The government of the Republic is a semi-presidential system with an elected president who appoints the Council of Ministers, or Cabinet.  The council, including the Prime Minister, is selected from the elected representatives in Parliament.  The country has had a multi-party political system since the early 1990s; although the system is heavily dominated by President Denis Sassou Nguesso, he has lacked serious competition in the presidential elections held under his rule. Sassou Nguesso is backed by his own Congolese Labour Party () as well as a range of smaller parties.