Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi vs Praexedes Mateo Sagasta

Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi was appointed Vice President of Yemen by President Ali Abdullah Saleh after the 1994 civil war. He served as a loyal deputy for nearly two decades, handling military and security affairs.

Following the Arab Spring and Saleh's resignation, Hadi was elected as president in a single-candidate election. He inherited a fractured country facing economic crisis, tribal unrest, and a growing Houthi insurgency.

As Houthi forces advanced on Aden, Hadi fled the country and sought refuge in Saudi Arabia. He continued to claim the presidency from exile, while the Houthis established their own government in Sanaa.

Hadi resigned as president and transferred his powers to a newly formed Presidential Leadership Council, a Saudi-backed body aimed at unifying anti-Houthi factions. His resignation marked the end of his formal role in Yemeni politics.

Sagasta, as leader of the Liberal Party, signed the Pact of El Pardo with Conservative leader Antonio Canovas del Castillo. This agreement formalized the turno pacifico, ensuring the peaceful alternation of power between the two parties after the death of King Alfonso XII.

Sagasta's government passed the Law of Associations, which legalized trade unions and political organizations. This law provided a legal framework for labor movements and political parties, fostering the growth of civil society in Spain.

As prime minister, Sagasta enacted the Law of Universal Suffrage for men over 25, replacing the previous census-based suffrage. This reform expanded the electorate significantly, though its impact was limited by continued electoral manipulation through caciquismo.

Sagasta was prime minister when the Spanish-American War broke out following the sinking of the USS Maine. Spain suffered a decisive defeat, losing its remaining colonies of Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Philippines, and Guam, marking the end of the Spanish Empire.