presidentelect

Presidentelect is a term used to designate a person who has been elected to the office of president but has not yet assumed the presidency. In English, the term is usually written as president-elect; in Spanish and other Romance-language sources it appears as presidente electo, while some English-language texts may also use the hyphenated form president-elect. The concept highlights the transition period between an electoral victory and the formal transfer of power.

The status is typically informal and media-centric rather than a formal constitutional designation. In most jurisdictions the president’s term begins only after the oath of office is administered, and the transition is governed by constitutional or statutory provisions, as well as customary practices. During this period the president-elect may form a transition team, receive security briefings, meet with the outgoing administration, and begin high-level policy planning and staffing arrangements. The exact scope and duration of the transition vary by country.

Because the designation connotes imminent change in leadership but not yet power, it helps distinguish the elected leader from the current head of state. Some states and countries codify explicit transition procedures, while others rely on conventions. The term is widely used in news reporting, political analysis, and parliamentary discourse to discuss the period between election night and inauguration. In some contexts, formal mechanisms or constitutional provisions may specify transition steps, while in others the process remains largely administrative and customary.

See also: transition of government; inauguration; head of state; electoral process.