<p>Would it be PLAUSIBLE for a foreign born(as well as non-Commonwealth) person to climb up the ranks in a major Canadian or British political party, become the leader of that party, and eventually become Prime Minister of Canada (or Britain)? Is this in any way ever somewhat likely to happen?</p>
<p>I’d say it’s possible only if they’ve lived a majority of their life in the said country and are very familiar with it’s culture and issues, as well as being fully able to relate with the common people. In the United Kingdom, I would call it very unlikely in a society that is still dominated by familial ties and titles (David Cameron, for example, is from a very affluent family and is a descendant of King William IV). It might be more likely in a more “modern” political climate as in Canada (Harper comes from a decidedly middle class upbringing), however they would have quite the uphill battle. If such a thing were to happen, it would definitely occur in Canada before it ever did in the UK.</p>
<p>Thank you, so if someone were to go to university in Canada, and become a permanent resident and then naturalized citizen soon after, but was raised in America, would this person have a very hard time first getting elected MP, then head of his/her party, and eventually become Prime Minister?</p>
<p>Anyone who can successfully connect with the people in their district could potentially be an MP. Unlike in the US, most MPs are not career politician types when they start running. Canada has had foreign MPs (though I’m not sure about American). If they’re a real stand-out in Parliament they could get the needed popular to be a contender for head of their party, and then it’s about getting your party’s message out from there (because in Parliamentary systems like Canada and the UK the person is much less important than the party and its ideals.)</p>
<p>Thank you. Does the Prime Minister get to his/her premiership much in the same way the Speaker of the House of the US House of Representatives becomes speaker?</p>
<p>Yes, essentially, they are chosen by the entire Parliament, but obviously it always the leader of the majority party/coalition government who is elected.</p>
<p>Do you think in a generation or two, France would receptive of a foreign (ie. Canadian, American, British) born person as president who was raised in the country of his birth, but was a French citizen all of his adult life(lived there for at least 25 or 30 years), provided he/she spoke French at a native level, had the right social connections, and renounced any other citizenships?</p>