Deputy prime minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, as both positions are "number two" offices, but there are some differences.
The states of Australia and provinces of Canada each have the analogous office of deputy premier. In the devolved administrations of the United Kingdom, an analogous position is that of the deputy First Minister, albeit the position in Northern Ireland has equivalent powers to the First Minister differing only in the titles of the offices. In Canada, the position of deputy prime minister should not be confused with the Canadian deputy minister of the prime minister of Canada, a nonpolitical civil servant position.
In Austria and Germany, the officeholder is known as vice-chancellor.
A deputy prime minister traditionally serves as acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent or incapable of exercising power. The deputy prime minister is often asked to succeed to the prime minister's office following the prime minister's sudden death or unexpected resignation, but that is not necessarily mandated by the constitution. This government position is often a job that is held simultaneously with another ministry, and is usually given to one of the most senior or experienced ministers of the cabinet. The holder of this office may also be deputy leader of the governing party, or perhaps the leader of the junior party of a coalition government.
Little scholarly attention has focused on deputy prime ministers, as they are sometimes less involved in the political power plays of government and more focus on the work at hand. A 2009 study in Political Science identified nine 'qualities' of deputy prime ministership: temperament; relationships with their Cabinet and caucus; relationships with their party; popularity with the public; media skills; achievements as deputy prime minister; relationship with the prime minister; leadership ambition; and method of succession.[1]
By contrast, the structure of the Government of Russia[2] and Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine provides for several deputy prime ministers or vice prime ministers.[3] In the case of the Russian government, the prime minister is responsible for defining the scope of the duties for each of their deputies,[4] who also may head a specific ministry: e.g. the former Minister of Finance of Russia, Alexey Kudrin, also serves as one of the deputies of the prime ministers or vice-premiers. One or two of these deputy prime ministers may hold the title of a first deputy prime minister. Russian federal law indicates that in accordance with the order established in advance, one of the deputy prime ministers may temporarily substitute for the prime minister in their absence. Customarily, however, it is to one of the "first" Deputy prime ministers that the prime-ministerial duties may be delegated. At the same time, in the case of prime minister's resignation, the law allows the President of Russia to choose any of the current vice-premiers to serve as an acting prime minister until the confirmation of the new government.[5]
There is also the special case of Belgium: in the Federal Government of Belgium, a deputy prime minister not only replaces the prime minister in the case they are incapacitated, but also acts as the link between the government and their political party. In short, in Belgium, a Deputy prime minister is the voice of their political party in the federal government, and they are the voice of the government in their political party. The prime minister and the deputy prime ministers form what is called the "inner cabinet" (kernkabinet; conseil des ministres restreint or kern), an instance where the most important political decisions are discussed and taken.
Lists of deputy prime ministers
State | Office | Officeholder | Assumed office |
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Deputy prime minister | Abdul Ghani Baradar (acting, first) | 7 September 2021 |
Abdul Salam Hanafi (acting, second) | |||
Abdul Kabir (acting, third) | 4 October 2021 | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Arben Ahmetaj | 18 September 2021 |
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Deputy prime minister | Robin Yearwood | |
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Deputy prime minister | Tigran Avinyan | 11 May 2018 |
Mher Grigoryan | |||
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Deputy prime minister | Richard Marles | 23 May 2022 |
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Vice-chancellor | Werner Kogler | 7 January 2020 |
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Deputy prime minister | Chester Cooper | 17 September 2021 |
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Deputy prime minister | Santia Bradshaw | 26 January 2022 |
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Deputy prime minister | Pierre-Yves Dermagne | 1 October 2020 |
Georges Gilkinet | |||
Vincent Van Peteghem | |||
Frank Vandenbroucke | |||
Petra De Sutter | |||
David Clarinval | 22 April 2022 | ||
Paul Van Tigchelt | 22 October 2023 | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Cordel Hyde | 16 November 2020 |
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Deputy prime minister | Aun Pornmoniroth | 6 September 2018 |
Vongsey Vissoth | 22 August 2023 | ||
Sar Sokha | |||
Tea Seiha | |||
Hangchuon Naron | |||
Sok Chenda Sophea | |||
Keut Rith | |||
Say Sam Al | |||
Sun Chanthol | |||
Neth Savoeun | |||
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Deputy prime minister | Chrystia Freeland | 20 November 2019 |
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First vice premier | Ding Xuexiang | 12 March 2023 |
