Arnulfo Arias vs Bettino Craxi

Arnulfo Arias was elected President of Panama in 1940 on a nationalist platform. He enacted a new constitution that expanded executive power and restricted foreign influence, particularly from the United States. He was overthrown by the National Police in 1941 after only 13 months in office.

Arias returned to power in 1949 after a disputed election. He attempted to implement economic reforms and suppress political opposition. He was again overthrown by the National Guard in 1951, after trying to dissolve the National Assembly.

Arias won the 1968 presidential election and took office for a third time. He served only 11 days before being overthrown by a military coup led by Omar Torrijos and Boris Martinez. This ended his political career and ushered in a period of military rule in Panama.

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.