President

President is a title held by many leaders of organizations, companies, universities, and countries. Etymologically, a "president" is one who presides, who sits in leadership (from Latin prae- "before" + sedere "to sit"). Originally, the term usually referred to the presiding officer of a ceremony or meeting (i.e. chairman); but today it most commonly refers to an official with executive powers.

Presidents in dictatorships

In dictatorships, the title is frequently taken by self-appointed and/or military-backed leaders. Such is the case in many African states; Idi Amin in Uganda, for example. Sometimes the title is even extended into the more presumptuous form of "president for life." In some communist states, the head of the Communist party was also given the presidency, such as Fidel Castro in Cuba and Mikhail Gorbachev in the Soviet Union. On other occasions in the Soviet Union, the real power was exercised by the General Secretary of the Communist Party, with some local notable holding the presidency.

Related Topics:
Dictatorship - Idi Amin - Uganda - President for life - Fidel Castro - Cuba - Mikhail Gorbachev - Soviet Union

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President for Life is a title assumed by some dictators to ensure that their authority or legitimacy is never questioned.

Related Topics:
President for Life - Dictator

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The first well-known incident of a leader extending his term indefinitely was Roman dictator Julius Caesar, who made himself "Perpetual Dictator" (commonly mistranslated as 'Dictator-for-life') in 45 BC. His actions would later be mimicked by the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte who was appointed "First Consul for life" in 1802.

Related Topics:
Julius Caesar - Perpetual Dictator - 45 BC - Napoleon Bonaparte - 1802

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Ironically, most leaders who proclaim themselves President for Life do not in fact successfully serve a life term. Even so presidents like Alexandre Sabès dit Pétion, Rafael Carrera, Josip Broz Tito and François Duvalier died in office.

Related Topics:
Alexandre Sabès dit Pétion - Rafael Carrera - Josip Broz Tito - François Duvalier

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The only living officially proclaimed president for life is Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan.

Related Topics:
Saparmurat Niyazov - Turkmenistan

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Many of them do not proclaim it officially "for life" even if it is evident that they are, like Fidel Castro of Cuba.

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Several presidents have ruled until their death in democratic countries, but they have not actually been made and/or proclaimed themselves as President for Life. For instance, Archbishop President Makarios became president of Cyprus late in his life (in 1960) and ruled until his death in 1977, having successfully won re-election several times.

Related Topics:
Death - Democratic - Archbishop President Makarios - President of Cyprus - 1960 - 1977 - Re-election

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