President and Prime Minister: Political Roles and Evolving Relationships

Abstract

Within the framework described in Chapter 3, the operation of the executive leadership has been shaped by the political situations of the moment and by the individual priorities and perceptions of the presidents. It has throughout been characterized by three major features — a high degree of autonomy on the part of the president, a substantial political role for the prime minister, and equally a high degree of flexibility in the way in which the demands and opportunities of executive leadership have been characterized. There are however, also important constraints on the exercise of power. These features are considered below.