I view it as an opportunity to show the best of the rest of Yamatai's goverment besides the Star Army. The organizations the Premier controls issue passports and visas, start new colonies, promote industry, run the police, provide housing, and so forth. This is a great role for someone wants to flesh out the YSE's civilian side. Furthermore the Premier's job is foreign relations, some Yamatai needs help with. The absense of active premiers has often led to the military awkwardly taking the reigns with their gunboat diplomacy.