History of Presidential Election
The position of head of state or president is considered a symbol of the highest status in the world’s governance system.
This position was created in modern democratic states after the end of ancient monarchies. The power and scope of the president are not the same in different countries.
Somewhere he has all the power, while somewhere he is only a formal head. There is great diversity in the election process for this position around the world.
These diverse methods of electing the head of state are considered a very interesting and research-oriented subject in political science all over the world today.
Presidential elections are mainly conducted in three types of systems in the world.
First, the direct election system where the people directly elect their president by voting. Second, the indirect election system where representatives or members of parliament elected by the people choose the president by voting.
Third, there is a special electoral college system like the United States. In addition, some countries also have mixed or semi-presidential systems.
Among the continental presidential election systems, mixed and indirect systems are dominant in presidential elections in the countries of the Asian continent.
In the South Asian countries of India, Pakistan and Nepal, the president is indirectly elected by the members of parliament.
On the other hand, in socialist countries such as China and Vietnam, the head of state is nominated by the party’s national congress. In Singapore, presidential elections are held directly by popular vote.
In countries such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Iran, the president is elected directly by the people.
In Lebanon in the Middle East, the presidential election is completed by the parliament on the basis of religious equality.
In countries such as North Korea and Laos, the formal nomination of the head of state is finalized by the supreme legislature.
The vast geographical and cultural diversity of Asia is mainly the main factor behind the diverse methods and political structures of the election of the head of state on this continent.
In the countries of the European continent, parliamentary democracies and semi-presidential regimes mainly exist.
In countries such as France, Portugal, Finland and Ireland, the president is directly elected by direct popular vote.
On the other hand, in countries such as Germany, Italy, Greece and Albania, the president is elected indirectly by a special parliamentary committee or legislature. Both of these systems are widely used in Europe.
There is no presidential election in the United Kingdom, Spain, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Belgium.
This is because these countries still have traditional constitutional monarchies and the position of king or queen.
On the other hand, in Eastern European countries such as Russia and Ukraine, there is a strong presidential system.
There, the head of state with all-powerful power is directly elected by the people.
The long political history and democratic evolution of Europe have determined the diversity of this election system.
Presidential elections are held in most countries on the African continent with direct popular participation.
In Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, Senegal and the Republic of the Congo, the head of state is elected through direct voting.
In these countries, the president usually enjoys extensive executive powers as the head of state and government.
However, in countries such as South Africa, the system is completely different and indirect in nature.
In countries such as South Africa and Botswana, the newly formed parliament elects a president from among its members after general elections.
In politically fragile states such as Libya and Somalia, the head of state is nominated by special tribal or transitional councils.
In Zimbabwe, Algeria and Tunisia, presidential systems make direct elections highly competitive.
Africa’s colonial history and ethnic composition have greatly influenced their electoral systems.
North America has a unique and highly influential system for electing a president.
In the United States, voters do not vote for the president directly, but rather form an electoral college called the Electoral College.
The votes of these electors are used to elect the president and vice president of the country.
This has long been recognized as the most complex and controversial indirect electoral system in the world.
In Central American countries such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras and El Salvador, the president is directly elected by the people.
Countries such as Canada, Jamaica and the Bahamas do not have a president because they are members of the Commonwealth.
The Governor General, as a representative of the British royal family, serves as the formal head of state.
The geopolitical position and economic influence of North American countries are reflected in their systems of government.
Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands do not have a president.
These countries recognize the British Crown as their formal head of state, and the governor-general performs that role.
In countries such as Samoa and Tuvalu, special constitutional positions have been created to honor traditional community leaders.
According to the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the presidency is the highest and most prestigious single office in the country.
According to Article 48 of Part Two of the Constitution of Bangladesh, the president of the country is elected indirectly by vote of the members of the National Assembly.
This article states that the president shall be elected by the votes of the members of the National Assembly.
In addition, according to Article 119 of the Constitution, the entire responsibility for conducting this election is vested in the independent Election Commission of the country.
There is a lot of interest, enthusiasm and in-depth discussion and review in the current political arena in Bangladesh regarding the 2026 presidential election.
The election for this post, which fell vacant after the resignation of former President Mohammad Shahabuddin, will be held in the parliamentary chamber on August 20.
The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) has nominated its long-time tested Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as its candidate.
On the other hand, the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance has fielded Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Chairman Col. (Retd.) Oli Ahmed as its candidate.
After a long 35 years, this voting is going to be held in parliament through ballot papers.
A review of this long history of presidential elections makes it clear that each country determines the election system based on its own culture, history and political needs.
Just as direct voting reflects the direct aspirations of the people, the indirect method consolidates the parliamentary system.
The presidential election in Bangladesh in 2026 has created a new curiosity in domestic politics as well as in the international community.
The election of the head of state in a popular and democratic manner is the true identity of a modern and welfare-oriented state.
(The writer: Essayist, Literary Writer. Email Address: eddanwar@gmail.com)
