The Informal Powers of Western European Presidents: A Way out of Weakness (Palgrave Studies in Presidential Politics)

Acknowledgements
Contents
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Introduction
	1.1 What Are Weak Presidents?
	1.2 Why Study Weak Presidents?
	1.3 Aim, Research Questions and Theoretical Framework
	1.4 Research Design, Methods and Data
	References
2 Weak Presidents’ Characteristics and Pathways to Power
	2.1 A Gap to Be Filled: How to Tackle with Presidents’ Background and Career
	2.2 Presidents’ Socio-demographic Background
	2.3 Presidents’ Political Career Paths
	2.4 Career Duration, Diversification and Types of Presidents
	2.5 Conclusions
	References
3 Election and Term of Weak Presidents
	3.1 Presidential Electoral Rules and Presidential Terms
	3.2 Direct Elections and Second Order Theory
	3.3 Indirect Elections and Party Politics
	3.4 Duration in Office and Early Resignations
	3.5 Conclusion
	References
4 Constitutional Strength and the Use of Formal Powers
	4.1 Presidents’ Formal Powers: An Introduction
	4.2 Formal Powers in Government Formation and Parliament Dissolution
		4.2.1 Austria
		4.2.2 Finland
		4.2.3 Germany
		4.2.4 Ireland
		4.2.5 Italy
		4.2.6 Portugal
	4.3 Formal Powers in Policy-Making: Vetoes and Messages to the Parliament
		4.3.1 Ireland
		4.3.2 Italy
		4.3.3 Portugal
	4.4 Conclusion
	References
5 Presidential Informal Powers and Their Use
	5.1 Presidents’ Informal Powers: A Definition
	5.2 Presidents’ Informal Powers: A Typology
	5.3 Methodological Aspects and Research Design
	5.4 Mapping Informal Powers in Government Formation
		5.4.1 Pushing for Specific Governing Formulas
		5.4.2 Vetoes on Ministers
		5.4.3 The Appointment of a Minister
	5.5 Mapping Informal Powers in the Policy-Making: Pocket Vetoes and Line-Item Vetoes
		5.5.1 Pocket Vetoes
		5.5.2 Line-Item Veto or Moral Suasion
	5.6 Explaining the Positive Outcome of President’s Informal Powers
	5.7 Conclusion
	References
6 Informal Activism in Practice: The Individual Presidents’ Experiences
	6.1 Informal Activism in Austria
	6.2 Informal Activism in Germany
	6.3 Informal Activism in Ireland
	6.4 Informal Activism in Italy
	6.5 Informal Activism in Portugal
	6.6 Conclusion
	References
7 When Presidents Go Public: An Analysis of Presidential Major Speeches
	7.1 Going Public in Europe: Values, Polity and Policy Issues
	7.2 Presidential Speeches and Methodological Aspects
	7.3 A Descriptive Exploration of Presidential Speeches Among Macro Themes
		7.3.1 The Policy Dimension
		7.3.2 The Polity Dimension
		7.3.3 The Politics Dimension
	7.4 What Kind of Values and Policy Issues? Presidents Facing External Shocks
		7.4.1 Global Terrorism
		7.4.2 The Global Financial Crisis and European Debt Crisis
		7.4.3 The Covid Pandemic
	7.5 How Presidents Deal with the Politics of the Past and Their Vision of the Homeland
		7.5.1 Country-Specific Events
		7.5.2 Vision of the Homeland
	7.6 Conclusion
	References
8 A Comprehensive Picture of Western European Presidents
	8.1 Who Are Weak Presidents. Similarities and Differences Between Semi-Presidential and Parliamentary Western European Democracies
	8.2 What Weak President Do. Activism Between Formal and Informal Powers
	8.3 What Trigger the Positive Outcome of Presidential Informal Activism
	8.4 Other Informal Interventions and Future Research Avenues
	References
Annex: List of the Political Parties Quoted in the Book
Index