Gaspar de Guzman Count-Duke of Olivares vs Macky Sall

Gaspar de Guzm

Olivares proposed the Union of Arms, a plan to create a unified army drawn from all Spanish kingdoms. The plan was resisted by the various realms, particularly Catalonia, and contributed to the outbreak of the Catalan Revolt in 1640.

Portugal declared independence from Spain, beginning the Portuguese Restoration War. Olivares's centralizing policies and heavy taxation had alienated the Portuguese nobility, leading to the revolt that ultimately ended the Iberian Union.

Olivares was dismissed by Philip IV after a series of military defeats and political failures. He was forced into exile and died shortly after, marking the end of his ambitious but ultimately unsuccessful attempt to centralize and revive the Spanish Empire.

Macky Sall won the presidential election in a runoff against incumbent Abdoulaye Wade. His victory was seen as a defense of democratic norms after Wade's controversial third-term bid.

Sall launched the Plan Senegal Emergent, a national development strategy focusing on infrastructure, agriculture, and energy. The plan aimed to achieve middle-income status by 2035.

Sall oversaw a constitutional referendum that reduced the presidential term from seven to five years and limited the president to two terms. The reform was intended to strengthen democratic institutions.

Sall was re-elected in the first round with 58.3% of the vote. The election was peaceful but criticized by opposition for excluding some candidates, though international observers noted improvements.