Bettino Craxi vs Wakatsuki Reijiro

Craxi became the first socialist Prime Minister of Italy in August 1983, leading a five-party coalition government. His premiership marked a shift in Italian politics, with the Socialist Party gaining prominence over the Communist Party.

Craxi's government lasted from August 1983 to April 1987, becoming the longest-serving government of the First Italian Republic. It implemented economic reforms, including the reduction of inflation and the reform of the pension system, while also facing criticism for its handling of the Mafia.

Craxi refused to allow U.S. forces to arrest the hijackers of the Achille Lauro cruise ship at the Sigonella airbase, asserting Italian sovereignty. This led to a diplomatic confrontation with the United States, but Craxi's stance was popular domestically.

Craxi was implicated in the Tangentopoli corruption scandal, which exposed widespread bribery in Italian politics. He was investigated for receiving illegal party funding, leading to his political downfall and the collapse of the Socialist Party.

Facing multiple corruption convictions, Craxi fled to Hammamet, Tunisia, in 1994 to avoid arrest. He lived in self-imposed exile until his death in 2000, never returning to Italy, and was convicted in absentia for corruption and illegal party financing.

As Finance Minister in the Hamaguchi cabinet, Wakatsuki oversaw Japan's return to the gold standard in January 1930. This policy aimed to stabilize the economy but worsened the Great Depression's impact on Japan, leading to deflation and social unrest.

As Prime Minister during the Mukden Incident of September 1931, Wakatsuki Reijiro's cabinet initially attempted to restrain the Kwantung Army's unauthorized expansion in Manchuria. However, the government failed to control the military, leading to Japan's full-scale invasion of Manchuria.

Wakatsuki resigned as Prime Minister in December 1931 after his cabinet failed to rein in the Kwantung Army's actions in Manchuria. The government's inability to assert civilian control over the military marked a turning point in Japan's descent into militarism.

Wakatsuki became Prime Minister for a second time in April 1931, succeeding Hamaguchi Osachi who was incapacitated by an assassination attempt. His brief second term was dominated by the escalating Manchurian crisis.