In a parliamentary system, who typically selects the head of government?

In a parliamentary system, the head of government, often referred to as the Prime Minister, is typically selected by a coalition of parties or the majority party in the parliament. This system operates on the principle that the executive branch derives its legitimacy from, and is accountable to, the legislature (the parliament) rather than the electorate directly.

The party or coalition that holds the majority of seats in the parliament has the authority to nominate a leader, who must then maintain the confidence of that body to govern effectively. This means that if a Prime Minister loses the support of the majority, they can be removed from office through a vote of no confidence. This dynamic results in a more collaborative and often fluid political environment, where party leadership and governance are closely intertwined.

In contrast, other forms of government, such as presidential systems, emphasize direct elections by the public or separate electoral processes for different branches of government. Thus, the role of the public, the head of state, or a directly elected president is not how leadership is determined in a parliamentary context.