Vinzer Deling Vinzer Deling , more formally known as the Deling President is a non - playable character and minor antagonist in " Final Fantasy VIII . " As president of Galbadia and a historic figure , Vinzer Deling ' s term extended through the Sorceress War . He resides in the Galbadia ' s capital , Deling City , which is named after him . Story . Vinzer Deling , an ambitious man obsessed with power , wheedled his way through the ranks of the Galbadian government until he reached the office of president . At the time Galbadia was relatively small and not known for its strength . It is unclear at what point in history Deling assumed the seat of power . The Anarchist Monthly magazine clippings found in the Forest Owls ' Base claim Deling became the president after the second Sorceress War , and to gain support quickly , carried out the invasion of Timber . However , this is the only point in " Final Fantasy VIII " where it is mentioned that there would have been more than one Sorceress War ; all the other sources refer the term Sorceress War to the war between Galbadia and Esthar , which took place while Vinzer Deling was already president . The Sorceress War against Esthar lasted a number of years , and Esthar ' s side was led by the tyrannical Sorceress Adel . With ranks of soldiers and technology at his disposal , Deling set his sights on the myriad of independent nations surrounding Galbadia and ordered them conquered , starting with the bustling country of Timber . During the Galbadian siege Timber ' s citizens mounted a resistance movement , led by the fathers of Zone and Watts . Once the country had been conquered Deling took it upon himself to execute the two , right in front of their children . The atrocity fueled Timber ' s hatred for Galbadia and its president and inspired them to keep the resistance movement alive despite Galbadian occupation . Over a decade later , resistance groups , such as the Forest Fox and the Forest Owls , still work to liberate Timber from Deling ' s rule . The casualties of the Sorceress War left children orphaned and many unprotected towns were raided . Deling ' s military buildup allowed Galbadia to put up a good fight . Esthar was unprepared for the mounting resistance and Adel prepared to unleash Esthar ' s secret weapon , the Lunatic Pandora , on the upstart country . Before she could use it , Adel was deposed by former Galbadian soldier , Laguna Loire , who led a resistance movement against her . With Esthar cutting itself off from outsiders , Galbadia became the world ' s undisputed superpower — with President Deling at the helm . Galbadia ' s ( although indirect ) victory over Esthar solidified Deling ' s position within his nation . Deling used his newfound popularity to transform his democratic presidency into an authoritarian dictatorship . Seventeen years after the end of the Sorceress War , Deling still rules Galbadia and pursues territorial conquest . Winhill has come under Galbadian jurisdiction and Deling shifts his focus to the Dukedom of Dollet . Galbadia ' s Siege of Dollet is opposed by the Dukedom ' s forces working in tandem with SeeD s and cadets from Balamb Garden . Deling ' s military secures Dollet ' s satellite dish and transmission tower . While Deling is enjoying his domination of the Galbadian continent , another power is quietly gaining strength — that of Sorceress Edea , who is actually possessed by Sorceress Ultimecia from the future . Edea / Ultimecia has plans for world domination , and rather than by directly attacking individual nations , she uses a subtler approach by befriending President Deling . Enchanted by the sorceress and possibly envious of her powers , Deling agrees to install her as Galbadia ' s foreign ambassador . Blinded by his own ambition , Deling fails to see the threat she possesses and intends to use her as a thinly - veiled threat , a tool for intimidating Galbadia ' s targets into submission without having to fire a shot . Deling , now in command of the continent ' s only telecast system , travels to Timber to broadcast a message through the nation ' s TV station . He announces his alliance with the sorceress , but before he can finish he is attacked by a Balamb Garden renegade Seifer Almasy , who is coerced to release the president by Edea / Ultimecia and taken away . The Galbadian government announces Seifer executed to save face , but in reality he has been recruited by Edea / Ultimecia to be her Knight . Deling informs Garden that it will not be held responsible for the attempted abduction . Some Galbadians are wary of Deling ' s decision to ally himself and Galbadia with a sorceress . Among the most notable opposers are General Caraway , head of the Galbadian military ; Martine , the headmaster of Galbadia Garden who knows the sorceress has an eye on his Garden ; and Cid Kramer , headmaster of Balamb Garden who also wishes to remove the sorceress from power , albeit for a different reason . The three hatch a plot to assassinate the sorceress during her induction ceremony with the help of SeeD . Before the assassination attempt takes place Edea / Ultimecia uses her acceptance speech as a means to seize control of the government , and murders Deling by impaling him with her hand . No one seems to react to Deling ' s death or retaliate against her for it . The " Final Fantasy VIII Ultimania " reveals Edea / Ultimecia has enchanted the surrounding crowds with a spell . Gameplay . Although not a combatant himself , Vinzer does employ body doubles in response to security threats . One such threat was the possibility of being captured during a train trip through Timber territory , where he was replaced with a shape - shifting Gerogero .