President for Life

President for Life is a title assumed by some dictators to ensure that their authority or legitimacy is never questioned.

The first well-known incident of a leader extending his term indefinitely was Roman dictator Julius Caesar, who made himself "Dictator for life" in 45 BC. His actions would later be mimicked by the French leader Napoleon Bonaparte who was appointed "First Consul for life" in 1799.

Since then, many dictators, especially those in post-colonial Africa, have adopted similar titles.

Ironically, most leaders who proclaim themselves President for Life do not in fact successfully serve a life term. Most are deposed long before their death although some, such as François Duvalier, have managed to run out the clock.

List of Leaders who became President for Life (with date of proclamation)

• Yuan Shikai of China (1915)
• Josip Broz Tito of Yugoslavia (1963)
• François Duvalier of Haiti (1964)
• Hastings Kamuzu Banda of Malawi (1971)
• Jean-Bédel Bokassa of the Central African Republic (1972)
• Francisco Macías Nguema of Equatorial Guinea (1972)
• Ferdinand Marcos of the Philippines (1973)
• Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia (1975)
• Idi Amin of Uganda (1976)
• Lennox Sebe of Ciskei (1983)
• Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan (1999)

Some leaders have never formally proclaimed themselves "President for Life" but have nevertheless openly served life terms.

De facto Presidents for Life

• Francisco Franco of Spain
• Fidel Castro of Cuba
• Saddam Hussein of Iraq

As well, every leader of the Soviet Union except Khrushchev led a de facto life term.