Premier
A
premier is an executive official of
government.
In many nations, the title "premier" is used interchangeably with "
prime minister": for example, the "Italian Premier" is the same person as the "Italian Prime Minister". In the
People's Republic of China, "premier" is more common, but "prime minister" is still used (see
Premier of the People's Republic of China).
In
Bermuda, a
British overseas territory, the elected
head of government is called the "premier". In other overseas territories, elected heads are called the
chief minister. In the
Cayman Islands, this position is known as the
Leader of Government Business.
"Premier" is the title of the heads of government in the
provinces and territories of
Canada,
provinces of
South Africa, the
states of
Australia, the island of
Nevis within the Federation of
Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the nation of
Niue. In some of these cases, the formal title remains "Prime Minister" but "Premier" is used to avoid confusion with the national prime minister.
A premier will normally be a
head of government, but is not always the
head of state. In
presidential systems, the two roles are often combined into one, whereas in
parliamentary systems of government the two are usually kept separate. An example of a nation having separate roles for the premier/prime minister and the president is the
Fifth French Republic.
In the cases of Australia and Canada, care should be taken not to confuse the title of "premier" with "prime minister". A "premier" is the
head of government of a province (in Canada) or state (in Australia); the "prime minister" is the national, or federal, head of government. In
French, provincial leaders are known as
"premier ministres" , which translated literally means "first minister". This is sometimes translated as "prime minister".
In the
Soviet Union, the title of premier was applied to the Chairman of the
Council of People's Commissars or, after
1946, to the Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR.
A second in command to a premier is designated as a
vice-premier or
deputy premier.
*
President of the Council of Ministers*
Premiers of Canada*
Premiers of the Australian states*
Premier of the Soviet Union*
Chancellor of China*
List of premiers of China
