Global leaders' waiting game: From instant power to months-long transitions
Recent global elections show diverse transition periods for new leaders - from immediate power shifts to extended waiting times. Some countries make their leaders wait half-a-year while others do quick next-day transitions
This weeks U.S election results came quick but Donald Trump must wait: AP called his win just 6 hours after polls closed but the president-elect cant take office for another 2-and-half months
Some world leaders face even longer post-election waiting times. Prabowo Subianto won Indonesias top job back in winter but didnt get power until oct-20 (a super-long 214 day gap). Claudia Sheinbaum made history as Mexicos first woman president this summer; she had to wait 4 months to start her job. In Venezuela Nicolás Maduro won a disputed vote in july but wont be sworn-in until next january
- India re-picked its leader with quick 20-day switch
- Bangladesh did same-style fast change
- South Africa also kept things under 3 weeks
The fastest switch happened in Britain where Keir Starmer got his prime-minister job right as counting finished (on jul-5). Sri Lanka came close second: Anura Kumara Dissanayake waited just 24 hours after sept-22 vote count to become president
Democracies worldwide show big differences in power handover times — from instant changes to half-year transitions; each following its own rules and traditions
