Political Party & Government Leadership & Succession Globally

Hilary Clinton--Donald Trump, Trump-Biden (Part I&II), the demand by nineteen Democrats Representatives and one Senator for Biden's withdrawal as Democrats' presumptive nominee for the November 5, 2024 presidential elections, Rishi Sunak-Keir Starmer, Jacob Zuma-Cyril Ramaphosa (Part I&II), Bolsonaro - Lula Da Silva, Uhuru Kenyatta-William Rutto (Part I&II), fragmenting, fracturing and splintering political parties and countries like Sudan and the DRC, which are in ICU, become comatose and live off oxygen and await medics' decision to turn off the machines (their demise), and the military leaving the barracks for political office all share one thing in common: politicians involved in a 'fight to death gladiatorial contest for conquest of power' within political parties, the engine of democracy, and governments, the voice of the people in a representative government, a government of the people by the people, regardless of consequences.

The gladiators' fight to death in the arena downplays and disregards completely the truism that whenever two elephants fight the grass suffers. It begs these questions: Why so much bloodletting? Is there no middle ground (third way? Is the tail wagging the dog?

Should ordinary members of political parties and citizens (Joe Soap and Jane Soap) not come first in leadership and succession contests because politicians, political parties and governments were made for the benefit of rank-and-file members and citizens, and not vice versa?

Leadership and succession processes mimic the multi-headed Hydra Hercules had to conquer. The elephant in the room merits re-examination and re-setting to put people first.

"1 am leaving because with such a privileged role comes responsibility .... the responsibility to know when you are the right person to lead, and also when you are not..." - Jacinda Ardern, Ex-PM, New Zealand

'Leaders are also human beings, and all human beings have weaknesses ... I learnt that we are all vulnerable." -Kjell Magne Bondevik, Ex-PM, Norway