister recommends to the President the members of his government for the domestic portfolios, whereas the President freely designates his preferred candidates for the posts of Defense and Foreign Affairs ministers.
Deputy
According to Article 71 of the Constitution, the government is obliged to name a Deputy Prime Minister. The Deputy Prime Minister's role is residual, without any specific powers or tasks attached to the role. The main role of the Deputy Prime Minister is to preside cabinet meetings in case that both the President and the Prime Minister are incapacitated or unable to attend. By convention, the Deputy Prime Minister is a member of the largest government party other than the Prime Minister's. The current Deputy Prime Minister is ?.
Official residence
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The official residence of the Prime Minister is the Orangeri. The Orangeri was built in the 1790s to serve as an orangery (an early type of greenhouse) in the Royal Estate of Andraid, today the Independence Park. The building was built by architect Emil Berg in the neoclassical style, popular at the time. In the 1870s, the Orangeri was reformed into a guest house following the completion of the larger Ny Orangeri in 1867.
Like all other royal properties, the Orangeri was nationalized following the independence of Vetonia. In 1917, Adolf Svart decided to set his personal office and residence in the building, where he met with the other members of his government. After his resignation in 1918, the Orangeri would become his private residence, only becoming the seat of the Prime Minister again during his second term as Prime Minister between 1923 and 1924. Following his death in 1924, the building became the unofficial residence of the Prime Minister, only being officially recognized as such in 1946.