Premijer

Premijer is the title used in several South Slavic languages for the head of government, equivalent to the prime minister. It is employed in countries such as Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. The term comes from the French premier, meaning “first,” and its spelling reflects the phonology of South Slavic languages.

In most parliamentary systems, the premijer is the chief executive who leads the cabinet, proposes policy, coordinates government administration, and represents the state domestically and internationally. The premijer is typically the leader of the political party or coalition with the most seats in the legislature and is appointed by the head of state according to constitutional rules. The government is generally responsible to parliament and can be removed by a vote of no confidence or through elections, which can precipitate a new premiership.

The exact powers and tenure of a premijer depend on each country’s constitution. In some states, the presidency is strong and reserves significant authority, while in others the premiership carries substantial day‑to‑day control over government policy and administration. The premiership is a central element of parliamentary democracy in which the premier leads government operations and conducts international relations on behalf of the state.

The term premijer is closely related to the concept of a prime minister, but its usage is specific to certain South Slavic languages. Other countries may use different titles for their heads of government, even when the function is analogous.