Presidents in Semi-Presidential Regimes : Moderating Power in Portugal and Timor-Leste

This book offers a comparative perspective on the semi-presidential regimes of Portugal and Timor-Leste, suggesting that they both reserve a "moderating power" for presidents in line with what was theorized by Benjamin Constant. Historical legacies, political culture and short-term political considerations combined create an institutional design that has endured and produced incentives to power-sharing and inclusiveness. A critical element of this model finds roots in the electoral system facilitating the emergence of "independent" presidents with political platforms that tend to supersede those of political parties. Elected presidents dispose of an array of competences that do not overlap with those of prime ministers, but represent a category of its own. The vast array of presidential competences contributes to reinforcing a system of checks and balances, and to foster horizontal accountability. The book argues that this specific form of government with "moderating powers" and presidents who are largely "independent" from the party system contributed to the successful democratic transitions of Portugal and Timor-Leste.-- Provided by publisher Acknowledgements 7 Praise for Presidents in Semi-Presidential Regimes 9 About This Book 10 Contents 11 About the Author 12 Abbreviations and Acronyms 13 List of Tables 15 1 Introduction: Presidential Republics with “Moderating Power” 16 Modern Democratic Republics and Their Variation 17 Retrieving Old Ideas: Benjamin Constant and the Notion of “Moderating Power” 20 Why Portugal and Timor-Leste? 23 Methodological and Epistemological Considerations 29 Structure of the Book 32 References 34 2 The Emergence of Presidential Republics in Portugal and Timor-Leste 39 Portugal 39 Presidents and Government Systems in Portuguese History (1910–1974) 40 The Second Republic: The 1976 Constitution and Its Background 42 From April 25, 1974 to April 2, 1976 42 Background to the 1976 Constitution 44 Constitutional Revisions: Controversies and Consequences 46 Timor-Leste 54 The Constitution of 1975 55 The Constitution of 2002 55 Background 56 Government System 57 Finale 60 References 61 3 Electing Presidents with “Moderating Power” 65 Electors Valuation of Presidential Elections 69 Presidents and Parties 74 Presidential Parties 81 Contexts for the Emergence of Presidents as Moderators 83 Systemic Features 84 Conjunctures 93 Conclusion 96 References 96 4 What Do Presidents Do with “Moderating Power”? 100 Operationalizing “Moderating Power” 103 Power of Public Word 103 Power of the Sword 108 Legislative Supervision 113 Power of Appointment and Dismissal 116 Foreign Relations 130 Other Presidential Powers 131 Final Thoughts 135 References 138 5 “Moderating Power” and Partisan Presidents: Two Empirical Cases 141 Aníbal Cavaco Silva’s Second Term: “A Government, A Majority, A President” 144 Francisco Guterres Lu Olo and the Return of “Belligerent Democracy” 152 Coda: Theme and Variations 157 References 160 6 The “Moderating Power” of Presidents: Rex regnat sed non gubernat 162 “Moderating Power” and Democracy: Juan Linz’s Hypothesis Revisited 164 Institutional Witchcraft? 167 Coda: The Virtues of “Moderating Power” 176 References 178 Index 180 Front Matter ....Pages i-xix Introduction: Presidential Republics with “Moderating Power” (Rui Graça Feijó)....Pages 1-23 The Emergence of Presidential Republics in Portugal and Timor-Leste (Rui Graça Feijó)....Pages 25-50 Electing Presidents with “Moderating Power” (Rui Graça Feijó)....Pages 51-85 What Do Presidents Do with “Moderating Power”? (Rui Graça Feijó)....Pages 87-127 “Moderating Power” and Partisan Presidents: Two Empirical Cases (Rui Graça Feijó)....Pages 129-149 The “Moderating Power” of Presidents: Rex regnat sed non gubernat (Rui Graça Feijó)....Pages 151-168 Back Matter ....Pages 169-180