Chandrika Kumaratunga vs Joachim Gauck

Kumaratunga won the presidential election, becoming the first female president of Sri Lanka. She led the People's Alliance coalition and promised peace negotiations with the LTTE.

Kumaratunga survived a suicide bomb attack by the LTTE during a rally at Colombo Town Hall. The blast killed 15 people and injured her, causing permanent damage to her right eye.

Kumaratunga proposed a new constitution to devolve power to provinces, aiming to address Tamil grievances. The proposal faced opposition from Sinhalese nationalists and was not adopted.

Kumaratunga's government signed a ceasefire agreement with the LTTE, brokered by Norway. The peace process stalled due to disagreements over power-sharing and LTTE's refusal to disarm.

Gauck was appointed as the first Federal Commissioner for the Stasi Records, overseeing the preservation and opening of files from the East German secret police. This role made him a key figure in the process of coming to terms with the GDR past.

Joachim Gauck was elected as the eleventh President of Germany by the Federal Assembly. He served from 2012 to 2017. His presidency focused on civil liberties, democracy, and the legacy of the East German dictatorship.

President Gauck delivered a major speech commemorating the 25th anniversary of the peaceful revolution in East Germany. He emphasized the importance of freedom and democracy, and warned against authoritarian tendencies.