Presidents & Heads of States, LUK-NII
President, in government, the officer in whom the chief executive power of a nation is vested. The president of a republic is the head of state, but the actual power of the president varies from country to country; in the United States, Africa, and Latin America the presidential office is charged with great powers and responsibilities, but the office is relatively weak and largely ceremonial in Europe and in many countries where the prime minister, or premier, functions as the chief executive officer.
Presidents & Heads of States Encyclopedia Articles By Title
Lukashenko, Alexander
Alexander Lukashenko is a Belarusian politician who espoused communist principles and who became president of the......
Lula da Silva, Luiz InĂĄcio
Luiz InĂĄcio Lula da Silva is a Brazilian politician who serves as president of Brazil (2003â11; 2023â ). In 2026......
LuĂs, Washington
Washington LuĂs was the president of Brazil (1926â30) who was unable to strengthen his countryâs debilitated economy......
LĂłpez Mateos, Adolfo
Adolfo LĂłpez Mateos was a Mexican president (1958â64) who expanded industrial development and agrarian reform.......
LĂłpez Michelsen, Alfonso
Alfonso LĂłpez Michelsen was a Colombian politician, who was president of Colombia (1974â78). LĂłpez Michelsen was......
López Obrador, Andrés Manuel
Andrés Manuel López Obrador is a center-left populist Mexican politician who was president of Mexico from 2018......
López Portillo, José
José López Portillo was a Mexican lawyer, economist, and writer, who was president of Mexico from 1976 to 1982.......
LĂŒbke, Heinrich
Heinrich LĂŒbke was a politician who served as president of the German Federal Republic (1959â69). After serving......
Ma Ying-jeou
Ma Ying-jeou is a Hong Kong-born politician who was chairman of the Nationalist Party (Kuomintang; 2005â07 and......
Mac-Mahon, Patrice de
Patrice de Mac-Mahon was a marshal of France and the second president of the Third French Republic. During his......
Macapagal, Diosdado
Diosdado Macapagal was a reformist president of the Philippines from 1961 to 1965. After receiving his law degree,......
Machado y Morales, Gerardo
Gerardo Machado y Morales was a hero in the Cuban War of Independence (1895â98) who was later elected president......
Machado, Bernardino LuĂs
Bernardino LuĂs Machado was a Brazilian-born political leader who was twice president of Portugal (1915â17, 1925â26).......
Machel, Samora
Samora Machel was a Mozambican politician, who was the first president of independent Mozambique (1975â86). Born......
Macri, Mauricio
Mauricio Macri is an Argentine sports executive and politician who served as president of Argentina (2015â19).......
Macron, Emmanuel
Emmanuel Macron is a French banker and politician who was elected president of France in 2017. Macron was the first......
Madero, Francisco
Francisco Madero was a Mexican revolutionary and president of Mexico (1911â13), who successfully ousted the dictator......
Madison, James
James Madison was the fourth president of the United States (1809â17) and one of the Founding Fathers of his country.......
Madrid, Miguel de la
Miguel de la Madrid was the president of Mexico from 1982 to 1988. Miguel de la Madrid received a degree in law......
Maduro, NicolĂĄs
NicolĂĄs Maduro is a Venezuelan leader who won the special election held in April 2013 to choose a replacement to......
Magsaysay, Ramon
Ramon Magsaysay was the president of the Philippines (1953â57), best known for successfully defeating the communist-led......
Mahama, John
John Mahama is a Ghanaian politician affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NCD) political party who......
Makarios III
Makarios III was the archbishop and primate of the Orthodox Church of Cyprus. He was a leader in the struggle for......
Mandela, Nelson
Nelson Mandela was a Black nationalist and the first Black president of South Africa (1994â99). His negotiations......
Mannerheim, Carl Gustaf
Carl Gustaf Mannerheim was a Finnish military leader and conservative statesman who successfully defended Finland......
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong was the principal Chinese Marxist theorist, soldier, and statesman who led his countryâs communist revolution.......
Marcos, Ferdinand
Ferdinand Marcos was a Philippine lawyer and politician who, as head of state from 1965 to 1986, established an......
Marcos, Ferdinand, Jr.
Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. is a Filipino politician who has been president of the Philippines since 2022. Prior to becoming......
Martelly, Michel
Michel Martelly is a Haitian musician and politician who became president of Haiti (2011â16) in elections that......
Martinelli, Ricardo
Ricardo Martinelli Panamanian businessman and politician who served as president of Panama (2009â14). Martinelli......
Masaryk, TomĂĄĆĄ
TomĂĄĆĄ Masaryk was the chief founder and first president (1918â35) of Czechoslovakia. Masarykâs father was a Slovak......
