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Because that's what he's called in English usage here and calling him "Prime Minister" is just wrong. Anyway, with the spillage of UK media into Ireland, a reference to "the Prime Minister" would mean Gordon Brown.
by Colman (colman at eurotrib.com) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 02:03:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
And the English language version of the Irish Constitution also refers to An Taoiseach as far as I can recall (- my PC doesn't like long pdf documents at the moment).  The office is broadly similar to the UK PM in terms of powers and role definition but superior to (e.g.) the French PM who is very much subservient to the French President.  I think it is no harm to emphasise the constitutional uniqueness of the role in each member state.   "Prime Minister" is very much a generic term for head of Government.

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 02:22:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Jospin was not subversient to Chirac.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 04:51:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Co-habitation relationships can be difficult to define - but could Chirac not hire or fire Jospin, at least in theory?  

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 04:57:01 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Nope :

Legifrance - Le service public de l'accés au droit - Constitution

Art. 8. - Le Président de la République nomme le Premier Ministre. Il met fin à ses fonctions sur la présentation par celui-ci de la démission du Gouvernement.

The president can only fire the PM if the PM presents his resignation. When the PM and the president come from the same party, it is traditional that the PM signs a blank resignation letter before coming into power.

Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant.

by linca (antonin POINT lucas AROBASE gmail.com) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 05:35:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Well, it is a known thing that the prime minister gives a resignation letter to the president with no date on it at the moment of nomination, for later use if needed.

Constitutionally, the president cannot remove the prime minister, but he actually can.

"The womb that spawned that thing is fertile yet"

by Cyrille (cyrillev domain yahoo.fr) on Wed Jul 16th, 2008 at 11:12:30 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Woops should have read your post till the end.

Anyway, my understanding is that it is NOT limited to when they are from the same party.

"The womb that spawned that thing is fertile yet"

by Cyrille (cyrillev domain yahoo.fr) on Wed Jul 16th, 2008 at 11:13:14 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Wait, you mean Gordon Brown's not the PM of Ireland, too?

(runs)

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 02:44:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]
It's questionable as to whether he is PM of England at the moment.  Many English would wish him back in Scotland.  He apparently still has a residual role in  N. Ireland, although it would be hard to tell from his pronouncements on the issue.  Isn't he your man in Iraq as well?  The Beast of Basra?

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 03:53:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]
PS - you're one to talk when you don't even have a PM.  Who is the Prime Minister of the USA?  Is the White House Chief of Staff the closest approximation - is that role even mentioned in the Constitution? Maybe the Great Gordo should take over the Colonies again?

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 04:17:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
We have a president.  Why demean someone with the title of PM when we have Britain's to bend over?

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 06:30:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Hey, don't knock Prime Ministers.

Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world.
by poemless on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 06:37:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]
You mean Bush could come back as Chief of Staff? <wince>

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 06:45:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]
If it's Chief of Staff to Putie-Pu -- well, shit, where do we sign?

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 07:05:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]
You think Putie stupie?

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 07:09:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Not at all.  I think he'd get quite a kick out of it.

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 07:13:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Bush could start by serving him his dinner

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 07:26:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]
"Vladimir hungry.  Vladimir want eat!"

WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 06:59:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]
who took my knife and fork?

"It's a mystery to me - the game commences, For the usual fee - plus expenses, Confidential information - it's in my diary..."
by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot dotty communists) on Tue Jul 15th, 2008 at 07:12:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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