Prime Ministers, ABB-BOU
Prime minister, also called premier, the head of government in a country with a parliamentary or semipresidential political system. In such systems, the prime ministerâliterally the âfirst,â or most important, ministerâmust be able to command a continuous majority in the legislature (usually the lower house in a bicameral system) to remain in office.
Prime Ministers Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Abbas, Mahmoud
Mahmoud Abbas Palestinian politician who served briefly as prime minister of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in......
Abbott, Sir John
Sir John Abbott was a lawyer, statesman, and prime minister of Canada from 1891 to 1892. Educated at McGill University,......
Abbott, Tony
Tony Abbott is an Australian politician who served as a member of the Australian House of Representatives (1994â2019),......
Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj, Tunku
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Alhaj was the first prime minister of independent Malaya (1957â63) and then of Malaysia......
Abdul Razak bin Hussein, Tun Haji
Tun Haji Abdul Razak bin Hussein was the prime minister, foreign minister, and defense minister of Malaysia from......
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is a Malay politician who was the prime minister of Malaysia (2003â09). In 1964 Abdullah......
Abe, Shinzo
Shinzo Abe was a Japanese politician, who twice served as the prime minister of Japan (2006â07 and 2012â20). His......
Aberdeen, George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th earl of, Viscount Gordon of Aberdeen, Viscount of Formartine, Lord Haddo, Methlick, Tarves, and Kellie
George Hamilton-Gordon, 4th earl of Aberdeen was a British foreign secretary and prime minister (1852â55) whose......
Abiy Ahmed
Abiy Ahmed is an Ethiopian politician who became prime minister of Ethiopia in 2018. He was awarded the Nobel Prize......
Acton, Sir John Francis Edward, 6th Baronet
Sir John Francis Edward Acton, 6th Baronet was the commander of the naval forces of Tuscany and then of Naples.......
Ahern, Bertie
Bertie Ahern was the taoiseach (prime minister) of Ireland from 1997 to 2008. Ahern was educated at St. Aidanâs......
Ahidjo, Ahmadou
Ahmadou Ahidjo was the first president of the United Republic of Cameroon, who served from 1960 to 1982. He presided......
Albanese, Anthony
Anthony Albanese is an Australian politician who became the 31st prime minister of Australia in May 2022 at the......
AlcalĂĄ Zamora, Niceto
Niceto AlcalĂĄ Zamora was a Spanish statesman, prime minister, and president of the Second Republic (1931â36), whose......
Allawi, Ayad
Ayad Allawi is an Iraqi politician who was involved in the Iraqi National Accord, a party opposed to Saddam Hussein,......
Andersson, Magdalena
Magdalena Andersson is a Swedish politician who became the leader of the Swedish Social Democratic Party and Swedenâs......
Andrada e Silva, José Bonifåcio de
JosĂ© BonifĂĄcio de Andrada e Silva was a Brazilian statesman who played a key role in Brazilâs attainment of independence......
Andrej BabiĆĄ
Andrej BabiĆĄ is a Czech politician and businessman. He was the prime minister of the Czech Republic from 2017â21......
Andreotti, Giulio
Giulio Andreotti was an Italian politician who was one of the countryâs most skillful and powerful politicians......
AndrĂĄssy, Gyula, Count
Gyula, Count AndrĂĄssy was a Hungarian prime minister and Austro-Hungarian foreign minister (1871â79), who helped......
Antall, JĂłzsef
JĂłzsef Antall was a politician and the prime minister of Hungary from 1990 until his death in 1993. Antall was......
Antonelli, Giacomo
Giacomo Antonelli was a cardinal and secretary of state to Pope Pius IX. Though he was never ordained as a priest,......
Antonescu, Ion
Ion Antonescu was a Romanian marshal and statesman who became dictator of the pro-German government during World......
Aoun, Michel
Michel Aoun is a commander of the Lebanese Army (1984â88) who was appointed prime minister in 1988 (though the......
Ardern, Jacinda
Jacinda Ardern is a New Zealand politician who in August 2017 became leader of the New Zealand Labour Party and......
Arias Navarro, Carlos
Carlos Arias Navarro was a Spanish politician, the only civilian premier appointed by dictator General Francisco......
Arron, Henck
Henck Arron was a politician who became prime minister of Suriname in 1973 and led that nation to independence......
Arthur, Owen
Owen Arthur was a Barbadian politician who served as prime minister (1994â2008) of Barbados. His economic policies......
Asquith, H.H., 1st earl of Oxford and Asquith
H.H. Asquith, 1st earl of Oxford and Asquith was a Liberal prime minister of Great Britain (1908â16), who was responsible......
AsĆ TarĆ
AsĆ TarĆ is a Japanese Liberal-Democratic Party (LDP) politician who served as prime minister of Japan from September......
Atkinson, Sir Harry
Sir Harry Atkinson was a statesman who, as prime minister of New Zealand in the depression-ridden 1880s, implemented......
