Boris Johnson vs Enrico Berlinguer

Johnson was elected as the Conservative Mayor of London, defeating incumbent Ken Livingstone. He served two terms until 2016, overseeing the 2012 Olympic Games and introducing the New Routemaster bus.

Prime Minister Theresa May appointed Johnson as Foreign Secretary, a role he held until July 2018. His tenure was marked by controversial statements and the resignation of his aide over a diplomatic incident with Iran.

Johnson won the Conservative Party leadership election, succeeding Theresa May as Prime Minister. He promised to deliver Brexit by October 31, 2019, and formed a government with a mandate to leave the EU.

Johnson oversaw the UK's formal departure from the European Union on January 31, 2020, following the ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement. This ended 47 years of EU membership and initiated a transition period.

Johnson led the UK government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including national lockdowns and a vaccination program. He was hospitalized with COVID-19 in April 2020. The response faced criticism over timing and deaths.

Johnson announced his resignation as Prime Minister following a series of ministerial resignations and the Partygate scandal. He remained in office until a successor was chosen, ending his tenure in September 2022.

Berlinguer was elected Secretary of the Italian Communist Party (PCI) in 1972. He led the party through a period of significant growth and ideological evolution, advocating for Eurocommunism and a break from Soviet orthodoxy.

Berlinguer proposed the Historic Compromise, a strategy of cooperation between the PCI and the Christian Democracy party to address Italy's economic and social crises. This policy aimed to integrate the PCI into the democratic system but faced opposition from both the left and the right.

Berlinguer publicly criticized the Soviet Union for its human rights violations and lack of democracy, leading to a formal break between the PCI and the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. This move solidified the PCI's independent Eurocommunist stance.

Under Berlinguer's leadership, the PCI achieved its highest ever electoral result in the 1976 general election, winning 34.4% of the vote. This made the PCI the second-largest party in Italy and a major force in national politics.

During the kidnapping of Aldo Moro by the Red Brigades, Berlinguer refused to negotiate with the terrorists, maintaining a hard line against political violence. This stance contributed to the collapse of the Historic Compromise and strained relations with the Christian Democracy.

Berlinguer died suddenly on June 11, 1984, after collapsing during a speech in Padua. His death triggered an unprecedented outpouring of public grief, with millions attending his funeral, marking the end of an era for the Italian Communist Party.