Template:Short description
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, as both positions are "number two" offices, but there are some differences.
The states of Australia and provinces of Canada each have the analogous office of deputy premier. In the devolved administrations of the United Kingdom, an analogous position is that of the deputy First Minister, albeit the position in Northern Ireland has equivalent powers to the First Minister differing only in the titles of the offices. In Canada, the position of deputy prime minister should not be confused with the Canadian deputy minister of the prime minister of Canada, a nonpolitical civil servant position.
In Austria and Germany, the officeholder is known as vice-chancellor.
A deputy prime minister traditionally serves as acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent or incapable of exercising power. The deputy prime minister is often asked to succeed to the prime minister's office following the prime minister's sudden death or unexpected resignation, but that is not necessarily mandated by the constitution. This government position is often a job that is held simultaneously with another ministry, and is usually given to one of the most senior or experienced ministers of the cabinet. The holder of this office may also be deputy leader of the governing party, or perhaps the leader of the junior party of a coalition government.
Little scholarly attention has focused on deputy prime ministers, as they are sometimes less involved in the political power plays of government and more focus on the work at hand. A 2009 study in Political Science identified nine 'qualities' of deputy prime ministership: temperament; relationships with their Cabinet and caucus; relationships with their party; popularity with the public; media skills; achievements as deputy prime minister; relationship with the prime minister; leadership ambition; and method of succession.<ref>Steven Barnes, 'What About Me? Deputy Prime Ministership in New Zealand', Political Science, Vol. 61, No. 1, 2009, pp. 33-49</ref>
By contrast, the structure of the Government of Russia<ref>Article 110.2 of the Constitution of Russian Federation</ref> and Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine provides for several deputy prime ministers or vice prime ministers.<ref>Article 114 of the Constitution of Ukraine</ref> In the case of the Russian government, the prime minister is responsible for defining the scope of the duties for each of their deputies,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> who also may head a specific ministry: e.g. the former Minister of Finance of Russia, Alexey Kudrin, also serves as one of the deputies of the prime ministers or vice-premiers. One or two of these deputy prime ministers may hold the title of a first deputy prime minister. Russian federal law indicates that in accordance with the order established in advance, one of the deputy prime ministers may temporarily substitute for the prime minister in their absence. Customarily, however, it is to one of the "first" Deputy prime ministers that the prime-ministerial duties may be delegated. At the same time, in the case of prime minister's resignation, the law allows the President of Russia to choose any of the current vice-premiers to serve as an acting prime minister until the confirmation of the new government.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
There is also the special case of Belgium: in the Federal Government of Belgium, a deputy prime minister not only replaces the prime minister in the case they are incapacitated, but also acts as the link between the government and their political party. In short, in Belgium, a Deputy prime minister is the voice of their political party in the federal government, and they are the voice of the government in their political party. The prime minister and the deputy prime ministers form what is called the "inner cabinet" (kernkabinet; conseil des ministres restreint or kern), an instance where the most important political decisions are discussed and taken.
Lists of deputy prime ministers
| State
|
Office
|
Officeholder
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Assumed office
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Deputy prime minister
|
Abdul Ghani Baradar (acting, first)
|
7 September 2021
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| Abdul Salam Hanafi (acting, second)
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| Abdul Kabir (acting, third)
|
4 October 2021
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Deputy prime minister
|
Arben Ahmetaj
|
18 September 2021
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Deputy prime minister
|
Robin Yearwood
|
|
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Deputy prime minister
|
Tigran Avinyan
|
11 May 2018
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| Mher Grigoryan
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Deputy prime minister
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Richard Marles
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23 May 2022
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Vice-chancellor
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Vacant
|
|
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Deputy prime minister
|
Yagub Eyyubov and Shahin Mustafayev
|
13 February 2003 and 22 October 2019
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Deputy prime minister
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Chester Cooper
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17 September 2021
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Deputy prime minister
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Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa
|
2 November 2010
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Deputy Prime Minister of Bangladesh
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Vacant
|
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Deputy prime minister
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Santia Bradshaw
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26 January 2022
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Deputy prime minister
