semipräsidiale

Semipräsidiale, or semi-presidential, is a form of representative democracy in which both a directly elected president and a prime minister (and their cabinet) share executive authority. The exact division of powers varies by constitution, but common features include a president who represents the country in foreign affairs and national defense, and a prime minister who runs the day-to-day government and is responsible to the legislature.

In a semi-presidential system, the president may have powers such as appointing the prime minister (often with parliamentary approval), dissolving parliament, and vetoing legislation, depending on constitutional rules. The cabinet and government are typically responsible to the legislature, meaning they can be removed by a vote of no confidence. The president’s influence is shaped by constitutional provisions and political practice, which can lead to varying degrees of presidential and parliamentary balance.

A notable consequence of this arrangement is cohabitation, when the president and the prime minister (usually from different political parties) must cooperate despite differing agendas. This can affect policy direction, legislative strategy, and crisis management, sometimes slowing decision-making or prompting power-sharing arrangements.

Semipräsidiale systems are found in several countries, with France often cited as the classic example. Other cases include Finland, Portugal, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, and Lithuania, though each country adapts the model to its own constitutional framework. The form is considered a hybrid between pure presidential and pure parliamentary systems; its success depends on the constitution, political culture, and the ability of the executive and legislature to collaborate.