Mavrokordåtos, Aléxandros
Aléxandros Mavrokordåtos was a statesman, one of the founders and first political leaders of independent Greece.......
Maïnassara, Ibrahim Baré
Ibrahim Baré Maïnassara was a soldier, diplomat, and politician who orchestrated a coup in 1996 that overthrew......
Mbeki, Thabo
Thabo Mbeki is a politician who served as the president of South Africa (1999â2008). Mbeki was early exposed to......
McAleese, Mary
Mary McAleese is an Irish politician who was president of Ireland from 1997 to 2011. She was Irelandâs second female......
McKinley, William
William McKinley was the 25th president of the United States (1897â1901). Under McKinleyâs leadership, the United......
Medina, Danilo
Danilo Medina is a Dominican politician and economist who served as the president of the Dominican Republic from......
Medvedev, Dmitry
Dmitry Medvedev is a Russian lawyer and politician who served as president (2008â12) and prime minister (2012â20)......
Megawati Sukarnoputri
Megawati Sukarnoputri is an Indonesian politician who was the fifth president of Indonesia (2001â04) and the first......
Menem, Carlos
Carlos Menem was a politician and lawyer who served as president of Argentina (1989â99)âthe first Peronist to be......
Mengistu Haile Mariam
Mengistu Haile Mariam is an Ethiopian army officer and was the head of state (1974; 1977â91). He helped overthrow......
Meri, Lennart
Lennart Meri was an Estonian scholar and political leader, who was president of Estonia from 1992 to 2001. His......
MesiÄ, Stipe
Stipe MesiÄ is a Croatian politician who served as president of Croatia (2000â10). MesiÄ earned a degree in law......
Miklas, Wilhelm
Wilhelm Miklas was a statesman who served as president of the first Austrian republic (1928â38). A member of the......
Mikoyan, Anastas Ivanovich
Anastas Ivanovich Mikoyan was an Old Bolshevik and highly influential Soviet statesman who dominated the supervision......
Milei, Javier
Javier Milei is a confrontational right-wing outsider who rose to the presidency of Argentina in 2023 on a tide......
Millerand, Alexandre
Alexandre Millerand was a French lawyer and statesman who, as president of the Republic (1920â1924), was noted......
Mills, John Evans Atta
John Evans Atta Mills was a Ghanaian politician and scholar who served as president of Ghana (2009â12). After secondary......
MiloĆĄeviÄ, Slobodan
Slobodan MiloĆĄeviÄ was a politician and administrator, who, as Serbiaâs party leader and president (1989â97), pursued......
MiramĂłn, Miguel
Miguel MiramĂłn was a Mexican soldier and politician, the leader of the forces that briefly established Maximilian......
Mirziyoyev, Shavkat
Shavkat Mirziyoyev is an Uzbek politician who served as Uzbekistanâs prime minister (2003â16) and president (2016â......
Mitre, Bartolomé
Bartolomé Mitre was an Argentine politician, soldier, and author who, as president of Argentina, was instrumental......
Mitterrand, François
François Mitterrand was a politician who served two terms (1981â95) as president of France, leading his country......
Mnangagwa, Emmerson
Emmerson Mnangagwa is a Zimbabwean politician who has served as president of Zimbabwe since 2017. Mnangagwa is......
Mobutu Sese Seko
Mobutu Sese Seko was the president of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) who seized power in a 1965......
Mogae, Festus
Festus Mogae was an economist and politician who served as president of Botswana (1998â2008). Mogae was a member......
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan is the president of the United Arab Emirates (2022â ) and emir (2022â ) of Abu Dhabi,......
Moi, Daniel arap
Daniel arap Moi was a Kenyan politician, who held the office of president (1978â2002). Moi was born the village......
Moisiu, Alfred
Alfred Moisiu is an Albanian military expert who served as president of Albania (2002â07). He was an independent......
Monroe, James
James Monroe was the fifth president of the United States (1817â25), who issued an important contribution to U.S.......
Montt, Manuel
Manuel Montt was the president of Chile, an enlightened statesman who throughout his two terms (1851â61) angered......
Montt, Pedro
Pedro Montt was a Chilean president (1906â10), whose conservative government furthered railroad and manufacturing......
Moon Jae-In
Moon Jae-In is a South Korean lawyer and civil rights activist who was the president of South Korea (2017â22) and......
Morales BermĂșdez, Francisco
Francisco Morales BermĂșdez was a Peruvian general and politician who was president of Peru in 1975â80. Morales,......
Morales, Evo
Evo Morales is a Bolivian labour leader who served as president of Bolivia (2006â19). A member of the Aymara people,......
MorazĂĄn, Francisco
Francisco MorazĂĄn was president of the United Provinces of Central America (1830â40) and the outstanding military......
