While the presidential campaign and eventual victory of President-elect Barack Obama dominated U.S. headlines in 2008, there were other significant governmental changes as well. Last year saw both the departure of old leaders and the arrival of new ones, military coups and unprecedented democratic elections.
Here is a selection of major government shifts around the globe and bloggers’ reactions:
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CUBA: In February, Fidel Castro resigned as Cuba’s president after ruling since 1959. His brother Raúl Castro, also of the Communist Party, is now serving as president. (Feb. 18) | Blogger “Circles Robinson” outlines Cuba’s future under the new Castro, arguing that U.S.-Cuba relations will not change. |
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PARAGUAY: Left-wing candidate Fernando Lugo swept to victory in Paraguay’s April elections, ending more than six decades of rule by the right-wing Colorado Party. (April 20) | A writer at “Upside Down World” writes about the historic election from Asunción. |
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RUSSIA: Vladimir Putin stepped down as president of Russia after eight years in office in May, handing the job to chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev. (May 7) | Blogger Eugene Ivanov reccomends that Medvedev take several steps to repair U.S.-Russian relations. |
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LEBANON: The parliament elected army chief Michel Suleiman as head of state in May, ending a standoff between the U.S.-backed government and the Hezbollah-led opposition that had lasted for over a year. (May 25) | A blogger at “Independence” writes that calm was somewhat restored to Beirut after Suleiman’s election. |
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MAURITANIA: The African nation held its first free elections in more than 20 years in 2007, but in August 2008, a group of military officers staged a coup and took power from the elected government. The coup leader says that Mauritania will hold presidential elections in May 2009. (August 6) | A local government official in Mauritania blogs about the current political situation there. |
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PAKISTAN: Pervez Musharraf, who came to power in a 1999 coup, resigned in August. Asif Ali Zardari — head of the Pakistan People Party and husband of its slain former leader Benazir Bhutto — assumed office in September. (August 18) | A blogger bids farewell to the Musharraf era. |
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MALDIVES: The small island nation went to the polls for the first time in three decades this year and unseated Asia’s longest-serving ruler. Former political prisoner Mohamed “Anni” Nasheed won a runoff vote. (October 28) | Read the Worldfocus Blogwatch here. |
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UNITED STATES: Democrat Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of the United States in November, and will succeed two-term Republican President George W. Bush in late January. (Nov. 4) | Hear how the world reacted to Obama’s election here. |
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THAILAND: Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej was forced to resign. Replacement Somchai Wongsawat later resigned as a result of anti-government demonstrations. A ruling coalition led by Abhisit Vejjajiva took power in December. (Dec. 17) | Read what a Worldfocus contributing blogger had to say about the future of Thailand. |
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GHANA: President John Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party stepped down after two terms in office. A tight presidential race followed, and John Atta Mills of the opposition National Democratic Congress party narrowly won in December’s runoff vote. (Dec. 28) | Read what a Worldfocus contributer wrote about the significance of the peaceful election for Africa. |
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SOMALIA: President Abdullahi Yusuf resigned in December after acknowledging that Islamist insurgents had gained control over much of the country. The country’s parliament can select a new leader. (Dec. 29) | Read what a Worldfocus contributing blogger had to say about possible Islamist rule in Somalia. |
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BANGLADESH: An army-backed interim government lifted the country’s state of emergency to allow for elections for prime minister, and Sheikh Hasina Wajed won a landslide victory. (Dec. 29) | A blogger at “In Asia” writes about Bangladeshis’ hope that the election will lead to successful governance. |
