Question: who has called prime minister primus inter pares

title: Primus inter pares
text: Primus inter pares ( Ancient Greek : Πρώτος μεταξὺ ἴσων , prōtos metaxỳ ísōn ) is a Latin phrase meaning first among equals . It is typically used as an honorary title for those who are formally equal to other members of their group but are accorded unofficial respect , traditionally owing to their seniority in office . Historically , the princeps senatus of the Roman Senate was such a figure and initially only bore the distinction that he was allowed to speak first during debate . Also , Constantine the Great was given the role of primus inter pares . However , the term is also often used ironically or self - deprecatingly by leaders with much higher status as a form of respect , camaraderie , or propaganda . After the fall of the Republic , Roman emperors initially referred to themselves only as princeps despite having power of life and death over their `` fellow citizens '' . Various modern figures such as the Chair of the Federal Reserve , the prime minister of parliamentary regimes , the Federal President of Switzerland , the Chief Justice of the United States , and the Ecumenical Patriarch of the Eastern Orthodox Church fall under both senses : bearing higher status and various additional powers while remaining still merely equal to their peers in important senses .