Foreign President?

[Gelion]

In your view can a President (leader) of a country have a foreign passport?
(Supposedly the laws of that state allow to have dual citizenship)

P.S. As Storm mentioned "passport" here means "citizenship"

 

[Gelion]

Forgot one thing: Justify your vote

 

[Rik Meleet]

With "President" do you mean "head of state" or "head of Government" ?

HoS: absolutely. Elisabeth is HoS of Canada and Australia for example.
HoG: Why not ? Unless the election-laws forbid it; it is allowed. And why would it be forbidden anyway ?

 

[Rambuchan]

Explain yourself better and then we may vote. Afaik, aren't foreign leaders granted simiar rights to diplomats, albeit far greater rights?

 

[Gelion]

I guess I meant head of Government. Quite frankly for me it made little difference...... but its rather head of government than head of state.

The reason for the quesiton was: "If a President had a foreign passport he might act in the interest of that foreign power rather than his state". How much is that a danger to the state? Or its something illogical that should not be anyone's business but the Presidents'?

 

[Stormbringer]

Absolutely not. Gelion is Russian so I am asuming he assosiates a pasport with citizenship. Can a head of government be at the same time a citizen of another country? No, because he swore alleagance to two countries, and there will be obvious conflicts of interest there.

 

[Cuivienen]

As long as that president does, in fact, have citizenship of the nation he or she is president of, I'd be fine with it.

 

[Kayak]

Well I don't like the idea of dual citizenship in any case. I find it hard to believe one can be loyal to two masters. That said I have no problem with people changing citizenship and no problem with a foriegn born head of state.

 

[Rik Meleet]

You don't need 2 passports to express allegeance to 2 countries. I'm sure many can name HoG's who are Bush's lapdog and only own 1 passport.

 

[sysyphus]

Well, as was stated, our equivalent of "President" already is a foreigner.

Our first Prime Minister was a scotsman actually, but in those days the line between "Canadian" and "British" was so blurry it didn't matter. If at the same time say an Italian passport holder ran for PM he probably would have faced severe opposition.

 

[sysyphus]

Well I don't like the idea of dual citizenship in any case. I find it hard to believe one can be loyal to two masters. That said I have no problem with people changing citizenship and no problem with a foriegn born head of state.

If people can have multiple children and love them equally, why can't people be loyal to multiple countries?

 

[Kayak]

If people can have multiple children and love them equally, why can't people be loyal to multiple countries?

Because they don't have to obey their children.

 

[sysyphus]

Because they don't have to obey their children.

And if the countries in question are democracies, they don't have to obey them either.

 

[Rambuchan]

I guess I meant head of Government. Quite frankly for me it made little difference...... but its rather head of government than head of state.

What's the difference?

The reason for the quesiton was: "If a President had a foreign passport he might act in the interest of that foreign power rather than his state". How much is that a danger to the state? Or its something illogical that should not be anyone's business but the Presidents'?

So let's get this straight. A guy or gal, works their ass off to get to the prime position, and works their way through all the cast-in-stone traditions and fools the whole establishment to make it to the top. Well, call me naive, but I don't think anyone would be that cold* and I don't think any democratic electorate or establishment would not be able to see through this.

And if they did make it through, then they destabilise the whole country by betraying it?*

Pretty much every world leader of any nation (with a few peripheral exceptions) does not make it all the way without genuine passion and dedication. To think otherwise is to belittle the process we've been working at for over a two millenia! (Not to say that it doesn't have its faults, but the faults are not as big as you are implying). There are simply too many people watching, too many formalities and too many other hurdles.


* IF, and that's a SIZE 6 'if', they do as you are suggesting then they would surely be the greatest spy the world has ever seen.


Suffice to say, I haven't voted yet and I am still wondering what the hell you are getting at.

 

[Archbob]

I actually like our current system where only natural born citizens can become president. I can never become president although I've lived here most my life. But I have a strongly chinese influence on me. I believe the current law should stand for the best interests of the country.

 

[Kayak]

And if the countries in question are democracies, they don't have to obey them either.

Quick example (off the top of my head) If both countries have the draft which army do you go in?

 

[Rambuchan]

Gelion, you are aware that there have been a number of Presidents of foreign origin already right?

 

[Gelion]

What's the difference?

Ask Rik, he seems to know better. I think he already gave a good explanation.

So let's get this straight.....
There are simply too many people watching, too many formalities and too many other hurdles.....* IF, and that's a SIZE 6 'if', they do as you are suggesting then they would surely be the greatest spy the world has ever seen.

The head of Britisih MI5 (0r was it MI6) was a Soviet agent most of his life. A HEAD of Her Majesties Intelligence. I think it majourly disproves your point. It is very difficult to understand where persons loyalties are. In a country where there's no strong political elite a leader working for foreign influences is possible, even more possible if she/he holds a foreign passport (citizenship).

I am not getting at anything, I am trying to understand your views on the issue.

 

[Gelion]

Gelion, you are aware that there have been a number of Presidents of foreign origin already right?

Origin does not mean citizenship, right? I do know that there were.

 

[Rambuchan]

Ask Rik, he seems to know better. I think he already gave a good explanation.

Well I see his point. But H-o-State in this context doesn't apply to your question, really. At least not within the bounds of history or reasonable plausibility (please correct me if I am wrong here dear history buffs, aside from any 'oh well this monarch's distant uncle / father / great to the power of 48 grandfather was of foerign extraction'). Are you asking would a Monarch of a pseudo-commonwealth-type nation betray those within that Commonwealth? I just don't see why it would be in their advantage unless they were a damn fine spy, and a spy that has grown into the structure of the elite's bloodlines. Maybe someone will enlighten me.

As for H-o-Govt, I've answered that already I hope.

The head of Britisih MI5 (0r was it MI6) was a Soviet agent most of his life. A HEAD of Her Majesties Intelligence. I think it majourly disproves your point. It is very difficult to understand where persons loyalties are. In a country where there's no strong political elite a leader working for foreign influences is possible, even more possible if she/he holds a foreign passport (citizenship).

Sounds interesting. Who are you talking about here? I don't think I've heard of this before.

I am trying to understand your views on the issue.

You've got them!

And now I really wish people would enter some info into their user profile so that one knows with whom they are carrying on such a bizarre discussion.