Attlee, Clement
Clement Attlee was a British Labour Party leader (1935â55) and prime minister (1945â51). He presided over the establishment......
Auersperg, Adolf, Prince von, Duke Von Gottschee
Adolf, prince von Auersperg was a liberal and anticlerical prime minister of the western half of the Habsburg empire......
Averescu, Alexandru
Alexandru Averescu was a military leader and politician who three times served as premier of Romania and was the......
Azaña, Manuel
Manuel Azaña was a Spanish minister and president of the Second Republic whose attempts to fashion a moderately......
Azeglio, Massimo Taparelli, Marquess dâ
Massimo Taparelli, marquis dâAzeglio was an aristocrat, painter, author, and statesman who was a leader of the......
AzharÄ«, IsmÄÊżÄ«l al-
IsmÄÊżÄ«l al-AzharÄ« was a Sudanese statesman, who was instrumental in achieving his countryâs independence and served......
Aznar, JosĂ© MarĂa
JosĂ© MarĂa Aznar is a lawyer and politician who served as the prime minister of Spain from 1996 to 2004. Aznar......
Ba Maw
Ba Maw was a politician who in 1937 became the first Burmese premier under British rule; he later was head of state......
Badeni, Kasimir Felix, count of
Kasimir Felix, count of Badeni was a Polish-born statesman in the Austrian service, who, as prime minister (1895â97)......
Badoglio, Pietro
Pietro Badoglio was a general and statesman during the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini (1922â43). In September......
Bahonar, Mohammad Javad
Mohammad Javad Bahonar was an Iranian politician who was prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1981.......
Bainimarama, Frank
Frank Bainimarama is a Fijian military leader who led a 2006 coup that resulted in his becoming acting president......
Bakhtiar, Shahpur
Shahpur Bakhtiar was an Iranian politician, the last prime minister (January 4âFebruary 11, 1979) under Mohammad......
Bakr, Aងmad កasan al-
Aងmad កasan al-Bakr was the president of Iraq from 1968 to 1979. Al-Bakr entered the Iraqi Military Academy in......
Balbo, Cesare, Count
Cesare, Count Balbo was a Piedmontese political writer, a liberal but cautious constitutionalist who was influential......
Baldwin, Stanley, 1st Earl Baldwin Of Bewdley, Viscount Corvedale Of Corvedale
Stanley Baldwin was a British Conservative politician, three times prime minister between 1923 and 1937; he headed......
Balendra Shah
Balendra Shah is a Nepali politician who became the prime minister of Nepal in March 2026. He previously served......
Balewa, Sir Abubakar Tafawa
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was a Nigerian politician, deputy leader of the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC), and......
Balfour, Arthur James Balfour, 1st earl of
Arthur James Balfour, 1st earl of Balfour was a British statesman who maintained a position of power in the British......
Balladur, Ădouard
Ădouard Balladur was a French neo-Gaullist politician who was the prime minister of France from 1993 to 1995. Balladur......
Ballance, John
John Ballance was the prime minister of New Zealand (1891â93) who unified the Liberal Party, which held power for......
Banda, Hastings Kamuzu
Hastings Kamuzu Banda was the first president of Malawi (formerly Nyasaland) and the principal leader of the Malawi......
Bandaranaike, S.W.R.D.
S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike was a statesman and prime minister of Ceylon (1956â59), whose election marked a significant......
Bandaranaike, Sirimavo
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was a stateswoman who, upon her partyâs victory in the 1960 general election in Ceylon (later......
Barak, Ehud
Ehud Barak is an Israeli generalâthe most decorated soldier in Israeli history at the time of his retirement in......
Barre, Raymond
Raymond Barre was a French economist and politician who served as prime minister of France (1976â81). Barre completed......
Barroso, José Manuel
JosĂ© Manuel Barroso is a Portuguese politician who served as prime minister of Portugal (2002â04) and president......
Barthou, Louis
Louis Barthou was a French premier (1913), conservative statesman, and long-time colleague of Raymond Poincaré.......
Barton, Sir Edmund
Sir Edmund Barton was a statesman who guided the Australian federation movement to a successful conclusion and......
Baunsgaard, Hilmar
Hilmar Baunsgaard was Denmarkâs leading nonsocialist politician during the 1960s and â70s. He served as prime minister......
Bayar, CelĂąl
CelĂąl Bayar was the third president of the Turkish Republic (1950â60), who initiated etatism, or a state-directed......
Bazargan, Mehdi
Mehdi Bazargan was an Iranian educator and politician who in 1979 became the first prime minister of the Islamic......
BazzÄz, ÊżAbd al-Raáž„mÄn al-
ÊżAbd al-Raáž„mÄn al-BazzÄz was an Iraqi politician who was prime minister of Iraq from 1965 to 1966. From 1955 to......
Beck, Max Wladimir, Freiherr von
Max Wladimir, Freiherr von Beck was the premier (1906â08) of Austria whose administration introduced universal......
