Baghdadi Ali Mahmudi of Libya
Serving five years as the Prime Minister of Libya, Mahmudi officially resigned in August as a result of the newly-formed National Transitional Council. Regardless of his 2006 election, many countries — including the United States — recognized Muammar Gaddafi as the official ruler of Libya. Mahmudi unsuccessfully attempted to seek refuge in Tanzania during the high broadcast Libyan civil war, only to be extradited to Libya on Nov. 8.
Nasser Mohammed Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah of Kuwait
Al-Sabah, prime minister of Kuwait since 2006, resigned from the fifth-richest country in the world this week, as a result of accusations of corruption. The rest of his government left office following his resignation because of the recent protest at parliament. Defense Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah is expected to be named as the new prime minister.
George Papandreou ’75 of Greece
Papandreou served two years as Prime Minister of Greece. The Amherst alumnus is part of a Greek political dynasty; he is the third member of his family to serve as Greek prime minister. As the Greek government debt crisis progressed, Papandreou resigned on Nov. 11 to accommodate for a Greek national unity government.
Lobsang Tenzin of Tibet
Tenzin served nine years as the Kalon Tripa (prime minister) of the Central Tibetan Administration, a Tibetan government-in-exile based in Dharamshala, India. Tenzin has advocated worldwide for the negotiation of autonomy with the Chinese government, a proposal by the 14th Dalai Lama. His successor, Lobsang Sangay, is a Tibetan refugee living in the Greater Boston area.
Silvio Berlusconi of Italy
Also known as Il Cavaliere (The Knight) as a result of his knighthood, Berlusconi has served for three terms as the Italian prime minister, officially resigning on Nov. 12. The European debt crisis contributed to fiscal problems under his leadership, diminishing his majority in the Italian Parliament. Before his resignation, Berlusconi was known as the longest-serving representative on the G-8 committee, a forum consisting of nations with the largest economies.
