These are the powers of the Vice President in revamped constitution

The post of Vice President in Algeria has come to the limelight since President Bouteflika’s health crisis, and this post is now officially projected in the framework of the amended Constitution.

Speculation is rife about who will take over this senior state position. What are the powers of the Vice President in those States that operate under this system?

There is a Vice President post in the States governed by presidential systems, similarly to the American system, contrary to a parliamentary system in Britain and in France, they have a sort of hybrid system, (a cross between a presidential and parliamentary system). Such a clause is not provided for in the British and French constitutions, in reference to the post of Vice President.

Rumour has it in some political forums that President Bouteflika has decided to create the post of Vice President in the future constitutional amendment, to make him manage his election campaign, if he ever decides to run for a fourth term or continues his duties and powers, barring an unexpected untoward development in his health condition file.

When talking about the Vice President, the American system comes to mind. The US Constitution provides that the President and Vice President are elected together for the electoral term of four years, and the Vice President is the first successor of the President in case of his death or resignation or dismissal until the end of the term, as was the case with the former US President, Richard Nixon, who was forced to resign in 1974, to be replace by Vice President Gerald Ford.

Perhaps the privacy of America lies in the fact that Vice President appointed as Chairman of the Senate (upper Chamber of the Parliament), has the right to vote in the event of a crisis on a draft resolution to resolve the matter, but not use his authority to influence the course of the legislative process and by enacting laws to favor his party.

The Vice President’s other roles are informal and not provided for in the Constitution, he acts as an adviser to the President in matters of Foreign Affairs and as his representative at official functions and ceremonies.

And as Vice President in Turkey, for example, he  has broad powers, the text of the Turkish Constitution granting powers of the Vice President, provides for the presidential succession in the event of the President’s inability to perform his duties or after his dismissal or resignation from Office as the Constitution allows the vice-President in this case the right to appoint and terminate the appointment of Ministers.

 The vice- President of the Republic also is entitled to chair cabinet meetings and participate in those meetings; he has also the right to propose topics for inclusion on the agenda of the Presidency. The Constitution gives the Vice President the right of clemency in capital punishment cases, and to convey messages to the House of Representatives on behalf of the Chairman, disability or absence from Office of the President. He wields full powers until the end of his term.

Among other States that have adopted the system of Vice President, in Latin America, notably in Brazil, where the Constitution provides that the Vice President can succeed the President in case of the latter’s death, resignation or removal from Office.

Some media outlets suggest that President Bouteflika has jotted down several names before choosing one of them to spearhead his possible election campaign .The list of potential candidates includes the Chairman of the Council of the nation Abdelkader Bensalah, former Prime Minister, Abdelaziz Belkhadem, current Prime Minister Abdelmalek Sellal and even former Premier Mouloud Hamrouche, who will be ostensibly tasked with  managing the 5 year-transition under a compromise political deal based on an expanded political base.