Beernaert, Auguste-Marie-François
Auguste-Marie-François Beernaert was a Belgian-Flemish statesman and cowinner (with Paul-H.-B. dâEstournelles de......
Begin, Menachem
Menachem Begin was a Zionist leader who was prime minister of Israel from 1977 to 1983. Begin was the corecipient,......
Belcredi, Richard, Count
Richard, Count Belcredi was a statesman of the Austrian Empire who worked for a federal constitution under the......
Belkhadem, Abdelaziz
Abdelaziz Belkhadem is an Algerian politician who served as prime minister of Algeria from 2006 to 2008. After......
Bell, Sir Francis Henry Dillon
Sir Francis Henry Dillon Bell was a New Zealand lawyer and statesman who had a leading role in the Cabinets of......
BeltrĂĄn, Pedro Gerado
Pedro Gerado BeltrĂĄn was a Peruvian economist, diplomat, and publisher whose brief term as prime minister and minister......
Ben Bella, Ahmed
Ahmed Ben Bella was the principal leader of the Algerian War of Independence (1954â62) against France. He was also......
Ben-Gurion, David
David Ben-Gurion was a Zionist statesman and political leader, the first prime minister (1948â53, 1955â63) and......
Bennett, Naftali
Naftali Bennett is an Israeli high-tech entrepreneur and politician who served as Israelâs prime minister (2021â22).......
Bennett, Richard Bedford
Richard Bedford Bennett was a statesman and prime minister of Canada (1930â35) during the Great Depression. Bennett......
Berenguer, DĂĄmaso, conde de Xauen
DĂĄmaso Berenguer, count de Xauen was a Spanish general who served briefly as prime minister (January 1930âFebruary......
Berlusconi, Silvio
Silvio Berlusconi was an Italian media tycoon who served three times as prime minister of Italy (1994, 2001â06,......
Bethlen, IstvĂĄn, Count
IstvĂĄn, Count Bethlen was a statesman and Hungarian prime minister from 1921 to 1931, who maintained the old order......
Beust, Friedrich Ferdinand, Graf von
Friedrich Ferdinand, Graf (count) von Beust was the prime minister and foreign minister of Saxony (1858â66) and......
Bhattarai, Baburam
Baburam Bhattarai is a Nepali Marxist scholar, politician, and former guerrilla leader who served as prime minister......
Bhutto, Benazir
Benazir Bhutto was a Pakistani politician who became the first woman leader of a Muslim nation in modern history.......
Bhutto, Zulfikar Ali
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was a Pakistani statesman and politician who served as president (1971â73) and prime minister......
Bienerth, Richard, Freiherr von (baron of)
Richard, baron von Bienerth was an Austrian prime minister (1908â11). After service under the governor of Steiermark,......
Bierut, BolesĆaw
BolesĆaw Bierut was a statesman and Communist Party official who came to be called the Stalin of Poland after playing......
Bismarck, Otto von
Otto von Bismarck was the prime minister of Prussia (1862â73, 1873â90) and founder and first chancellor (1871â90)......
Bitar, Salah al-Din
Salah al-Din Bitar was a Syrian politician who served three times (1963, 1964, and 1966) as prime minister of Syria......
Biya, Paul
Paul Biya is a politician who has served as president of Cameroon since 1982. Prior to that post, he served as......
Blair, Tony
Tony Blair is a British Labour Party leader who served as prime minister of the United Kingdom (1997â2007). He......
Blaize, Herbert Augustus
Herbert Augustus Blaize was a Grenadian politician who served as head of government in the 1960s and 1980s. After......
Blum, LĂ©on
LĂ©on Blum was the first Socialist (and the first Jewish) premier of France, presiding over the Popular Front coalition......
Boganda, Barthélemy
Barthélemy Boganda was the major nationalist leader of the Central African Republic (formerly Ubangi-Shari; French:......
Bolger, James Brendan
James Brendan Bolger is a New Zealand farmer and politician who served as prime minister of New Zealand from 1990......
Bond, Sir Robert
Sir Robert Bond was the leader of the Liberal Party in Newfoundland and prime minister of the British colony from......
Bonomi, Ivanoe
Ivanoe Bonomi was a statesman who served terms as Italian prime minister before and after the fascist regime of......
Borden, Sir Robert
Sir Robert Borden was the eighth prime minister of Canada (1911â20) and leader of the Conservative Party (1901â20),......
Borg Olivier, George
George Borg Olivier was a Maltese politician who led the Maltese Nationalist Party from 1950 to 1976 and twice......
Boselli, Paolo
Paolo Boselli was a statesman who headed the Italian government that declared war on Germany in World War I. The......
Botha, Louis
Louis Botha was a soldier and statesman who was the first prime minister of the Union of South Africa (1910â19)......
Botha, P. W.
P. W. Botha was the prime minister (1978â84) and first state president (1984â89) of South Africa. A native of the......
Bouchard, Lucien
Lucien Bouchard is a Canadian politician who was a founder and leader of the Bloc QuĂ©bĂ©cois (1990â96) in the federal......