Everything about President Of Poland totally explained
The
President of the Republic of Poland (
Polish:
Prezydent Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej, shorter form:
Prezydent RP) is the
Polish Head of State. He or she's directly elected by the people to serve a term of five years. He can be reelected only once. His rights and obligations are determined by the
Constitution of the
Republic of Poland. In accordance with the current Constitution, the President of the Republic of Poland is the head of state, the supreme representative of Poland and the guarantor of the continuity of government and is prevented from holding office for more than two consecutive terms. This means that the President heads the executive authority, is appointed to represent Polish interests on the international arena, ensures the observance of the Constitution, and is responsible for the security of the state. The President calls elections to the
Sejm and
Senate. He has a right to
dissolve the parliament when it fails to form a
Council of Ministers or pass the
budget act. He can (with the Senate's consent) call a national referendum in matters important for the state, requiring the decision of all the citizens.
Although in the English language the Polish head of state is commonly referred to as
President of Poland, in Poland the President is always referred to as
President of the Republic of Poland or
Prezydent RP, never President of Poland (
Prezydent Polski).
Powers
The President has a free choice in selecting the
Prime Minister, yet in practice he usually doesn't give the task of forming a new government to a politician who doesn't command a majority in the Sejm.
The President has a right to initiate the legislative process. He also has the opportunity to directly influence it by using his veto to stop a bill; however, his veto can be overruled by a three-fifths majority vote in the presence of at least half of the statutory number of members of the Sejm (230). Before signing a bill into law, the President can also ask the
Constitutional Tribunal to verify its compliance with the Constitution, which in practice bears a decisive influence on the legislative process.
In his role as supreme representative of the Polish state, the President ratifies and revokes international agreements, nominates and recalls ambassadors, and accepts the accreditations of representatives of other states. The President also makes decisions on the award of state distinctions and orders. In addition, he's the right of clemency, viz. he can dismiss final court verdicts (in practice, the President consults such decisions with the Minister of Justice).
The President is also the Supreme Commander of the
Armed Forces; he appoints the Chief of General Staff and the commanders of all the armed forces; in wartime he nominates the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and can order the 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.
Acting President of Poland
Former Presidents
Since former Presidents of Poland are for the most part well-known, public figures (quite often of celebrity status) each of them is entitled to lifetime personal protection (though only within state limits) by
Biuro Ochrony Rządu officers, in addition to revieving a substantial pension and being given a private office.
As of 2007 four former Presidents of Poland are alive:
Additional information
Age upon entering office
Lech Kaczyński - 56 years old
Aleksander Kwaśniewski - 41 years old (youngest president)
Lech Wałęsa - 47 years old
Wojciech Jaruzelski - 66 years old
Ryszard Kaczorowski - 70 years old
Kazimierz Sabbat - 73 years old
Edward Raczyński - 87 years old (oldest at time of entering and leaving)
Stanisław Ostrowski - 79 years old
August Zaleski - 63 years old
Władysław Raczkiewicz - 54 years old
Bolesław Bierut - 54 years old
Ignacy Mościcki - 58 years old
Stanisław Wojciechowski - 53 years old
Gabriel Narutowicz - 57 years old
Other information
Four Presidents died in office
- Gabriel Narutowicz (assassinated)
- Władysław Raczkiewicz (natural)
- August Zaleski (natural)
- Kazimierz Sabbat (natural)
Four resigned from office
- Stanisław Ostrowski(natural)
- Ignacy Mościcki (after he went into exile when German caused capture of the country)
- Wojciech Jaruzelski (resigned and agreed to short his term)
- Ryszard Kaczorowski (resigned after election of Lech Wałęsa, effectively abolished Government in Exile in favor to the new President)
Three Presidents were elected by the direct vote
- Lech Wałęsa (elected in 1990, lost reelection in 1995)
- Aleksander Kwaśniewski (elected in 1995 and reelected in 2000)
- Lech Kaczyński (elected in 2005, incumbent)
Following Presidents were elected by the Parliament
- Gabriel Naturowicz
- Stanisław Wojciechowski
- Ignacy Mościcki
- Bolesław Bierut
- Wojciech Jaruzelski
Following Presidents were not elected (by Parliament nor direct vote), but appointed (all in Polish exile Government [non-communism government])
- Władysław Raczkiewicz
- August Zaleski
- Stanisław Ostrowski
- Edward Raczyński
- Kazimierz Sabbat
- Ryszard Kaczorowski
Further Information
Get more info on 'President Of Poland'.
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