This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Spanish to English
  3. Government / Politics

presidente de lujo

English translation: nominal Chair/President/CEO // figurehead // ornamental president // puppet president/ruler

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:presidente de lujo
English translation:nominal Chair/President/CEO // figurehead // ornamental president // puppet president/ruler
Entered by: María Teresa Taylor Oliver

17:16 Nov 15, 2019
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics
Spanish term or phrase: presidente de lujo
I am translating a news report on the US sanctions against senior Nicaraguan Government officials: https://confidencial.com.ni/lumberto-campbell-y-roberto-lope...

I cannot find how to translate "presidente de lujo" in this context. Would it be something like "de facto president"? Since Porras was stripped of his powers to avoid further problems involving the US sanctions but still seems to have remained as a figurehead of sorts... That is the only way I'm reading this.

Thanks in advance!

"Las sanciones estadounidenses contra las cabezas formales del Consejo Supremo Electoral (CSE), y del Instituto Nicaragüense de Seguridad Social (INSS), representan golpes directos a la legitimidad y la credibilidad de las actuaciones de ambas entidades, cuyos titulares deberían ser sustituidos con prontitud, según analistas políticos y opositores consultados por CONFIDENCIAL.
[...]
Incluir al presidente en funciones del CSE, Lumberto Campbell, en la lista de quienes recibieron la sanción estadounidense (una "condecoración", según el titular de la Asamblea Nacional, Gustavo Porras, cuando perdió facultades y quedó como ******presidente de lujo********* del primer poder del Estado), "muestra la relevancia que el CSE y las elecciones tienen para Estados Unidos", opina la investigadora Cuadra."
María Teresa Taylor Oliver
Panama
Local time: 19:56
nominal Chair/President/CEO
Explanation:
Whichever term you use to translate "presidente", nominal means 'in name only', which seems like what they are trying to express


nominal
/ˈnɒmɪn(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
(of a role or status) existing in name only.
"Thailand retained nominal independence under Japanese military occupation"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2019-11-15 17:30:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

And I think "de facto" would work too.
Selected response from:

neilmac
Spain
Local time: 02:56
Grading comment
Thank you, everyone! I've already turned in my document and I went with "president in name only." I like Neil's "less judgmental" observation but I also think Juan Arturo's "ornamental" option was brilliant. Wish I could distribute the kudoZ... :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +8ornamental president
Juan Arturo Blackmore Zerón
4 +4nominal Chair/President/CEO
neilmac
4 +1figurehead president
bigedsenior
4puppet president
Laura Bojneagu
4 -1toy/interim president
Aurelio Alvarez Ibarra


  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
nominal Chair/President/CEO


Explanation:
Whichever term you use to translate "presidente", nominal means 'in name only', which seems like what they are trying to express


nominal
/ˈnɒmɪn(ə)l/
Learn to pronounce
adjective
1.
(of a role or status) existing in name only.
"Thailand retained nominal independence under Japanese military occupation"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2019-11-15 17:30:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

And I think "de facto" would work too.

Example sentence(s):
  • In parliamentary systems the head of state may be merely the nominal chief executive officer...

    https://www.quora.com/Why-is-the-president-of-india-known-as-the-nominal-head
neilmac
Spain
Local time: 02:56
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 200
Grading comment
Thank you, everyone! I've already turned in my document and I went with "president in name only." I like Neil's "less judgmental" observation but I also think Juan Arturo's "ornamental" option was brilliant. Wish I could distribute the kudoZ... :)
Notes to answerer
Asker: Gracias, Neil! I like the "in name only."

Asker: ¡Jajaja! He oído (y usado yo misma) lo de fantasma o de pacotilla, pero nunca había oído lo de "de lujo". Todos los días se aprende algo nuevo. ¡Gracias, Juan!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Juan Jacob: O "presidente fantasma", "de pacotilla"...
39 mins
agree  AllegroTrans: The "in name only" option works best
50 mins
  -> Less judgemental/opinionated and more euphemistic IMHO.
agree  Muriel Vasconcellos
2 hrs
agree  patinba: But "de facto" is the opposite
4 hrs
  -> But is it really?
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +8
ornamental president


Explanation:
Entiendo mejor la frase, por el contexto, como ¨presidente de ornato¨. Es decir un presidente que sólo es de adorno y no en verdaderas funciones, que atrás de él hay alguien moviéndolo.

Por ello lo diría en inglés...

https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=GrfCCwAAQBAJ&pg=PT710&l...

Juan Arturo Blackmore Zerón
Mexico
Local time: 19:56
Works in field
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in category: 6

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  patinba: También es el sentido.
1 hr
  -> Gracias patinba!
agree  philgoddard: I think this reflects the colorful Spanish phrase better.
2 hrs
  -> Gracias philgoddard!
agree  Aurelio Alvarez Ibarra: Creo que "de lujo" efectivamente se refiere a que está "de adorno". Ornamental es una traducción adecuada.
4 hrs
  -> Gracias Aurelio!
agree  AllegroTrans
6 hrs
agree  ael
10 hrs
  -> Gracias ael!
agree  Marie Wilson
10 hrs
  -> Gracias Marie!
agree  neilmac: Nice option too.
13 hrs
  -> Gracias neilmac!
agree  Roberto Govia: The better option, not just because of the context, but the pejorative tone too.
1 day 54 mins
  -> Gracias Roberto!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
toy/interim president


Explanation:
Dependiendo del contexto a lo que realmente se quiere referir, "toy" sería para burlarse de que es un presidente sin poder, o "interim" sería para indicar que es un sustituto. Definitivamente no creo que "de lujo" quiera decir que es algo bueno.

Aurelio Alvarez Ibarra
Mexico
Local time: 18:56
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  AllegroTrans: "toy" and "interim" are not remotely synonyms and your CL is much too high
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
presidente lujo
figurehead president


Explanation:
See 6th line in paragraph 'AN END RUN AROUND THE SANCTIONS', about 2/3 down page
Revista Envío - Nicaragua briefs
www.envio.org.ni/articulo/5668
Porras remains in his post, but only as a figurehead. Ortega renamed as advisers some of those sanctioned, including Sonia Castro, who was replaced as minister of health while on a diplomatic

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/figurehead

bigedsenior
Local time: 17:56
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 120

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Christian [email protected]
6 hrs
  -> thanks, Christian. Please note that this was included in the answer selected.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 days 18 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
puppet president


Explanation:
A puppet ruler is a person who has a title indicating possession of political power, but who, in reality, is controlled by outside individuals or forces. Such outside power can be exercised by a foreign government, in which case the puppet ruler's domain is called a puppet state. But the puppet ruler may also be controlled by internal forces, such as non-elected officials.

Laura Bojneagu
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:56
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Laura! Another excellent suggestion. I've edited the glossary entry to include it.

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search