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Russia Inaugurates Vladimir Putin Third Time

Matt Cantor — Mon, 07 May 2012 07:02:51 CDT

Calling for a "single, united" nation, Vladimir Putin has begun his third term as Russia's president—a term set to make him Russia's longest-serving leader since Stalin. Following protests yesterday , Putin was sworn in at the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow in a $664,000 ceremony. In a brief speech,...

Putin Poised for Easy Victory

Matt Cantor — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 09:40:05 CST

It's a banner day for Vladimir Putin. He'll easily sail to victory in the March 4 presidential election, according to the final big pre-election poll: About two-thirds of voters are expected to get behind him. That means a landslide against his nearest rival, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, who is...

German President Quits in Corruption Scandal

Matt Cantor — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 05:57:17 CST

Germany's president has stepped down after being hit with multiple corruption allegations. Though Christian Wulff's position is mostly ceremonial, his exit is nevertheless politically damaging to Chancellor Angela Merkel, Bloomberg notes. The chancellor had chosen Wulff to replace the previous president, who also resigned—just shy of two years ago....

Putin: Why I'm Running Again

Matt Cantor — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 07:23:16 CST

He announced he was running in September; four months later, Vladimir Putin is finally offering Russia an account of his reasons for seeking the presidency once again. Russia has entered a "zone of turbulence," and guess who Putin believes is the man to see it through to the other side?...

Yemen's Saleh Poised to Cede Power

Matt Cantor — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:01:26 CST

Yemen’s embattled president is headed to Saudi Arabia to sign a deal ceding power to the vice-president, allowing Ali Abdullah Saleh to keep his title until the country holds new elections in three months. But there’s no guarantee that Saleh, who has dropped out of such plans in the past,...

Bandaged Saleh Makes First Appearance in Weeks

Matt Cantor — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 05:19:00 CDT

Yemen’s president yesterday slammed opponents for what he called an undemocratic attempt to drive him from power; the televised appearance was his first since he was injured in last month’s attack on his compound. Wearing loose clothing and bandages on his hands, Ali Abdullah Saleh’s complexion looked darker than usual,...

Cracks Form in Putin-Medvedev Partnership

Matt Cantor — Mon, 09 May 2011 18:22:59 CDT

After three years of relative harmony, cracks are emerging in Russia’s dual leadership ahead of this year’s presidential elections—and the country’s elite has “spent the whole last month on the verge of a nervous breakdown,” unsure who to support, wrote a Russian economist. Divisions became clear between PM Vladimir...

Mubarak's Son Won't Seek Presidency: VP

Matt Cantor — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 09:24:50 CST

Hosni Mubarak’s son Gamal won’t try to succeed him as president of Egypt, the country’s vice president said, according to state television. The move is the latest concession to demonstrators, the AP reports; many thought Mubarak was planning for his son to take over the presidency, against the wishes of...

Brazil's First Female President Sworn In

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 12:34:05 CST

Dilma Rousseff was sworn in as Brazil's first female president today, capping a rapid political trajectory for the career technocrat and former Marxist rebel who was imprisoned and tortured during the nation's long military dictatorship. Rousseff, 63, takes the helm of Latin America's largest nation, which has risen both financially...