REPUBLICS AND THEIR PRESIDENTS
Twelve European examples and the New South Africa

Klaas Woldring
Southern Cross University

INTRODUCTION

The issue of a Republic for Australia will certainly remain of public interest and more people will be asking themselves: What kind of a Republic do we really want? Increasingly the issue will also be: Will this be a Republic for the Establishment or for all Australians? Will it be a conservative or progressive Republic? This paper surveys twelve European Republics and the Republic of South Africa, most of them with Symbolic Presidents, some directly others indirectly elected. They are: Germany, Ireland, Italy, Finland, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, France, Malta, Austria, the Czech Republic, Iceland and South Africa. An outline of the paper follows:

Section A: The Main Issue: What kind of a Republic?

Australia’s Referendum - Transition to a Republic - the issue of Models. History of Republicanism. Replacing Monarchies: The French Revolutionary Republics. The US. The Turkish Republic. Why the American example is unique and provides only limited use as a Model for Australia. Reason why excluded in this paper. The Westminster System of Government - can it be combined with a Republican Form of Government? Unitary and Federal Republics. Other systems of Government - why continue with the Westminster system? The Maximalist Republic. Executive Presidents and Symbolic Presidents, a range of options. What are the differences? Who can be candidates? Direct election and indirect election of the President: Why and when does it matter?

Section B: Information for a New Debate.

Germany : a Federal Republic with a Symbolic President. What was the effect of Unification?
Ireland: a Unitary Republic with a Symbolic yet influential President.
Italy: a Unitary Republic with a Symbolic President.
Finland: a Unitary Republic with a Strong Symbolic President - comments on the new Finish Constitution of 2000.
Greece: a Unitary Republic with a Symbolic President.
Switzerland: a Federal Republic with a Rotating Symbolic President.
Portugal: a Unitary Republic with a Symbolic President.
France: a Unitary State with a dual executive. Executive powers are shared by the President and the Prime Minister.
Malta: a Unitary Republic with a Symbolic President.
Austria: a (quasi) Federal Republic with a Symbolic President.
Czech Republic: a Unitary Republic with a Symbolic President.
Iceland: a Unitary Republic with an Influential President.
South Africa (RSA): a near-Federal Republic with an Executive President

Concluding remarks

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