Second vice premier | He Lifeng | ||
Third vice premier | Zhang Guoqing | ||
Fourth vice premier | Liu Guozhong | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Damir Krstičević | 19 October 2016 |
Predrag Štromar | 9 June 2017 | ||
Davor Božinović | 19 July 2019 | ||
Zdravko Marić | |||
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First deputy prime minister | Vít Rakušan | 17 December 2021 |
Deputy prime minister | Marian Jurečka | 17 December 2021 | |
Ivan Bartoš | 17 December 2021 | ||
Vlastimil Válek | 17 December 2021 | ||
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Deputy Prime Minister | Troels Lund Poulsen | 23 October 2022 |
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Deputy Prime Minister | Irving McIntyre | 13 December 2022 |
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Deputy prime minister | Armanda Berta dos Santos | 29 May 2020 |
José Maria dos Reis | 24 June 2020 | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Themba N. Masuku[6] | 4 November 2018 |
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Deputy Prime Minister of Ethiopia | Temesgen Tiruneh | 21 September 2012 |
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Deputy prime minister | Biman Prasad | 24 Dec 2022 |
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Deputy prime minister | Annika Saarikko | 10 September 2020 |
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Vice Prime Minister of Georgia | Thea Tsulukiani | 31 March 2021 |
Levan Davitashvili | 12 July 2021 | ||
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Vice-Chancellor | Robert Habeck | 8 December 2021 |
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Deputy prime minister | Vacant (since 2023) | N/A |
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Deputy prime minister | Zsolt Semjén | 1 June 2010 |
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Deputy prime minister | Vacant (since 2004) | N/A |
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Tánaiste | Micheál Martin | 17 December 2022 |
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Deputy prime minister | Yariv Levin | 29 December 2022 |
Vice prime minister | Vacant (since 2023) | N/A | |
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Deputy prime minister | Matteo Salvini | 22 October 2022 |
Antonio Tajani | 22 October 2022 | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Horace Chang | 7 September 2020 |
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Deputy prime minister | Vacant (since 2021) | N/A |
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First deputy prime minister | Alihan Smaiylov | 25 February 2019 |
Deputy prime minister | Roman Sklyar | 18 September 2019 | |
Eraly Togjanov | 11 February 2020 | ||
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First deputy chairman of the cabinet of ministers | Arzybek Kojoshev | 13 October 2021 |
Deputy chairman of the cabinet of ministers | variable, currently three deputies | by cabinet | |
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Deputy prime minister | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Saadeh Al Shami | 10 September 2021 |
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Deputy prime minister | Mathibeli Mokhothu | 21 May 2020 |
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Deputy prime ministers | François Bausch | 11 October 2019 |
Paulette Lenert | 5 January 2022 | ||
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Deputy Prime Ministers | Ahmad Zahid Hamidi | 3 December 2022 |
Fadillah Yusof | |||
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Deputy prime minister | Chris Fearne | 17 July 2017 |
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Deputy prime minister | Louis Steven Obeegadoo | 25 June 2020 |
Vice prime minister | Fazila Jeewa-Daureeawoo | 16 November 2017 | |
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Deputy Prime Minister | Mihai Popșoi | 29 January 2024 |
Dumitru Alaiba | 16 February 2023 | ||
Vladimir Bolea | 16 February 2023 | ||
Cristina Gherasimov | 5 February 2024 | ||
Oleg Serebrian | 19 January 2022 | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Amarsaikhan Sainbuyan | 29 January 2021 |
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Deputy prime minister | Vladimir Joković | 28 April 2022 |
Raško Konjević | |||
Jovana Marović | |||
Ervin Ibrahimović | |||
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Deputy prime minister | Soe Win | 1 August 2021 |
Mya Tun Oo | 1 February 2023[7] | ||
Tin Aung San | |||
Win Shein | |||
Than Swe | 3 August 2023[8] | ||
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Deputy-prime minister | Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah | 21 March 2015 |
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Deputy prime minister | Narayan Kaji Shrestha | 26 December 2022 |
Rabi Lamichhane | 6 March 2024 | ||
Raghubir Mahaseth | |||
Upendra Yadav | 10 March 2024 | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Carola Schouten | 10 January 2022 |
Karien van Gennip | 5 September 2023 | ||
Rob Jetten | 8 January 2024 | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Winston Peters | 27 November 2023 |
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Deputy prime minister | Artan Grubi Slavica Grkovska Fatmir Bitiḱi Bojan Maričiḱ |
16 January 2022 |
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Deputy prime minister | ||
Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said | 1972 | ||
Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said | 2017 | ||
