For other uses see Premier (disambiguation). This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (December 2009) Look up premier in Wiktionary the free dictionary.

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Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states. Examples by country

In many nations "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister". In the People's Republic of China "premier" is more common but "prime minister" is still used (see Premier of the People's Republic of China).

In four of the British overseas territories (Bermuda the Cayman Islands the Turks and Caicos Islands and the British Virgin Islands) the elected heads of government are styled as "Premier". In other overseas territories the equivalent post is styled as Chief Minister.

"Premier" is also the title of the heads of government in sub-national entities such as the provinces and territories of Canada states of the Commonwealth of Australia provinces of South Africa the island of Nevis within the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis and the nation of Niue. In some of these cases the formal title remains "Prime Minister" but "Premier" is used to avoid confusion with the national leader. In these cases care should be taken not to confuse the title of "premier" with "prime minister". In these countries terms such as "Federal Premier" "National Premier" or "Premier of the Dominion" were sometimes used to refer to prime ministers although these are now obsolete. In Canadian French the equivalent of the English word "premier" is "premier ministre" which is also the word used for "prime minister".

In the Czech Republic "Premir" means the "Prime Minister" and the Czech language translates both "Premier" and "Prime Minister" as "Premir".

In Croatia the head of government is officially called "President of the Government" (predsjednik vlade) but "Premier" (premijer) is commonly used.

A premier will normally be a head of government but is not usually the head of state. In presidential systems the two roles are often combined into one whereas in parliamentary systems of government the two are usually kept separate. An example of a nation having separate roles for the premier/prime minister and the president is the Fifth French Republic.

In the Soviet Union the title of premier was applied to the Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars (Renamed Council of Ministers of the USSR in 1946) who acted as the Soviet Union's Premier. In Italy as well the prime minister maintains the office President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic. A second in command to a premier is designated as a vice-premier or deputy premier. See also Prime Minister Chief Minister Premiers of the Australian states Premier of Bermuda Premier of the British Virgin Islands Premiers of Canada Chancellor of China List of premiers of China Premier (South Africa) Premier of the Soviet Union Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands President of the Council of Ministers v d eTypes of heads of government Chancellor  Chief Executive  Chief Minister  First Minister  Minister-President  Premier  President  President of the Executive Council  President of the Council of Ministers  President of the Government  Prime Minister  State Elder  Taoiseach  President of the European Commission