President of Breduria

The President of Breduria is the head of state of Breduria. Though theoretically entrusted with great power by the Constitution of Breduria, in practice the president is, for the most part, merely a ceremonial figurehead who acts mostly on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet. The President of Breduria is directly elected by universal suffrage every five years.
The President of Breduria is elected by popular vote for a term of five years and is limited to two consecutive terms of office. Voting is open to all people entitled to vote in general parliamentary elections, which in practice means that suffrage is universal for all Bredurian citizens over the age of eighteen that have not been convicted of a jail term of more than one year of imprisonment. (Even so, they regain the right to vote six months after their release from prison.)

The President has a free choice in selecting the Prime Minister, yet in practice he usually gives the task of forming a new government to a politician supported by the political party with the majority of seats in the Chamber of Deputies.

The President has the opportunity to directly influence the legislative process by using his veto to stop a bill. Before signing a bill into law, the President can also ask the Constitutional Court to verify its compliance with the Constitution, which in practice bears a decisive influence on the legislative process. If the Court says that the bill is constitutional or if Chamber of Deputies passes it by at least three-fifths of the votes, the President must sign the bill.

Among the President's constitutional duties are signing bills into the law, appointing ministers on the recommendation of the prime minister and appointing various other state officials: generals, professors, judges, rectors, procurators and such. The president can grant pardon, amnesty, commutations, and parole on the recommendation of the minister of justice.

The President is also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces; he appoints the Chief of the General Staff and the commanders of all of the service branches; in wartime he nominates the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and can order a general mobilization. The President performs his duties with the help of the following offices: the Chancellery of the President, the Office of National Security, and the Body of Advisors to the President.

The President is directly elected by secret ballot using the Alternative Vote, the single-winner analogue of the Single Transferable Vote. Where more than one candidate is nominated, the election is 'adjourned' so that a ballot can take place, allowing the electors to choose between candidates. A Presidential election is held in time for the winner to take office the day after the end of the incumbent's five-year term. In the event of premature vacancy, an election must be held within sixty days.

Candidates must be Bredurian citizens and over 35 years old.