Presidente

Presidente is a title used in many Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking countries to designate the executive head of a state or political entity. It is equivalent to the English term “president” and can refer to different offices depending on a country's constitutional design. Etymology: from Latin praesidēns, meaning “sitting in front” or “presiding over.”

In republics, presidents are typically elected for a fixed term by popular vote, an electoral college, or by lawmakers, and may be limited to one or more terms. Term lengths vary by country, often ranging from four to seven years, with rules about re-election shaping incumbency. Succession rules govern vacancies caused by death, resignation, or removal from office.

Power and function differ by system. In presidential systems, the president is usually both head of state and head of government and exercises executive authority independently of the legislature. In semi-presidential systems, the president may appoint a prime minister and share executive powers with a separately chosen government. In parliamentary systems, the president’s role is often largely ceremonial, with the prime minister or equivalent performing most executive duties.

Beyond national offices, the title is also used for heads of state of subnational entities or international bodies, and in corporate or organizational contexts as the president of a company or association. Culturally, “Presidente” appears in media and discourse as a familiar form of address for leaders in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking regions.