TFL Vsebine / Revija Revus

Prispevek obravnava sistem volitev predsednika republike v baltiških državah. Za razliko od Latvije in Estonije v Litvi predsednika republike volijo na neposrednih volitvah volivci, pri čemer večina, potrebna za izvolitev, v prvem krogu variira glede na volilno udeležbo. Estonska ustava omogoča tudi do pet krogov volitev. V prvih treh krogih predsednika republike voli parlament. V primeru, da noben kandidat ne dobi ustrezne večine glasov, se oblikuje posebno volilno telo, ki voli predsednika republike v četrtem in po potrebi tudi petem krogu volitev. Svojevrstna ureditev je tudi v Latviji, kjer v primeru, ko tudi v drugem krogu volitev ni izvoljen predsednik, pričnejo z izločanjem kandidatov, ki so dobili najmanj glasov (run-off elections). V prispevku so celovito predstavljeni tudi predsednikov položaj in njegove pristojnosti, pri čemer je pozornost posvečena pristojnostim na zakonodajnem in izvršilnem področju. Celovit pregled bo omogočil kritično presojo, ali je z načinom volitev nujno povezan tudi obseg formalno določnih pristojnosti predsednika republike.

The analysis of the position, powers, and election of the presidents of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia shows that the powers of these presidents are predominantly representative. Latvia and Estonia have developed a typical parliamentary systems with indirectly elected presidents. The president of Lithuania, however, has somehow stronger powers in relation to the parliament and the cabinet. Lithuania therefore shows some signs of a semi-presidential systems. It is thus understandable that the president of Lithuania is elected directly, since direct elections give him or her some more legitimacy. When one compares the powers and position of the Slovenian president to the presidents of the three Baltic States, one can conclude that the president of Slovenia is the weakest of the four. Slovenian president is the only one of the four, who does not have a right of veto. Slovenian and Estonian presidents do not have a power of countersignature. When we compare the nominations of the prime ministers in the four states, we note that the position of the Slovenian president is the weakest since he only holds the power to suggest and not to appoint the prime minister. We conclude that usually directly elected presidents are also stronger in powers, but Slovenia seems to be an exception to this rule.