President of Notosha

**Salary** | $5,750 (monthly)

The **President** (Asbanian: ***Presidenti** e Notoshë*; Lorbian: ***Председник** с Нотоше*, ***Predsednik** s Notoše*), is the head of state of the Republic of Notosha. The office was created in 2010, following the declaration of Notoshan independence and dissolution of SC-administered Notosha.

Ahead of a presidential election, each coalition present in the State Assembly proposes a candidate for the office; the candidates typically affiliate with their proposing coalition, but must remain politically independent and unregistered with a political party. In the election, all members of the State Assembly vote via a secret ballot, and the candidate who receives a majority of the vote is elected. Because of this, whichever coalition maintains a majority in parliament can effectively elect whomever they'd like, and the outcome of a presidential election can be assumed well before the candidates are even declared.

As Notosha uses a parliamentary system of government, the president is a ceremonial figurehead with few real powers. They formally appoint the prime minister (on the advice of the State Assembly), all other ministers, and all ambassadors (both on the advice of the prime minister), sign all passed legislation with no veto power, and serve as the ceremonial commander-in-chief of the Notosha Defense Forces. They also chiefly act as a unifying figure for the nation, and as a representative of the nation both at home and abroad.

The current president is Ilzabete Kafriti, who was first elected in the 2014 election, and later reelected in the 2018 presidential election, on behalf of the New Notosha Alliance coalition. She is the first woman to hold the role.

## Constitutional eligibility

There are several requirements that prospective presidents must meet in order to be eligible to serve as president, as outlined in the Constitution of Notosha.

The president must:

* Be at least 30 years of age upon taking office.
* Be born within the territory of the Republic of Notosha.
* Be a citizen of the Republic of Notosha, through solely birthright.
* Be unregistered with a political party and pledge to remain nonpartisan in their office.
* Have resided within the territory of Notosha for the ten consecutive years prior to taking office.
* Have never sworn allegiance to a foreign nation other than Asbania.

### Oath of office

While assuming office, the president shall take the following oath in front of the State Assembly.

Asbanian: *Unë, <name>, betohem solemnisht se do t'i kushtoj të gjitha përpjekjet e mia për mbrojtjen dhe ruajtjen ë Republikës ë Notoshë, sovranitetin dhe vullnetin ë lirë të popullit notosharëve, dhe juridiksionin ë Kushtetutës ë Republikës ë Notoshë. Do të dështoj në detyrat ë mia, do t'i dorëzohem Gjyqësorit ë Republikës ë Notoshë me gjithë fuqinë ë saj. Rroftë Notoshë!*

Ditrovian: *I, <name>, do solemnly swear that I will devote all my efforts to the protection and preservation of the Republic of Notosha, to the sovereignty and free-will of the Notoshan people, and to the jurisdiction of the Constitution of the Republic of Notosha. Shall I fail in my duties, I surrender myself to the Judiciary of the Republic of Notosha in all its power. Long live Notosha!*

The oath is administered by the president of the Constitutional Court. Although both Asbanian and Lorbian hold co-official status in Notosha, the oath must be given in Asbanian.

### Succession

In the case of the death or abrupt resignation of a president, the chairperson of the State Assembly will assume the office. They do not act in an acting or interim capacity, instead receiving all the duties of an elected president, and being inaugurated as any other president would be. They will serve in this capacity until they complete the term of the deceased or resigned president, and are eligible to stand for reelection if they choose to do so. If they choose to stand for reelection, they will be eligible to serve two more full terms as president, as their first term would have been serving as an elevated chairperson, not an elected president. If there is no serving chairperson, then the State Assembly may elect any individual to serve in an interim capacity until a chairperson can be elected.

Prior to the first presidential election, chairperson Pirustian Hasangjekaj served as an interim president, as the constitution outlines that until the first presidential election can be held, the chairperson will serve in an interim capacity with limited powers and not be considered an official president.

## Role and authority

The president of Notosha is considered to be the highest-ranking and most senior politician in Notosha, however, most of their powers are exercised under the discretion of appointed ministers. As Notosha uses a parliamentary system of government, the president is a ceremonial figurehead with few real powers. They formally appoint the prime minister (on the advice of the State Assembly), all other ministers, and all ambassadors (both on the advice of the prime minister), sign all passed legislation with no veto power, and serve as the ceremonial commander-in-chief of the Notosha Defense Forces. They also chiefly act as a unifying figure for the nation, and as a representative of the nation both at home and abroad.

Ahead of a presidential election, each coalition present in the State Assembly proposes a candidate for the office; the candidates typically affiliate with their proposing coalition, but must remain politically independent and unregistered with a political party. In the election, all members of the State Assembly vote via a secret ballot, and the candidate who receives a majority of the vote is elected. Because of this, whichever coalition maintains a majority in parliament can effectively elect whomever they'd like, and the outcome of a presidential election can be assumed well before the candidates are even declared.

## Amenities

The president is awarded a number of amenities due to the office they hold. They are given a monthly salary of $5,750, which they must pay taxes on. This amounts to a taxable yearly income of $69,000, making them the highest-paid public sector employee in Notosha. The president is also given a private security detail for themselves and their immediate family, a private chauffeur, and a private plane.

From 2010 until 2020, there was no official residence for the president, unusual for a head of state. In 2018, Balush Gjintelma announced plans to unveil a Presidential Palace in July 2020, in honor of the tenth anniversary of Notoshan independence. The Presidential Palace is located in Astina, and opened during Independence Day celebrations on 15 July 2020. It includes both a private residence for the president and their immediate family, and a public office for the president and their staff to work. Prior to 2020, the president resided in private accommodations with 24-hour security, and their office was located in the State Assembly.