Premier

A premier is an executive official of government.

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In many nations, the title "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister": for example, the "Italian Premier" or 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).

Related Topics:
Prime minister - People's Republic of China - Premier of the People's Republic of China

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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.

Related Topics:
Bermuda - British - Overseas territory - Head of government - Chief minister

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"Premier" is the title of the heads of government in the provinces and territories of Canada, provinces of South Africa, the states of Australia, 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.

Related Topics:
Provinces and territories - Canada - Provinces - South Africa - States - Australia - Niue

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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 Quebec, however, the provincial leader is known as the "premier ministre" in French, which translated literally means "first minister". In English, both "prime minister" and "premier" are used to refer to the leader of the Government of Quebec.

Related Topics:
Head of government - Head of state - Presidential system - Parliamentary system - Fifth French Republic - Quebec

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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.

Related Topics:
Soviet Union - Council of People's Commissars - 1946

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A second in command to a premier is designated as a vice-premier or deputy premier.

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