10/30/2022Da Silva wins presidency10/28/2018Bolsonaro elected president09/30/2016Rousseff impeached; Michel Temer assumes presidency09/14/2016Prosecutors file corruption charges against Lula da Silva04/18/2016The House of Representatives impeaches Dilma Rousseff09/07/2014Effects of corruption scandal Operation Car Wash widespread in the government08/18/2011Corruption accusations affecting Rousseff’s administration10/31/2010Dilma Rousseff elected president10/30/2006Lula da Silva wins second term as president06/04/2005Corruption scandal known as Operation Car Wash impacting government10/27/2002Lula da Silva elected president11/13/1998IMF agrees to $41.3 billion bailout for Brazil09/03/1994Fernando Cardoso elected president
06/18/2021Ebrahim Raisi elected president01/02/2020US kills high-ranking Iranian05/08/2019Iran ends some aspects of nuclear agreement04/08/2019US adds sanctions on Iran
10/13/2022New heads of state01/02/2020US kills high-ranking Iranian10/02/2018Abdul Mahdi named prime minister12/08/2017Iraq declares victory over the Islamic State
10/31/2021Ruling coalition retains majority09/29/2021Kishida to be prime minister08/25/2020Abe resigns for health reasons07/21/2019Abe reelected with reduced majority
08/01/2021General assumes prime ministership02/01/2021Military resumes control11/09/2020Suu Kyi’s party claims election win10/10/2016Outburst of violence between government and Rohingya Muslim minority
04/07/2022Hadi transfers powers01/05/2021Qatar blockade ended10/09/2018Disappearance of journalist leads to international attention11/04/2017Anti-corruption crackdown
10/24/2023New government formed01/07/2020Sanchez re-elected prime minister04/28/2019Socialists win plurality06/01/2018Socialists eject Rajoy and take control of government
01/03/2020US kills high-ranking Iranian12/18/2018US announces withdrawal of troops from Syria09/04/2018Assault on Idlib09/26/2016Government attempt to retake Aleppo.09/09/2016Ceasefire08/24/2016Turkish troops enter Syria.08/23/2016Kurdish truce with Syria.09/30/2015Russia enters war.09/10/2014US bombing Islamic State in Syria01/24/2014Geneva peace conference 201409/25/2013Islamic State increasing in Syria08/20/2013Government accused of using chemical weapons03/18/2011Beginning of unrest in Syria that leads to civil war05/21/2008Negotiations with Israel about Golan Heights05/29/2007Bashar al-Assad re-elected10/28/2005Preliminary UN report on Syrian responsibility for murder of Lebanon’s Rafik Hariri03/06/2005Syrian intelligence officers begin to leave Lebanon06/09/2000Hafez al-Assad dies11/12/1970Hafez al-Assad takes power
11/21/2021Ruling party reelected12/07/2020Ruling oalition wins legislature01/05/2020Chaos in National Assembly election08/18/2017Constitutional assembly assumes the powers of the legislature.12/06/2015Opposition wins legislature
Matekane announces that the FRP has reached a coalition agreement with the Alliance of Democrats and the Movement for Economic Change. They will have a majority in the National Assembly and Matekane, a successful businessman, will become prime minister.
10/07/2022
Parliamentary elections. The Assembly has 120 seats, with 80 elected by majority vote and 40 appointed by proportional representation. After decades of instability, there is little hope for a strong government.
10/07/2022
The Revolution for Prosperity (FRP) party, led by Sam Matekane, wins 39% of the vote and 56 seats, substantially ahead of the Democratic Congress party’s 26% and 29 seats.
05/19/2020
Thabane resigns
Thabane formally resigns, to be replaced by Moeketsi Majoro, who is sworn in on 5/21.
05/18/2020
Thabane says he will resign this week.
05/14/2020
ABC says that the king can fire the prime minister if he does not quit, since his coalition has lost its majority in parliament.
05/13/2020
Though Thabane had said he would hand in his resignation to the king on this day, there is no word that he has done so.
05/11/2020
Government collapses
Governing coalition collapses. Thabane says he will resign by 5/22, though he remains as the caretaker prime minister. Finance Minister Moeketsi Majoro is set to become new prime minister.
05/07/2020
Thabane reiterates his promise to step down by the end of July.
05/05/2020
Lesotho begins easing COVID-19 restrictions on movement. It reports no cases in the country.
05/04/2020
ABC says that Thabane must resign or it will bring up a no-confidence vote on 5/8. The ABC and the opposition Democratic Congress (DC) have agreed on a new government.
04/29/2020
Senate adopts constitutional amendment that requires prime minister to gain approval of the Senate before asking the king to dissolve parliament and call new elections.
04/23/2020
Thabane rejects deal that would have him leave office.
04/21/2020
South African mediators say that Thabane has agreed to a “dignified” exit from office immediately. Details are not yet available.
04/18/2020
Government sends troops to “restore order” and accuses law enforcement agencies of undermining democracy. Police commissioner and aide are arrested. Parliament remains adjourned on Thabane’s order.
04/13/2020
Though free of COVID-19 cases, government begins series of economic supports, since many Basotho work in neighboring South Africa, the worst hit country in Africa.
02/21/2020
Thabane fails to appear in court. His son says he has traveled to South Africa for medical treatment
02/20/2020
Government announces that PM Tom Thabane will be charged with the murder of his ex-wife, along with his current wife Maesaiah Thabane. Tom Thabane also announces that he will step down in July, citing old age.
01/16/2020
Thabane agrees to resign
After mediation by South Africa, Thabane agrees to resign, although no date is named. The All Basotho Convention party will appoint a successor.
01/09/2020
Thabane withdraws suspension of Molibeli.
01/09/2020
Ruling All Basotho Party asks Prime Minister Thomas Thabane to resign.
01/08/2020
Police commissioner Holomo Molibeli is placed on indefinite leave, but says he will contest it.
01/06/2020
Police commissioner Holomo Molilbeli says that there is evidence linking PM Thabane to the murder of his wife Liepolo in 8/2017.
06/15/2019
PM Thomas Thabane accused of ceding power to his wife, Maesaiah Thabane. His party, All Basotho, may call for a vote of no confidence.
08/20/2017
Liepolo Thabane, wife of PM Thomas Thabane, is killed.
