knabia // government // office of the president
Office of the President
Euditak Ret Kuleritra
Ronus Uukniae, 57th President of the Republic of Knabia, was elected on 21 September 1534. Mr. Uukniae is a member of the Social-Democratic Party of Knabia (SDK) and served as Governor of Ilelae for 8 years and as a member of that state's Senate for 4 years.
The powers of the President are as follows as laid out by the 3rd Article of the Constitution:
Appointment of the Prime Minister: The President appoints an individual as Chancellor from the Korpostash provided they are subsequently confirmed by the Korpostash. If the Korpostash rejects the President's selection, the president is obliged to provide another. If after a third candidate is nominated and the Korpostash cannot or will not confirm him or her, the President is expected to dissolve the Korpostash and call for new elections. The Korpostash has never rejected more than one candidate and has never been dissolved.
Other appointments: The President appoints federal judges, federal civil servants. All such appointments require the counter-signature of either the Prime Minister or the relevant cabinet minister.
Promulgation of the law: All federal laws must, after counter-signature, be signed by the president before they can come into effect. Ordinances must be signed by the agency which issues them, and then by the President. Upon signing, the President has to check if the law was passed according to the order mandated by the constitution and/or if the content of the law is constitutional. If not, he has the obligation to withold his signature and bring the proposed law before the Supreme Court. The President has no veto power and must base his decisions soley on his or her belief in the constitutionality of the proposed law.
Foreign relations: The President is the head of the Diplomatic Corps and thus takes part in foreign visits and receives foreign dignitaries. He or she also concludes treaties with foreign nations, accredits (and sometimes appoints) Knabian diplomats and receives the letters of accreditation of foreign diplomats.
Pardons and honours: The President has the ability to grant a pardon to anyone at any time. He also confers official state decorations and honours.
State of emergency: In the event of a national crisis, the Prime Minister may call a state of emergency in which he or she can make limited law-binding proclamations. In order for such a state to be declared, the President must also agree. The President also has the ability to end the state of emergency at any time.