Charles Helou vs Dalia Grybauskaite

Charles Helou was elected President of Lebanon by the Lebanese Parliament on August 18, 1964, succeeding Fouad Chehab. His presidency began with a focus on administrative reform and economic development, continuing the Chehabist policies of state-building and modernization.

As president during the June 1967 Six-Day War between Israel and Arab states, Charles Helou maintained Lebanon's official neutrality while the conflict raged. However, the war's aftermath brought increased Palestinian militant activity in southern Lebanon and refugee flows, destabilizing the country and straining sectarian relations.

In November 1969, Charles Helou's government signed the Cairo Agreement with the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), mediated by Egypt. The agreement granted Palestinian factions autonomy over refugee camps in Lebanon and legitimized their armed presence, a decision that significantly contributed to the erosion of Lebanese state sovereignty and the outbreak of the civil war in 1975.

Charles Helou's six-year presidential term ended in 1970. He was succeeded by Suleiman Frangieh after a closely contested election. Helou's presidency left a mixed legacy of attempted reforms but also the Cairo Agreement, which many historians view as a pivotal step toward Lebanon's descent into civil war.

Dalia Grybauskaite was elected President of Lithuania in May 2009, becoming the first female president in the country's history. She won with 68% of the vote, running as an independent candidate with a platform of anti-corruption and fiscal responsibility.

Grybauskaite was re-elected for a second term in May 2014, winning 57% of the vote in the first round. Her second term focused on strengthening Lithuania's defense against Russian aggression and deepening European Union integration.

Grybauskaite took a strong stance against Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, calling for NATO to increase its presence in the Baltic region. She advocated for sanctions against Russia and supported Ukraine's sovereignty, earning her the nickname 'Iron Lady'.