Shihab bin Tariq Al Said | 2020 | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Ishaq Dar | 29, March, 2024 |
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Deputy prime minister | Vacant | 11 May 2022 |
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Deputy prime minister | Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz | 13 December 2023 |
Krzysztof Gawkowski | |||
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Deputy prime minister | Vacant (since 2015) | N/A |
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Deputy prime minister | Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah | January 2016 |
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Deputy prime minister | Dan Barna | 23 December 2020 |
Deputy prime minister | Kelemen Hunor | 23 December 2020 | |
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First Deputy Chairman of the Government | Andrey Belousov | 21 January 2020 |
Deputy Chairmen of the Government | variable, up to eight deputies | by cabinet | |
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Deputy prime minister | Shawn Richards | 22 February 2015 |
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Deputy prime minister | Ernest Hilaire | January 2022 |
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Deputy prime minister | Montgomery Daniel | 7 November 2020 |
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Deputy prime minister | Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio | 24 May 2021 |
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Deputy prime minister | Vacant (since 2022) | N/A |
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First deputy prime minister | Ivica Dačić | 27 April 2014 |
Deputy prime minister | Rasim Ljajić | 27 July 2012 | |
Zorana Mihajlović | 27 April 2014 | ||
Nebojša Stefanović | 11 August 2016 | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Heng Swee Keat | 1 May 2019 |
Lawrence Wong | 13 Jun 2022 | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Zdravko Počivalšek | 13 March 2020 |
Matej Tonin | |||
Aleksandra Pivec | |||
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Deputy prime minister | Manasseh Maelanga[9] | 1 November 2019 |
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Deputy prime minister | Lee Ju-ho | 7 November 2022 |
Choi Sang-mok | 29 December 2023 | ||
![]() | Deputy prime minister | Nadia Calviño | 12 July 2021 |
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Deputy prime minister | Margot Wallström | 3 October 2014 |
Isabella Lövin | 25 May 2016 | ||
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Deputy prime minister | Ali Abdullah Ayyoub | 30 August 2020 |
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Vice premier | Cheng Wen-tsan | 31 January 2023 |
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Deputy prime minister | Anutin Charnvirakul | 10 July 2019 |
Phumtham Wechayachai | 1 September 2023 | ||
Somsak Thepsuthin | |||
Parnpree Bahiddha-nukara | |||
Patcharawat Wongsuwon | |||
Pirapan Salirathavibhaga | |||
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Deputy prime minister | Poasi Tei | 28 December 2021 |
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Deputy prime minister | Minute Alapati Taupo | 20 September 2019 |
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Deputy prime minister | Rebecca Kadaga Moses Ali Lukia Isanga Nakadama |
June 2021 |
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Deputy prime minister | Yulia Svyrydenko | November 2021 |
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Deputy prime minister | Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum |
|
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Deputy prime minister | Oliver Dowden | 21 April 2023 |
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Deputy prime minister | Ishmael Kalsakau[10] | 21 April 2020 |
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First deputy prime minister | Phạm Bình Minh | 6 September 2021 |
Deputy prime minister | Trần Hồng Hà | 5 January 2023 | |
Lê Minh Khái | 8 April 2021 | ||
Lê Văn Thành | |||
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Deputy prime minister | Vacant (since 2022) | N/A |
Position abolished
Deputy to the Prime Minister of Norway
Deputy Prime Minister of Bangladesh
Deputy Prime Minister of France
Deputy Prime Minister of Suriname
Deputy Prime Minister of Indonesia
Deputy Prime Minister of Turkey
Deputy Prime Minister of Zimbabwe
References
- Steven Barnes, 'What About Me? Deputy Prime Ministership in New Zealand', Political Science, Vol. 61, No. 1, 2009, pp. 33-49
- Article 110.2 of the Constitution of Russian Federation
- Article 114 of the Constitution of Ukraine
- "Article 25 of the Federal Constitutional Law "On the Government of Russian Federation" from December 17, 1997". Constitution.garant.ru. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- "Article 8 of the Federal Constitutional Law "On the Government of Russian Federation". Constitution.garant.ru. Retrieved 2012-07-25.
- "eSwantini appoints King Mswati's daughter as ICT Minister". Africanews. 2018-11-04. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
- "Myanmar Junta Reshuffles Governing Body". The Irrawaddy. 2 February 2023. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
- "Myanmar Junta Leader Reshuffles Cabinet Days After Extending Emergency Rule". The Irrawaddy. 4 August 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- "Maelanga appointed Solomons' deputy PM". RNZ. 2019-11-01. Retrieved 2020-11-19.
- "Vanuatu's new PM appoints his new Cabinet". RNZ. 2020-04-21. Retrieved 2020-11-19.