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The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically seen as an alternative prime minister, premier, first minister, or chief minister to the incumbent; in the Westminster system, they head a rival alternative government known as the shadow cabinet or opposition front bench. The same term is also used to refer to the leader of the largest political party that is not in government in subnational state, provincial, and other regional and local legislatures.

The full title for the Leader of the Opposition is the Leader of His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition in the United Kingdom and in many Commonwealth realms.

Current leaders of the opposition

Parliamentary systems

• Leader of the Opposition (Albania) (unofficial position)
• Leader of the Opposition (Cambodia)
• Leader of the Opposition (Comoros)
• Leader of the Opposition (Croatia) (unofficial position)
• Leader of the Opposition (Denmark) (unofficial position)
• Leader of the Opposition (Germany) (unofficial position)
• Leader of the Opposition (Greece)
• Leader of the Opposition (Hungary) (unofficial position)
• Leader of the Opposition (Italy) (unofficial position)
• Leader of the Opposition (Montenegro) (unofficial position)
• Leader of the Opposition (Norway) (unofficial position)
• Leader of the Opposition (Pakistan)
• Leader of the Opposition (Portugal) (unofficial position)
• Leader of the Opposition (Spain) (unofficial position)
• Leader of the Opposition (Sweden) (unofficial position)

Westminster system

• Leader of the Opposition (Antigua and Barbuda)
• Leader of the Opposition (Australia)
  • Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Australia)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Australian Capital Territory)
  • Leader of the Opposition (New South Wales)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Northern Territory)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Queensland)
  • Leader of the Opposition (South Australia)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Tasmania)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Victoria)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Western Australia)
• Leader of the Opposition (Bahamas)
• Leader of the Opposition (Bangladesh)
• Leader of the Opposition (Barbados)
• Leader of the Opposition (Belize)
• Leader of the Opposition (Botswana)
• Leader of the Official Opposition (Canada)
  • Leader of the Opposition in the Senate (Canada)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Alberta)
  • Leader of the Opposition (British Columbia)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Manitoba)
  • Leader of the Opposition (New Brunswick)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Newfoundland and Labrador)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Nova Scotia)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Ontario)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Prince Edward Island)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Quebec)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Saskatchewan)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Yukon)
• Leader of the Opposition (Dominica)
• Leader of the Opposition (Fiji)
• Leader of the Opposition (Grenada)
• Leader of the Opposition (India)
  • Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha
  • Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha
• Leader of the Opposition (Ireland)
• Leader of the Opposition (Jamaica)
• Leader of the Opposition (Japan) (unofficial position)
• Leader of the Opposition (Kuwait)
• Leader of the Opposition (Lesotho)
• Leader of the Opposition (Malaysia)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Malaysian State Legislative Assemblies)
• Leader of the Opposition (Malta)
• Leader of the Opposition (Mauritius)
• Leader of the Opposition (Myanmar)
• Leader of the Opposition (Nepal)
• Leader of the Opposition (New Zealand)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Cook Islands)
• Leader of the Opposition (Pakistan)
  • Leader of the Opposition of Punjab (Pakistan)
• Leader of the Opposition (Papua New Guinea)
• Leader of the Opposition (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
• Leader of the Opposition (Saint Lucia)
• Leader of the Opposition (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
• Leader of the Opposition (Singapore)
• Leader of the Opposition (Solomon Islands)
• Leader of the Opposition (South Africa)
• Leader of the Opposition (Thailand)
• Leader of the Opposition (Trinidad and Tobago)
• Leader of the Opposition (Tuvalu)
• Leader of the Opposition (United Kingdom)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Scotland) (unofficial position)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Wales)
  • Leader of the Opposition (Northern Ireland)
  • British Overseas Territories
    • Leader of the Opposition (Anguilla)
    • Leader of the Opposition (Bermuda)
    • Leader of the Opposition (British Virgin Islands)
    • Leader of the Opposition (Cayman Islands)
    • Leader of the Opposition (Gibraltar)
    • Leader of the Opposition (Montserrat)
    • Leader of the Opposition (Turks and Caicos Islands)
• Leader of the Opposition (Vanuatu)

Semi-presidential systems

• Leader of the Opposition in the French Senate
• Leader of the Opposition (Sri Lanka)

Presidential systems

• The Leader of the Opposition (Belarus)
• Leader of the Opposition (Seychelles)
• Leader of the Main Opposition (Turkey)
• Leader of the Opposition (Uganda)
• Leader of the Opposition (Zambia)

Other

• Leader of the Opposition (Guyana)

Historical leader of the opposition positions

• Leader of the Opposition (Rhodesia)

See also

• Minority leader, for a similar role in countries utilizing the presidential system
• Parliamentary opposition
• Shadow cabinet

References

1. "How the UK Parliament Works" (PDF). UK Parliament. June 2022. p. 4. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
2. "Leader of the Opposition". Parliamentary Education Office (Australia). 22 December 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2024.
3. Foord, Archibald S (1964). His Majesty's Opposition, 1714-1830. Oxford: Clarendon Press. p. 1. ISBN 978-0-19-821311-6.
4. Hobhouse, John (10 April 1826). "Salary To The President Of The Board Of Trade". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Vol. 15. House of Commons. col. 135.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)

• Leaders of the Opposition
• Political titles