diplomat who handles embassy business on a temporary basis in the absence of the ambassador or minister; low ranked diplomat
In diplomacy, chargé d'affaires (
French for "in charge of business"), is the title of two classes of
diplomatic agents:Chargés d'affaires (ministres chargés d'affaires), who were placed by the reglement of the
Congress of Vienna in the fourth
class of diplomatic agents, are heads of
permanent missions accredited to countries to which, for some reason, it is not possible or not desirable to send agents of a higher rank (although the countries maintain diplomatic relations). They are distinguished from these latter by the fact that their credentials are addressed by the minister for foreign affairs of the state which they are to represent to the minister for foreign affairs of the receiving state. Though still occasionally accredited, ministers of this class are now rare. They have precedence over the other class of chargés d'affaires.Chargés d'affaires ad interim, or chargés des affaires a.i., are those who are presented as such, either verbally or in writing, by heads of missions of the
first, second or third rank to the minister for foreign affairs of the state to which they are accredited, when they leave their post temporarily, or pending the arrival of their successor. It is usual to appoint a counsellor or secretary of legation chargé d'affaires. Some governments are accustomed to give the title of minister to such chargés d'affaires, which ranks them with the other heads of legation. Essentially chargés d'affaires do not differ from
ambassadors,
envoys or ministers resident. They represent their nation, and enjoy the same privileges and immunities as other diplomatic agents.
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