Deputy Prime Minister of Australia accepted the view put to him by McEwen that to commission a Liberal temporarily as Prime Minister would give that person an unfair advantage in the forthcoming party room ballot for the permanent leader. McEwen's appointment was in keeping with the previous occasion when the main non-Labor party was without a leader; Earle Page of the Country Party was interim Prime Minister between 7 and 26 April 1939—the period between Joseph Lyons' sudden death and the United Australia Party naming Robert Menzies his successor. Since 1968 only two Deputy Prime Ministers have gone on to become Prime Minister: Paul Keating
Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius Minister, the National Assembly voted against the bill but provided with an understanding that two cabinet ministers who are senior members just behind the Deputy Prime Minister shall be officially known as Vice-Prime Minister but no office was created, making the position essentially an honorific title. Therefore, in case of absence, illness or sudden death of the Prime Minister, it is only the Deputy Prime Minister who can become the Acting Prime Minister until the Prime Minister resumes office or another is appointed. Vice Prime Minister of Mauritius Vice-Prime Minister of Mauritius () is an honorary title usually carried by