Premier, << prih MIHR or PREE mee uhr, >> is the head of the cabinet in France and in various other countries. Such a leader is also called a prime minister, especially in English-speaking countries.
The premier is a member of the majority party, or one of the leading parties of the legislative body, or parliament. He or she is responsible to the parliament and to the people. A premier generally appoints the ministers who make up the cabinet. The premier and the cabinet generally resign when a majority of the members of parliament disagree with them on any important matter. A new premier is then appointed by the president or ruler of the country. The new premier is often a leader of the party that opposed the old premier. Sometimes a premier may not resign when he or she is opposed. Instead the premier may ask for a new parliamentary election. This election shows whether the people support the premier’s policies or those of the parliament.
In Canada, a premier heads the government of each province or territory. Each premier is the leader of the majority party in the provincial legislature and presides over a cabinet. In Australia, the head of each of the country’s six state governments is known as the premier.
