Deputy Prime Minister of the Arab Union

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The Deputy President of the Council of Ministers of the Arab Union (Arabic: نائب رئيس مجلس الوزراء nāʾib raʾīs majlis al-wazarāʾ), usually known colloquially as the Deputy Prime Minister (نائب رئيس الوزراء nāʾib raʾīs al-wazarāʾ), is the deputy head of government of the Arab Union and second most senior member of the Council of Ministers, the top executive organ of government at the federal level. The Deputy Prime Minister is appointed by the Prime Minister, acting as the latter's de facto chief of staff, responsible for managing the day-to-day affairs of the Council of Ministers as well as representing the Prime Minister at official events when the latter is unable to attend in person.

The official workplace of the Deputy Prime Minister is the Northwest Gallery Office on the upper floor of Merbad Palace, the large official workplace and residence of the Prime Minister; the deputy prime minister's official residence is ِAyoun Kader Estate. The current incumbent Deputy Prime Minister of the Arab Union is Zubeir Nidal, in office since September 2017.

Duties and responsibilities[edit | edit source]

The Deputy Prime Minister's official duties are to answer questions pertaining to overall government policy during question period at joint sessions of the Arab Congress on behalf of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, and to represent the Prime Minister in other functions during the latter's absence. The office has no standing in law and does not carry any formal duties or tasks—that is, the Deputy Prime Minister's portfolio is unofficial and its nature exists at the discretion of the Prime Minister. Sometimes, a deputy prime minister may also hold another ministerial position within the Council of Ministers, although this is uncommon.

According to the Constitution of the Arab Union, the Deputy Prime Minister becomes Acting Prime Minister of the Arab Union in the event of the incumbent Prime Minister's death or incapacitation, and serves in this role until the next congressional election at which point the party or coalition with the most seats will nominate a new prime minister. The Deputy Prime Minister is third in the presidential line of succession, following the Vice President of the Arab Union and the Prime Minister.