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Mikalay Snapkow, Yuri Shuleiko, Anatol Sivak, Vladimir Karanik
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Deputy prime minister
|
Pierre-Yves Dermagne
|
1 October 2020
|
| Georges Gilkinet
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| Vincent Van Peteghem
|
| Frank Vandenbroucke
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| Petra De Sutter
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| David Clarinval
|
22 April 2022
|
| Paul Van Tigchelt
|
22 October 2023
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Deputy prime minister
|
Cordel Hyde
|
16 November 2020
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Deputy prime minister
|
Lyudmila Petkova
|
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Deputy prime minister
|
Aun Pornmoniroth
|
6 September 2018
|
| Vongsey Vissoth
|
22 August 2023
|
| Sar Sokha
|
| Tea Seiha
|
| Hangchuon Naron
|
| Sok Chenda Sophea
|
| Keut Rith
|
| Say Sam Al
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| Sun Chanthol
|
| Neth Savoeun
|
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Deputy prime minister
|
Vacant (since 2024)
|
N/A
|
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First vice premier
|
Ding Xuexiang
|
12 March 2023
|
| Second vice premier
|
He Lifeng
|
| Third vice premier
|
Zhang Guoqing
|
| Fourth vice premier
|
Liu Guozhong
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Davor Božinović
|
19 July 2019
|
| Tomo Medved
|
23 July 2020
|
| Oleg Butković
|
15 July 2022
|
| Branko Bačić
|
17 January 2023
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| Marko Primorac
|
17 May 2024
|
| Josip Dabro
|
| Template:Flag
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First deputy prime minister
|
Vít Rakušan
|
17 December 2021
|
| Deputy prime minister
|
Marian Jurečka
|
17 December 2021
|
| Ivan Bartoš
|
17 December 2021
|
| Vlastimil Válek
|
17 December 2021
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Deputy Prime Minister
|
Troels Lund Poulsen
|
23 October 2022
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Deputy Prime Minister
|
Irving McIntyre
|
13 December 2022
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Deputy prime minister
|
Armanda Berta dos Santos
|
29 May 2020
|
| José Maria dos Reis
|
24 June 2020
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Deputy prime minister
|
Khaled Abdel Ghaffar and Kamel al-Wazir
|
|
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Deputy prime minister
|
Clemente Engonga Nguema Onguene, Ángel Mesie Mibuy and Alfonso Nsue Mokuy
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|
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Deputy prime minister
|
Themba N. Masuku<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
|
4 November 2018
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Deputy Prime Minister
|
Temesgen Tiruneh
|
21 September 2012
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Deputy prime minister
|
Biman Prasad
|
24 Dec 2022
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Deputy prime minister
|
Annika Saarikko
|
10 September 2020
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Vice Prime Minister
|
Thea Tsulukiani
|
31 March 2021
|
| Levan Davitashvili
|
12 July 2021
|
| Template:Flag
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Vice-Chancellor
|
Lars Klingbeil
|
6 May 2025
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| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Vacant (since 2023)
|
N/A
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Zsolt Semjén
|
1 June 2010
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| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Vacant (since 2004)
|
N/A
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Fuad Hussein and Ali Tamim
|
|
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Tánaiste
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Micheál Martin
|
17 December 2022
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| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Yariv Levin
|
29 December 2022
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| Vice prime minister
|
Vacant (since 2023)
|
N/A
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Matteo Salvini
|
22 October 2022
|
| Antonio Tajani
|
22 October 2022
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| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Horace Chang
|
7 September 2020
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| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Vacant (since 2021)
|
N/A
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Ayman Safadi
|
|
| Template:Flag
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First deputy prime minister
|
Alihan Smaiylov
|
25 February 2019
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| Deputy prime minister
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Roman Sklyar
|
18 September 2019
|
| Eraly Togjanov
|
11 February 2020
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| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Donika Gërvalla-Schwarz and Emilija Redžepi
|
22 March 2021
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| Template:Flag
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Deputy Prime Minister
|
Qubad Talabani
|
June 2014
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| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Fahad Yusuf Al-Sabah, Sharida Abdallah Saad Al Maousherji, Imad Mohammad Alatiqi
|
|
| Template:Flag
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First deputy chairman of the cabinet of ministers
|
Adylbek Kasymaliev
|
20 June 2022
|
| Deputy chairman of the cabinet of ministers
|
variable, currently three deputies
|
by cabinet
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune |
2021
|
| Chansamone Chanyalath
|
| Saleumxay Kommasith |
20 June 2022
|
| Vilay Lakhamfong
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Tarek Mitri
|
8 February 2025
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Mathibeli Mokhothu
|
21 May 2020
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Sabine Monauni
|
25 March 2021
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime ministers
