Lead candidate

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In politics, a lead candidate (German: Spitzenkandidat; Dutch: lijsttrekker, lit. 'list puller') is the leader of a political party in an election to a legislative body. In parliamentary systems, it is often the party's nominee for the position of head of government.^[1] In open list electoral systems, it is the first candidate on a party's electoral list. The lead candidate can be, but is not necessarily, the party chair or political leader.^[2]