er has some control over
appointments to the more sensitive ministries
elections: leader of the Islamic Revolution appointed for life by
the Assembly of Experts; president elected by popular vote for a
four-year term; election last held 17 June 2005 with a two-candidate
runoff on 24 June 2005 (next to be held NA 2009)
election results: Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD elected president; percent of
vote - Mahmud AHMADI-NEJAD 62%, Ali Akbar Hashemi RAFSANJANI 36%;
note - 2% of ballots spoiled

Iraq
chief of state: Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) President
Jalal TALABANI (since 6 April 2005); Deputy Presidents Adil Abd
AL-MAHDI and Ghazi al-Ujayl al-YAWR (since 6 April 2005); note - the
President and Deputy Presidents comprise the Presidency Council)
head of government: Iraqi Transitional Government (ITG) Prime
Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI (since April 2005); Deputy Prime
Ministers Rowsch SHAWAYS, Ahmad CHALABI, and Abid al-Mutlaq
al-JABBURI (since May 2005)
cabinet: 32 ministers appointed by the Presidency Council, plus
Prime Minister Ibrahim al-JAFARI, Deputy Prime Ministers Rowsch
SHAWAYS, Ahmad CHALABI, and Abid al-Mutlaq al-JABBURI
elections: held 30 January 2005 to elect a 275-member Transitional
National Assembly that will draft a permanent constitution and pave
the way for new national elections at the end of 2005

Ireland
chief of state: President Mary MCALEESE (since 11 November
1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Bertie AHERN (since 26 June 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president with previous nomination
by the prime minister and approval of the House of Representatives
elections: president elected by popular vote for a seven-year term;
election last held 31 October 1997 (next scheduled for October
2011); note - Mary MCALEESE appointed to a second term when no other
candidate qualified for the 2004 presidential election; prime
minister nominated by the House of Representatives and appointed by
the president
election results: Mary MCALEESE elected president; percent of vote -
Mary MCALEESE 44.8%, Mary BANOTTI 29.6%
note: government coalition - Fianna Fail and the Progressive
Democrats

Israel
chief of state: President Moshe KATZAV (since 31 July 2000)
head of government: Prime Minister Ariel SHARON (since 7 March 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet selected by prime minister and approved by the
Knesset
elections: president is la