|
Xavier Bettel
|
17 November 2023
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy Prime Ministers
|
Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
|
3 December 2022
|
| Fadillah Yusof
|
| Template:Flag
|
Deputy prime minister
|
Vacant (since 2024)
|
N/A
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Paul Bérenger
|
29 December 2024
|
| Vice-prime minister
|
Vacant (since 2024)
|
N/A
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy Prime Minister
|
Mihai Popșoi
|
29 January 2024
|
| Dumitru Alaiba
|
16 February 2023
|
| Vladimir Bolea
|
16 February 2023
|
| Cristina Gherasimov
|
5 February 2024
|
| Oleg Serebrian
|
19 January 2022
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Khassuuri Gankhuyag
|
12 November 2025
|
| Togmidyn Dorjkhand
|
10 July 2024
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Vladimir Joković
|
28 April 2022
|
| Raško Konjević
|
| Jovana Marović
|
| Ervin Ibrahimović
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Soe Win
|
1 August 2021
|
| Mya Tun Oo
|
1 February 2023<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
|
| Tin Aung San
|
| Win Shein
|
| Than Swe
|
3 August 2023<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy-prime minister
|
John Mutorwa
|
9 February 2024
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Prakash Man Singh
|
15 July 2024
|
| Bishnu Prasad Paudel
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Fleur Agema
|
2 July 2024
|
| Sophie Hermans
|
| Eddy van Hijum
|
| Mona Keijzer
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
David Seymour
|
31 May 2025<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
|
| Template:Flag
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Vice premier
|
Pak Jong-gun
|
2021
|
| Yang Sung-ho
|
2020
|
| Kim Song-ryong
|
2021
|
| Ri Song-hak
|
2021
|
| Pak Hun
|
2021
|
| Ju Chol-gyu
|
2021
|
| Jon Sung-guk
|
2022
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Izet Mexhiti
Ljupco Dimovski
Ivan Stoilković
Orhan Murtenzai
Arben Fetaj
Aleksandar Nikolovski
|
23 June 2024
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
| Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said
|
1972
|
| Asa'ad bin Tariq Al Said
|
2017
|
| Shihab bin Tariq Al Said
|
2020
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Ishaq Dar
|
29 March 2024
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Vacant
|
11 May 2022
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz
|
13 December 2023
|
| Krzysztof Gawkowski
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Vacant (since 2015)
|
N/A
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah
|
January 2016
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Marian Neacșu
|
15 June 2023
|
| Cătălin Predoiu
|
| Template:Flag
|
First Deputy Chairman of the Government
|
Denis Manturov
|
14 May 2024
|
| Deputy Chairmen of the Government
|
variable, up to eight deputies
|
by cabinet
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Geoffrey Hanley
|
6 August 2022
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Ernest Hilaire
|
January 2022
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Montgomery Daniel
|
7 November 2020
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio
|
24 May 2021
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Vacant (since 2022)
|
N/A
|
| Template:Flag
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First deputy prime minister
|
Ivica Dačić
|
27 April 2014
|
| Deputy prime minister
|
Rasim Ljajić
|
27 July 2012
|
| Zorana Mihajlović
|
27 April 2014
|
| Nebojša Stefanović
|
11 August 2016
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Heng Swee Keat
|
1 May 2019
|
| Gan Kim Yong
|
15 May 2024
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime ministers
|
Robert Kalinak, Denisa Sakova, Tomáš Taraba, Peter Kmec
|
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Zdravko Počivalšek
|
13 March 2020
|
| Matej Tonin
|
| Aleksandra Pivec
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Manasseh Maelanga<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
|
1 November 2019
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime ministers
|
Salah Ahmed Jama
|
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Koo Yun-cheol
|
17 July 2025
|
| ‘’Vacant’’
|
|
| Template:Flag
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First Deputy prime minister
|
María Jesús Montero
|
29 December 2023
|
| Second Deputy Prime Minister
|
Yolanda Díaz
|
12 July 2021
|
| Third Deputy Prime Minister
|
Sara Aagesen
|
25 November 2024
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Ebba Busch
|
18 October 2022
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Vacant (since 2023)
|
N/A
|
| Template:Flag
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Vice premier
|
Cheng Li-chun
|
20 May 2024
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Phipat Ratchakitprakarn
|
19 September 2025
|
| Sophon Zaram
|
| Borwornsak Uwanno
|
| Ekniti Nitithanpraphat
|
| Thamanat Prompow
|
| Suchart Chomklin
|
| Template:Flag
|
Deputy prime minister
|
Vacant (since 10 August 2022)
|
N/A
|
| Template:Flag
|
Deputy prime minister
|
Minute Alapati Taupo
|
20 September 2019
|
| Template:Flag
|
Deputy prime minister
|
Rebecca Kadaga
Moses Ali
Lukia Isanga Nakadama
|
June 2021
|
| Template:Flag
|
Deputy prime minister
|
Yulia Svyrydenko
|
November 2021
|
| Template:Flag
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Deputy prime minister
|
Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Maktoum bin Mohammed Al Maktoum
|
|
| Template:Flag
|
Deputy prime minister
|
David Lammy
|
5 September 2025
|
| Template:Flag
|
Deputy prime ministers
|
Zulayho Mahkamova, Jamshid Qochqorov, Ochilboy Ramatov, Jamshid Xojayev
|
|
| Template:Flag
|
Deputy prime minister
|
Ishmael Kalsakau<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
|
21 April 2020
|
| Template:Flag
|
First Deputy prime minister
|
Nguyễn Hòa Bình
|
26 August 2024
|
| Deputy prime minister
|
Trần Hồng Hà
|
5 January 2023
|
| Lê Thành Long
|
6 June 2024
|
| Hồ Đức Phớc
|
26 August 2024
|
| Bùi Thanh Sơn
|
| Template:Flag
|
Deputy prime minister
|
Vacant (since 2022)
|
N/A
|
Position abolished
References
<references/>
Template:Types of government ministers