President of Taima
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The President (Presidentti) is the head of state of Taima. Under the Constitution of Taima, executive power is vested in the President and the government, with the President possessing extensive powers. The President is elected directly by the people for a term of four years. Since XXXX, no President may be elected for more than two consecutive terms. The President must be a native-born Taiman citizen. The office was established by the Constitution Act of XXXX. The current office-holder is President Arvid Häggman.
Duties and powers
The President’s functions and powers are directly defined in the Constitution. In addition to those specified there, the President also discharges functions assigned to him or her in other laws. Under the Constitution of Taima, executive power is vested in the President and the Taiman National Council (Taimen Valtiollinen Neuvosto), which must enjoy the confidence of Parliament. This principle is reflected in other provisions of the Constitution concerning the President’s functions and powers dealing with legislation, decrees, and appointment of public officials. Custom dictates that the President upon taking office renounce any party affiliation, so that he or she may be seen as neutral in regard to party politics.
Presidential Sessions of the Government
The President of the Republic makes official decisions during Presidential sessions of the Government, which are usually held at 11am every Friday. The President takes decisions in these sessions on the basis of a presentation by the minister to whose portfolio the item for decision belongs. Presidential sessions are chaired by the President.
All the ministers attend presidential sessions of the Government. Also present are the Chancellor of Justice or the Deputy Chancellor of Justice, plus the Secretary to Government Sessions, who keeps the minutes. As the President of the Republic alone takes the decisions at presidential sessions, no vote is taken on business presented.
Ordering premature parliamentary elections
Upon the proposal of the Prime-Minister, the President may, having consulted the parliamentary groups and while Parliament is in session, order the holding of premature parliamentary election. The new Parliament is chosen for a normal four-year term. Parliament itself may decide when to end its session before the election day. From XXXX to XXXX the President’s power to order a premature election was unqualified and he could do so when he considered it necessary. Presidents have ordered premature parliamentary elections on seven occasions. The President declares each Annual Session of Parliament open and closes the last Annual Session. This is done in a speech at each opening and closing ceremony.
Appointing and discharging ministers
The Prime Minister and other members of the government are appointed and discharged by the President. After parliamentary elections or in any other situation where the Government has resigned, the President, taking into account the result of consultations between the parliamentary groups and having heard the view of the Speaker, submits to Parliament his or her nominee for Prime Minister. If confirmed by Parliament with a majority of the votes cast, the President then proceeds to appoint the Prime Minister and other ministers designated by him or her. The President is constitutionally required to dismiss a Government or any minister as soon as they have lost the confidence of Parliament.
Appointing powers
The President appoints:
- Governor, and other Members of the Board of the Bank of Taima
- State Governors
- Chancellor of Justice and the Vice-Chancellor of Justice
- Prosecutor-General and the Vice Prosecutor-General
- Permanent Under-Secretaries of State, the highest appointed officials in each ministry
- The Permanent Secretary and Under-Secretaries of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the inspector of embassies, and the ambassadors (heads of embassies)
- Heads of central agencies
Presidents have used these powers publicly, even against the internal recommendation of the agency.
In addition, the President appoints or gives commission to:
- Officers of the Taiman Defence Forces
- Permanent judges, including Presidents and Members of the Supreme Court and the Supreme Administrative Court, Presidents and Members of the Courts of Appeal and Administrative Courts of Appeal
International relations
The President conducts Taima’s foreign policy in co-operation with the Taiman National Council. The provisions of treaties and other international obligations that affect domestic legislation are implemented by acts of Parliament. Otherwise, international obligations are implemented by a Presidential decree. Decisions on war and peace are taken by the President with the assent of Parliament.
Legislation
The President must sign and approve all acts adopted by Parliament before they become law. He or she must decide on ratification within three months of receiving the act and may request an opinion from the Supreme Court or the Supreme Administrative Court before giving assent. Should the President refuse assent or fail to decide on the matter in time, Parliament reconsiders the act and can readopt it with a majority of votes cast. The act will then enter into force without ratification. If Parliament fails to readopt the act, it is deemed to have lapsed. Presidential vetoes are generally successful in preventing the bill becoming law.
Presidential pardon
In single cases, the President has the power of pardon from any imprisonment, fine, or forfeiture. General pardon requires an Act of Parliament.
The power of pardon has effectively become the instrument to limit "life imprisonments" to 12 years or more, since successive Presidents have eventually given pardon to all felons. The President, however, retains the power to deny pardon. In autumn XXXX, the regular paroling of convicts serving a life sentence power was transferred to the Helsinki Court of Appeals, and the peculiar arrangement, where the President exercises judicial power, ended. The presidential power of giving pardon is, however, retained, although its use will diminish.
Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces
The President is the Commander-in-Chief of the Taiman Defence Forces, but may delegate this position to another Taiman citizen. Delegation of the position of Commander-in-Chief is an exception to the principle that the President cannot delegate functions to others. The President commissions officers and decides on the mobilisation of the Defence Forces. If Parliament is not in session when a decision to mobilise is taken, it must be immediately convened. As Commander-in-Chief the President has the power to issue military orders concerning general guidelines for military defence, significant changes in military preparedness and the principles according to which military defence is implemented.
Decisions concerning military orders are made by the President in conjunction with the Prime Minister, and the Minister of Defence. The President decides on military appointments in conjunction with the Minister of Defence.
Emergency Powers
Under the Preparedness Act, in exceptional circumstances the President may issue a decree authorising the Government to exercise emergency powers for up to one year at a time. The decree must be submitted to Parliament for its approval. Should the powers available under the Preparedness Act prove inadequate in an emergency, additional powers can be assumed under the State of Defence Act. The President may declare a state of defence by decree for a maximum of three months initially. If necessary, it can be extended for a maximum of one year at a time. A state of defence may also be declared in a region of the country. The decree must be submitted to Parliament for approval.
Speeches
The President makes a number of important public speeches and statements each year. The most notable of these are the annual New Year’s Speech on 1 January, and the speech at the opening of each annual session of Parliament.
