# Why are so many dictators referred to as President?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-dictators-referred-to-as-president/568958>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 25, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-dictators-referred-to-as-president/568958 "2011-01-25T20:15:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-dictators-referred-to-as-president/568958/21 "2011-01-27T08:22:31Z")

</div>

> [@qazwart](#):
>
> In Iraq, Saddam Hussain had elections only a few months before we invaded where he won about 99% of the vote.

_Au contraire_–he won [100% of the vote!](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2002/10/16/attack/main525770.shtml)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-dictators-referred-to-as-president/568958/22 "2011-01-27T08:33:27Z")

</div>

> [@JRDelirious](#):
>
> As for G/Kh/Qad(d)afi, the original Lybian revolutionary junta abolished general grades and cleared the colonels list to eventually replace them with their own people (Moammar was a Captain, field-promoted to LTC during the revolt). After some time as PM in the early 70s he became “Guide and Leader”, supreme over the formal command structure, and simply kept affecting his colonelship as the last grade he held in active duty.

Which is also why colonel is the highest rank in the Libyan military. Even if you’re commanding a corps, you can’t outrank the big dog.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-dictators-referred-to-as-president/568958/23 "2011-01-27T09:53:29Z")

</div>

> [@alphaboi867](#):
>
> Franco (who came to power in the '30s) remained _El Caudillo_ until he died in the '70s.

And part of the reason he didn’t name himself Presidente was to mark that his rule was a temporary dictatorship, not a long-term form of government. The “temporary” was initially supposed to lead to a restoration of rule-of-law within a republican framework and in a very short time, but needing Carlista support derailed the republican part and other political and economical realities further changed the plans; “temporary” ended up being “for life” and the restoration, to monarchy. Spanish dictators are perfectly happy calling their dictatorship a dictatorship, but like the original Roman dictatorships, ours are assumed temporary. Many of those who call themselves President(e) are both initially-elected and intending to hold onto the big seat for themselves, their children and the children of their children… through legitimate elections, of course! _cough cough_

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [January 27, 2011, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-dictators-referred-to-as-president/568958/24 "2011-01-27T11:07:08Z")

</div>

> [@Rigamarole](#):
>
> I doubt there are many dictators who have given up their positions voluntarily.

Pinochet did.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-are-so-many-dictators-referred-to-as-president/568958.md?page=1)