embers
of Parliament

elections: president elected by Parliament for a three-year term;
election last held 8 April 2000 (next to be held NA 2003)

election results: Bernard DOWIYOGO elected president by a vote in
Parliament of nine to eight

note: former President Rene HARRIS was deposed in a no-confidence
vote; this is the eighth change of government in Nauru since the
fall of the Lagumont HARRIS government in a no-confidence motion in
early November 1996; six of the last eight governments have resulted
because of parliamentary no-confidence motions

Nepal:
chief of state: King GYANENDRA Bir Bikram Shah (succeeded to
the throne 4 June 2001 following the death of his nephew King
DIPENDRA Bir Bikram Shah)

head of government: Prime Minister Girija Prasad KOIRALA (since 22
March 2000)

cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the monarch on the recommendation of
the prime minister

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following legislative
elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a majority
coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the monarch

note: King BIRENDRA Bir Bikram Shah Dev died in a bloody shooting
at the royal palace on 1 June 2001 that also claimed the lives of
most of the royal family; King BIRENDRA's son, Crown Price DIPENDRA,
is believed to have been responsible for the shootings before
fatally wounding himself; immediately following the shootings and
while still clinging to life, DIPENDRA was crowned king; he died
three days later and was succeeded by his uncle

Netherlands:
chief of state: Queen BEATRIX (since 30 April 1980);
Heir Apparent WILLEM-ALEXANDER (born 27 April 1967), son of the
monarch

head of government: Prime Minister Wim KOK (since 22 August 1994)
and Vice Prime Ministers Annemarie JORRITSMA (since 3 August 1998)
and Els BORST-EILERS (since 3 August 1998)

cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the monarch

elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; following Second
Chamber elections, the leader of the majority party or leader of a
majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the
monarch; vice prime ministers appointed by the monarch

note: government coalition - PvdA, VVD, and D'66; there is also a
Council of State composed of the monarch, heir apparent, and
councilors consulted by the executive on legislative and
administrative policy