President of Laeral

President of Laeral
Seal of Laeral
Incumbent Liu Mei-han since January 6th, 2019
Style	Mister/Madam President, or His/Her Excellency
Residence	Republic House
Term length	4 years Renewable once
Constituting instrument	Constitution of the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral
Formation	1954
First holder	François Guirard
Salary	LRM 300,000
Website	president.republichouse.lr

The President of Laeral is the executive head of state of Laeral. The President is directly elected by the Laeralian people for a four-year term, which may be renewed once. Under Laeral's current semi-presidential system, the president governs in partnership with the Prime Minister. The President's powers are strictly limited under the constitution of 1954, although critics say that the power of the office has expanded past its constitutional boundaries. The President's role includes safeguarding the constitution, serving as the head of state of Laeral and being in command of the military. The current President is Liu Mei-han of the New Democratic Alliance, who was elected in 2018 for a four-year term.

History

The office of a President of Laeral, although first proposed in 1886 by those frustrated by the political gridlock and lack of a strong executive that characterized the First Allied Provinces period, was first written into Laeralian law under the Constitution of the Republic of Laeral (1922-1954). That constitution featured a strong executive president, directly elected, with the ability to veto laws passed by less than a 2/3 majority in the Assembly of Commons.

The modern role of the President of Laeral was established under the Constitution of the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral.

Election

The President is elected directly via universal suffrage. In order to be placed on the ballot, the candidate's name must be submitted to the Laeralian Election Commission by a political party with over 10,000 members or an individual with over 10,000 signatures of citizens wishing to see his or her name placed on the ballot. The President must be over 30 at the time of inauguration, be a Laeralian citizen in possession of a college degree, and not be a member of the clergy of any religion.

Presidential campaigning is governed under strict laws to regulate spending, campaign financing, and means of advertisement. Since 2004, all candidates with over 5% of the vote in national polls is invited to a single public, televised debate before the first round of the election; previously, debates were organized on an ad-hoc basis between leading candidates. Laeral employs a two-round system of election, in which the two candidates of the first round which received the most votes (provided that neither won a majority of the vote in the first round) move on to a second round of voting.

Until a 1998 amendment to the Laeralian constitution, a candidate could win the presidency in the first round with a plurality if they won at least 40% of the vote in the majority of provinces. In the second round, if no candidate won both the majority of votes and the majority of provinces, the election would be decided by the National Assembly. This measure was intended to incentivize candidates to cultivate broad geographic bases of support and to reward in particular candidates whose appeal crossed racial lines. Perception that this measure advantaged Arrivée candidates led to its abolition in 1998; since then, no candidate has been elected president in the first round.

Duties and Functions

Under Laeral's semi-presidential system, where the President shared power with the Prime Minister, the President can wield great influence in areas such as national security and foreign policy. The President's roles and functions are enumerated by the constitution.

Appointing the Government

The President's greatest power is that of selecting a Prime Minister and approving his or her cabinet. Since a Prime Minister and his or her cabinet can be removed from office by the National Assembly, however, they must pick a person who has the support of that body. Due to the greater frequency of legislative elections than executive elections, however, there have been cases where the President and the Prime Minister have been of different parties. This can lead to a divided government and a diminished role for the President. However, most Presidents and PMs, even those of different parties, often learn to accommodate one another.

Other Powers and Responsibilities

- The President may dissolve the Assembly of Commons and call for fresh elections to that body.

- If a bill passes the Assembly of Commons with a three-fifths majority, the President can sign it into law, bypassing the General Assembly. The President does not hold veto power.

- The President has the duty of approving all laws passed by the National Assembly with the presidential seal, and distributing them nationwide.

- The President is the commander-in-chief of the Laeralian armed forces, although his or her ability to deploy soldiers abroad is regulated by the National Assembly.

- The President can dismiss cabinet ministers, including the prime minister, and cabinet secretaries, although these dismissals can be vetoed by the National Assembly.

- The President can name ambassadors and many other civil servants, pending approval by the Assembly of Commons.

- The President may break ties in either house of the National Assembly.

- The President may pardon or grant amnesty to convicted criminals, excluding federal elected officials.

- The President may confer honors and decorations of merit.

- The President is responsible for receiving foreign leaders and ambassadors, as well as approving treaties.

- The President may refer bills he or she believes to be unconstitutional to the Laeralian Constitutional Court.

- The President is responsible for addressing the National Assembly and the people of Laeral on national holidays.

- In the event of a national emergency threatening the security of Laeral and the Laeralian people, the President may declare martial law and rule by decree. This "National Emergency" clause was put into effect by President Réne Gramont in 1963 during the Great War, and, following subsequent constitutional reforms, has never been used since.

Absence and Vacancies

In the event of the President's death or incapacitation, the Prime Minister of Laeral, or the highest eligible member of the presidential line of succession, assumes the duties of the President until a special election is held (between 20 and 40 days after the President is incapacitated).

Impeachment

The President can be impeached by either the Laeralian Constitutional Court or by the National Assembly of Laeral. If the Constitutional Court rules by a two-thirds majority that the President is incapable of executing his or her office, or that they have abused the office, the President is removed from office. Alternately, the Assembly of Commons may pass an impeachment resolution by simple majority, with the General Assembly and the Constitutional Court joining to vote on whether the President should be removed from office; a two-thirds majority vote is required. This is the path that was used to impeach President Maurice Fesnau in 2006. If the President is removed from office, a special election is held to elect a replacement.

List of Officeholders

Presidents of the Second Allied Provinces of Laeral
Color key	Laeralian National Congress      Social Democratic Party      Progressive Party      Conservative Party      Laeralian People's Party      Socialist Party      New Democratic Alliance
No.	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Election(s)
1	François Guirard (1901–1982)	1 July 1954	1 January 1963	1955, 1958
2	Réne Gramont (1884–1966)	1 January 1963	23 October 1964	1962
3	Georges Auriol (1897–1980)	6 January 1965	6 January 1969	1964
4	Henri Laniel (1912–2000)	6 January 1969	6 January 1973	1968
5	Joseph Carlier (1917–1996)	6 January 1973	6 January 1981	1972, 1976
6	Paul Evrard (1926–2007)	6 January 1981	6 January 1989	1980, 1984
7	Michel Baudry (1929–2015)	6 January 1989	6 January 1997	1988, 1992
8	Edmond-Alain Nury (1948–)	6 January 1997	6 January 2005	1996, 2000
9	Maurice Fesnau (1942–)	6 January 2005	6 January 2007	2004
10	Eliot Ganard (1946–)	6 January 2007	6 January 2011	2006
11	Nicholas Brennan (1949–)	6 January 2011	6 January 2019	2010, 2014
12	Liu Mei-han (1964–)	6 January 2019	Incumbent	2018