An interim president is someone who takes on the duties of a president when the legal president is unable to do so. This can happen in both the public and private sectors, and the tenure can range from a few hours to years. In the US government, the acting vice president would usually take on the role of acting president. Many other countries have similar laws, and incumbent presidents assume responsibility when necessary. In the private sector, an interim president may be appointed to lead a company after a president resigns or is fired.
An interim president is an individual who fulfills the functions of the presidential office while no legal president is able to do so. The term “acting president” can be applied in the public or private sector. Incumbent presidents are usually sanctioned figures, not usurpers – their main role is usually to maintain order during periods of uncertainty. Their tenure can range from just a few hours to months or even years, but their primary responsibility is generally believed to be maintaining normality during a transition or after a change.
In the public sector, the role of interim president is usually filled by an individual whose position is established by law. When an elected president is unable to perform his duties for a period of time, an interim president may be appointed. Acting presidents generally have all the rights and privileges of presidents. They should normally be able to make decisions for their countries in times of crisis.
In the US government, the role of acting president would usually be filled by the acting vice president. Under the 25th Amendment, which established presidential succession, if a president of the United States is unable to fulfill the duties of office, he must notify Congress in writing so that the vice president can be named interim president. The law allows the president to revoke this designation whenever he is ready to assume the duties of office again. The Amendment also allows Congress, by majority vote, to declare the President unfit to discharge his duties and allow the Vice President to intervene.
Many other countries have similar laws, and incumbent presidents assume responsibility for government affairs in nations around the world when necessary. An interim president can only be appointed to govern in the president’s place during a routine surgical procedure, as was US Vice President Dick Cheney. Sometimes, however, incumbent presidents come to power when an incumbent president is killed, as was the case after the death of Polish President Lech Kaczynski, or ousted from power, as was Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali.
In the private sector, an interim president may be appointed to lead a company after a president resigns or is fired. Generally, the role is filled by someone who has a long history with the company and is knowledgeable about its operations. She or he may be a candidate for the formal position of company president, or may just be joining to ease the transition while the board of directors finds a suitable candidate.
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