Original Question:

This question is posted by ACE on behalf of an anonymous ACE user. 

I am looking for examples of countries other than Angola that use a combined system of direct election and the “head of list” model, either at the national or local level. Under this system, the legislature in the relevant election (e.g., national assembly, provincial assembly, city assembly) is directly elected by the people. Candidates are in the running for the top position in the respective government (e.g., president, governor, mayor) if they are first on their party list. The elected president, governor or mayor is then the candidate who is first on the list of the party that receives the most votes in the legislative election.

For example, one ballot is used in general elections in Angola. Voters select one party, and the presidential candidate (first on the list) of the party that got the most votes becomes president. 

Summary of responses:

Practitioners cited several examples of countries with systems similar to the one in Angola. In Guyana, Burundi, Syria, and the Rojava Cantons (North Syria), the head of the list of the winning party becomes President (or, in the case of the Rojava Cantons, wins the municipal election).

In Guyana, the head of the list of the party that receives the most votes becomes President, even if that candidate received less than 50% of all valid votes. Like Angola, Guyana has a single ballot that helps determine the number of seats a list gets at both the regional (of 25 available seats) and national (of 40 available seats) levels. In Burundi, presidential and legislative elections use the head of list model. One practitioner said that a downside of the system in Burundi is that it can lead to corruption within lists to win the top spots. This can in turn lead to a disconnect between the will of the voters and the election results. In Madagascar’s legislative, municipal, and local elections, voters are presented with lists with as many candidates as there are seats to be filled, plus three replacement candidates. Any party or coalition may nominate one candidate with two substitutes for each constituency.

 Contributing Members:

• Aram Jamal 
• Lawrence Lachmansingh
• Denise Nzisabira
• Rajaoarinelina Voahangimalala

Madagascar a effectué des élections directes et le modèle "scrutin de liste" c'est-à-dire les candidats sont présentés sur une liste comprenant autant de noms qu'il y de sièges à pourvoir plus trois noms de candidats remplaçants. 

Tous parti ou organisation politique légalement constitué, toute coalition de partis politiques, toute association légalement constituée, tout groupement de personnes indépendantes jouissant de leurs droits civils et politiques, peut présenter un candidat avec deux remplaçants par circonscription électorale

ce type d'élection concerne les élections législatives et les élections municipales et communales

Si l'expérience à Madagascar répond à vos recherches, je pourrai vous donner plus de détail technique et les textes et lois  y afférents 

If I understand correctly, then Guyana has a system very similar to what you are describing.  Here, the head of the list for the party that receives the most votes becomes the President - even if those votes are less than 50% of the valid votes case.  We also have a single ballot, used across 10 regions, that helps determine the number of seats a list gets at both the regional and national level, where 25 and 40 seats have been allocated respectively.

this electoral system is used in Syria, and it is also using in the municipalities elections in ROJAVA cantons (North syria).. regards