Joao Lourenco vs Phibun

João Lourenço succeeded José Eduardo dos Santos as president after winning the 2017 general election. He became the first new president of Angola in 38 years, marking a transition of power within the MPLA party.

Lourenço initiated a campaign against corruption and nepotism, targeting figures from the previous dos Santos administration. He removed Isabel dos Santos from the leadership of Sonangol and José Filomeno dos Santos from the sovereign wealth fund.

Lourenço won a second term in the 2022 general election with 51% of the vote. The election was marred by allegations of irregularities and low voter turnout, but the MPLA retained its parliamentary majority.

Phibun (Plaek Phibunsongkhram) became Prime Minister of Thailand after a coup that ousted the previous government. He established a military dictatorship and promoted Thai nationalism.

Phibun officially changed the country's name from Siam to Thailand (Prathet Thai), meaning 'Land of the Free'. This was part of his nationalist campaign to unify the Thai people and assert national identity.

Phibun allied Thailand with Japan after the Japanese invasion of Thailand in December 1941. He declared war on the Allies and allowed Japanese forces to use Thai territory for their campaigns in Southeast Asia.

Phibun resigned as Prime Minister in 1944 as the tide of war turned against Japan. He was replaced by a civilian government, but he remained influential and later returned to power.

Phibun returned to power through a military coup in 1948, overthrowing the civilian government. He ruled as a military dictator until 1957, aligning Thailand with the United States during the Cold War.