Die Regierungsform Russlands, der Ukraine und Weißrusslands – Superpräsidentialismus?

Abstract

Along with the common scholarly classification of government systems as parliamentary systems, presidential systems, semi-presidential systems or their respective derivatives, often the terms of the so-called “super-presidentialism” or “super-presidential system” can be found in the literature. Until now, these terms have not been substantially clarified. This articles attempts to find at least approximate, initial answers to the question whether there is a further level of classification of government systems in addition to the traditional classification. For this purpose, this article analyses the particular competences of the presidents of the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Belarus from a constitutional, comparative viewpoint. The article aims to provide a demonstrative catalogue of competences that, in a particularly significant way, indicate a potential imbalance in the government system. Furthermore, the article sheds light on the question whether in the analyzed states there are tendencies of super-presidential systems, or whether such a system can actually even be confirmed in these states.