Governor (Arab Union)
In the Union of Arab Republics (UAR; informally the Arab Union), the Governor (Arabic: المحافظ al-muḥāfiẓ) is the head of government of one of the 20 republics (federated states) of the union. The equivalent office at the federal (all-union) level is the Prime Minister of the Arab Union. The mandate of a governor is called a governorate (محافظة muḥāfaẓah), which officially refers to his cabinet but more generally, the extensive apparatus of executive government below the federal and above local government.
Each governor is nominated by the republican congress (legislative assembly) of his/her respective republic. For example, the Governor of Palestine is nominated by the Palestinian Arab Congress. A candidate nominated for governor is then officially appointed by the President of the Arab Union. However, a governor can only be dismissed by his respective republican congress, via a vote of no confidence. The presidential appointment of a governor is but a formality, as the President's refusal to appoint a nominee renders little benefit to the President, who will thereafter have to appoint as governor a subsequent (and similar yet possibly less qualified) nominee, to avoid a significant part of the state apparatus seizing up due to lack of efficient mid-level leadership. The President of the Arab Union does, however, retain the power to remove from office a republican governor under exceptional circumstances.