Acting prime minister

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An acting prime minister is a member of a cabinet (often in Westminster system countries) who is serving in the role of prime minister, whilst the individual who normally holds the position is unable to do so. The role is often performed by the deputy prime minister (where that position exists), or by another senior minister.

The office is commonly used when the prime minister is absent from the territory of that nation or when the prime minister is unable to perform duties for health reasons.

The position of acting prime minister may be distinguished from that of caretaker prime minister (typically referring to an outgoing prime minister following an electoral defeat and who by convention does not implement new policies) and interim prime minister (who is appointed to perform a similar role to a caretaker, but is typically not a prime minister at the time of being appointed).