Morsi, Mohamed
Mohamed Morsi was an Egyptian engineer and politician who was president of Egypt (2012â13). He was removed from......
Moscoso, Mireya
Mireya Moscoso is a Panamanian politician, who was Panamaâs first woman president (1999â2004). Moscoso was born......
Mosquera, TomĂĄs Cipriano de
TomĂĄs Cipriano de Mosquera was the president of New Granada from 1845 to 1849 and of Colombia from 1864 to 1867......
Motlanthe, Kgalema
Kgalema Motlanthe is a South African politician who served as deputy president of South Africa (2009â14). He previously......
Motta, Giuseppe
Giuseppe Motta was a Swiss political leader, longtime head of the federal political department and five times president......
MoĂŻse, Jovenel
Jovenel MoĂŻse was a Haitian businessman and politician who served as president from 2017 until his assassination......
MoĆcicki, Ignacy
Ignacy MoĆcicki was a Polish statesman, scholar, and scientist, who, as president of the Polish republic, was a......
Mubarak, Hosni
Hosni Mubarak was an Egyptian military officer and politician who served as president of Egypt from October 1981......
Mugabe, Robert
Robert Mugabe was the first prime minister (1980â87) of the reconstituted state of Zimbabwe, formerly Rhodesia.......
Mujica, José
JosĂ© Mujica was an Uruguayan politician who served as president of Uruguay (2010â15) after being long imprisoned......
Mukherjee, Pranab
Pranab Mukherjee was an Indian politician and government official who served as president of India (2012â17). He......
Murmu, Droupadi
Droupadi Murmu became the 15th president of India on July 25, 2022, when she was sworn in by the chief justice......
Museveni, Yoweri
Yoweri Museveni is a politician and former rebel leader who has served as president of Uganda since 1986. Though......
Musharraf, Pervez
Pervez Musharraf was a Pakistani military officer who took power in a coup in 1999. He served as president of Pakistan......
Mwanawasa, Levy
Levy Mwanawasa was a Zambian attorney and politician who became the third president of Zambia (2002â08). Levy Mwanawasa......
MĂ©ndez, Aparicio
Aparicio MĂ©ndez was an Uruguayan lawyer, legal scholar, and politician and, from September 1976 to September 1981,......
Mâba, LĂ©on
LĂ©on Mâba was the first president of independent Gabon, whose regime, after an abortive 1964 coup, came to depend......
Naguib, Muáž„ammad
Muáž„ammad Naguib was an Egyptian army officer and statesman who played a prominent role in the revolutionary overthrow......
Nahyan, Sheikh Zayed ibn Sultan Al
Sheikh Zayed ibn Sultan Al Nahyan was the president of the United Arab Emirates from 1971 to 2004 and emir of Abu......
Najibullah
Najibullah was an Afghan military official and communist politician who served as president of Afghanistan from......
Nandi-Ndaitwah, Netumbo
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is a politician who became the president of Namibia in March 2025 after having won the countryâs......
Napoleon III
Napoleon III was the nephew of Napoleon I, president of the Second Republic of France (1850â52), and then emperor......
Narayanan, Kocheril Raman
Kocheril Raman Narayanan was an Indian politician and diplomat, who was the president of India from 1997 to 2002.......
Nasheed, Mohamed
Mohamed Nasheed is a journalist, activist, and politician who was elected president of the Maldives in 2008 but......
Nasser, Gamal Abdel
Gamal Abdel Nasser was an Egyptian army officer, prime minister (1954â56), and then president (1956â70) of Egypt......
Nazarbayev, Nursultan
Nursultan Nazarbayev was the first president of Kazakhstan (1990â2019), a reformist who sought regional autonomy......
Ne Win, U
U Ne Win was a Burmese general who was the leader of Burma (now Myanmar) from 1962 to 1988. Shu Maung studied at......
Neto, Agostinho
Agostinho Neto was an Angolan poet, physician, and politician who served as the first president (1975â79) of the......
New York indictment of Donald Trump
On May 30, 2024, Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of criminal charges after......
Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngo Dinh Diem was a Vietnamese political leader who served as president, with dictatorial powers, of what was then......
Nguyen Khanh
Nguyen Khanh was a military and political leader who participated in a successful coup dâĂ©tat against the South......
Nguyen Van Thieu
Nguyen Van Thieu was the president of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) from 1967 until the republic fell......
Nguyen Van Thinh
Nguyen Van Thinh was a Vietnamese statesman who in 1946 served briefly as president of a French-controlled government......
Niinistö, Sauli
Sauli Niinistö is a Finnish lawyer and politician who became Finlandâs first conservative head of state since the......