PREMIER-PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT AS A TYPE OF SEMI-PRESIDENTIALISM: MAIN CHARACTERISTICS AND FEATURES OF FUNCTIONING
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22394/2304-3369-2021-3-6-19Keywords:
premier-presidential system of government, premier-presidentialism, semi-presidential system of government, semi-presidentialism, dualism of executive branch, political responsibility of government.Abstract
Introduction. The choice of the optimal system of government is one of the most important issues in the development of any state. The institutional design of the political system determines the specifics of the distribution of power in the “president – government – parliament” triangle and is responsible for the nature of the relationship between them. Besides, it affects the vector of regime transformation and determines the degree of stability and efficiency of the administrative apparatus.
Research goal. The study aims at identifying and analyzing the main features of the premiere-presidential system of government. It also attempts to determine the advantages and disadvantages (vulnerabilities) of this system.
Methods. The universal features of semi-presidentialism have been investigated on the basis of a combination of systemic, political, legal and comparative methods. The distinctive characteristics and features of the functioning of the premier-presidential system of government have been determined through analyzing various modifications of semi-presidentialism.
The scientific novelty of the research involves a comprehensive analysis of such a phenomenon as premier-presidentialism, identification of the core features that characterize it as one of the independent types of semi-presidentialism, and description of political conditions that undermine the stability of this system of government.
Results. Among the unique characteristics of the premier-presidential system of government are the following modified properties of semi-presidentialism: the real embodiment of the dualistic (divided) nature of the executive branch; limited institutional influence of the president on the formation and activities of the government; political dependence of the cabinet of ministers on the parliament. The main advantages of premier-presidentialism are: balanced distribution of executive and administrative power due to its institutional deconcentration; reduction of political cost and attractiveness of the presidential mandate; actual accountability of the government to the representative authorities. Two potential unfavorable scenarios of the premiere-presidential system of government have been identified: firstly, the conflict and antagonistic coexistence of the president and the prime minister who belong to different parties (as a consequence – political destabilization and dysfunction of the state apparatus), and, secondly, the establishment of control by one elite group over key political institutions (a possible result of excessive concentration of power is totalitarianism of the political regime)
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