The Novelverse [Possible Spoilers]

[JB2005]

I think there's a couple of people kicking about who read the Novels...and it's been bothering me for a while that in the second Cold Equations book, President Bacco is talking about re-election...except the book's set in 2384 and she was elected in 2379 and its been established that presidential terms in the Federation are 4 years...

The only thing I can think is that she was elected in a Special Election, so maybe she was elected to serve the remainder of Zife's term and her own term?

[Joshmaul]

My understanding is that this is indeed what happened. I believe it was in the "A Time To..." series that establishes that Min Zife was forced to resign (read: assassinated) over the Tezwa affair, and Bacco won the special election to replace him. This all took place just days before Shinzon and Tal'Aura wiped out the Romulan Senate. I am also of the understanding that the Federation presidency has no term limits, given that the STO timeline establishes Bacco serving until 2392, which would imply at least three full terms.