Party leader

In politics, a party leader is the most powerful and highest ranking official within a political party. The party leader is often, but not in all cases, the chairman of the party organization. The position is sometimes put to a ballot of party members or elected office holders. If only one candidate emerges he/she is said to be elected "by acclamation".

The leaders of communist parties often hold the title of General secretary (eg. General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China).

Party leaders elected by ballot of party members

* Alex Salmon, Scottish National Party

Party leaders elected by acclamation

* Gordon Brown, became leader of the British Labour Party as the only candidate and also assumed the role of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom without electoral endorsement.
* Brian Cowan echoed this feat by becoming uncontested leader of Fianna Fail and taoiseach of the Republic of Ireland without a general election.
* Peter Robinson became leader of the Democratic Unionist Party uncontested and was then endorsed as First Minister of Northern Ireland without electoral endorsement.

See also

*Party secretary