Who's regarded to be the best politician your country's ever had? And the worst? (2015, crimes)
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As for the best, here in Italy it's probably a tie between Enrico Berlinguer, head of the Communist party in the late 70s and early 80s and widely considered the man who started the shift of the party towards a more moderate one (he's highly thought of amongst left wingers) and Aldo Moro, the three times Prime Minister for the Christian Democrats between the 60s and 70s, the man who started the social reforms who brought Italy to its golden age in the 80s and who tried to end to bring the political hatred between the Christian Democrats and Communists to an end through a political agreement (he was assassinated by the Red Brigades before he could)
As for the worst, Mussolini for obvious reasons although several still look at his economic policies as positive.
I didn't live in those times but these are the most and least fondly remembered politicians in the medias and by middle aged people and elderly. So, what about your country?
I'm not seeking for your opinion but those of Taiwanese on the whole, which politican of both the present and past is more highly thought of (or better, not as hated )?
I'm not seeking for your opinion but those of Taiwanese on the whole, which politican of both the present and past is more highly thought of (or better, not as hated )?
Well CCK (Chiang Ching-kuo) is highly regarded amongst (older and dumber) people as they think that he single-handedly made Taiwan a rich country. The reality is that he was actually a sadistic mass murderer who killed hundreds of thousands of political dissenters, just like his piece of **** father. His 'reputation' is basically the result of political indoctrination.
LTH (Lee Teng-Hui) is the one that pushed Taiwan to be a democracy, for that I admire him, but there was still a crap load of corruption during his term of office.
Risto Ryti, the president who led us trough WWII being a reluctant ally of nazi Germany while staying a democratic country is often considered the greatest. Ryti gave his personal assurance to von Ribbentrop in 1944 that Finland won't break out from the war, and resigned as soon German military aid arrived, making the deal null and void. Ironically Ryti was sentenced to jail for "war crimes" in a Soviet-demanded show trial after WWII. In the 90's some demanded an apology and restoring of his honours, but president Koivisto's reply was "how can you restore a person's honour which never was taken from him?" In 2004 Ryti was voted as the 2nd Greatest Finn ever after Field Marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim.
President J.K. Paasikivi is considered another great politician who developed the policy of neutrality because of political realism during the early years of the Cold War. His quote "The beginning of all wisdom is the acknowledgement of facts" is still often repeated for example regarding Russia.
The first president of Finland K.J. Ståhlberg is often considered one of the greatest because of his efforts in transitioning the Grand Duchy of Finland from a monarchic class society to the modern egalitarian democratic nation.
Urho Kekkonen, the longest-serving president of Finland is often considered a great figure, and truly he was, but he is also a hugely controversial character, as he didn't play by all rules of democracy. His quote to the parliament in 1975 which goes "bloody f**kups", is widely quoted in many political blunders.
Tarja Halonen, the first female president of Finland is also in high regard. A single mom, atheist, promoter of gender and sexual equality from the rugged Helsinki neighbourhood of Kallio was the first and only president who was "a man (woman) of the people", instead of the upper class elitist presidents we've had. A great compromiser who did get along with everyone, including G.W. Bush, Putin and Berlusconi.
For the worst it's difficult to determine, as the reasons are so ideologically motivated, but the trio Vihtori Kosola, Mauno Pekkala and Matti Vanhanen is definitely up there. Kosola was the leader of the quasi-fascist Lapua Movement in the 1930's, an alcoholic who was equally a leader and a liability.
Pekkala served as the Prime Minister of the far left SKDL party after WWII and was widely noted for his unorthodox lifestyle, incompetence and indeciviness.
Vanhanen, who miraculously was the prime minister from 2003 to 2010 is also considered one of the worst. A teetotaler with a personality of a toad, was nevertheless constantly in the tabloids because of his affairs with women, corruption and endless arrogance.
Risto Ryti, the president who led us trough WWII being a reluctant ally of nazi Germany while staying a democratic country is often considered the greatest. In 2004 Ryti was voted as the 2nd Greatest Finn ever after Field Marshal C.G.E. Mannerheim.
President J.K. Paasikivi is considered another great politician who developed the policy of neutrality because of political realism during the early years of the Cold War. His quote "The beginning of all wisdom is the acknowledgement of facts" is still often repeated for example regarding Russia.
The first president of Finland K.J. Ståhlberg is often considered one of the greatest because of his efforts in transitioning the Grand Duchy of Finland from a monarchic class society to the modern egalitarian democratic nation.
Urho Kekkonen, the longest-serving president of Finland is often considered a great figure, and truly he was, but he is also a hugely controversial character, as he didn't play by all rules of democracy. His quote to the parliament in 1975 which goes "bloody f**kups", is widely quoted in many political blunders.
Tarja Halonen, the first female president of Finland is also in high regard. A single mom, atheist, promoter of gender and sexual equality from the rugged Helsinki neighbourhood of Kallio was the first and only president who was "a man (woman) of the people", instead of the upper class elitist presidents we've had. A great compromiser who did get along with everyone, including G.W. Bush, Putin and Berlusconi.
For the worst it's difficult to determine, as the reasons are so ideologically motivated, but the trio Vihtori Kosola, Mauno Pekkala and Matti Vanhanen is definitely up there. Kosola was the leader of the quasi-fascist Lapua Movement in the 1930's, an alcoholic who was equally a leader and a liability.
Pekkala served as the Prime Minister of the far left SKDL party after WWII and was widely noted for his unorthodox lifestyle, incompetence and indeciviness.
Vanhanen, who miraculously was the prime minister from 2003 to 2010 is also considered one of the worst. A teetotaler with a personality of a toad, was nevertheless constantly in the tabloids because of his affairs with women, corruption and endless arrogance.
Sounds like you have had more politicians to admire than us . Other worthy mentions for Italy are Christian Democrat Alcide De Gasperi for having led Italy back to normality in the difficult years after the World War Two (Leadership of the country throughout the Constituency; Housing Act of 1949; Agrarian Reform; nationalization of companies) although it must be said he's at fault for having led to the isolation of the Communist Party
The Socialist PErtini is also respected for having been the President of Republic during Italy's golden age (1978-85) and for his militancy in the Resistance against fascism in WW2 and as a member of the Constituency
Sounds like you have had more politicians to admire than us . Other worthy mentions for Italy are Christian Democrat Alcide De Gasperi for having led Italy back to normality in the difficult years after the World War Two (Leadership of the country throughout the Constituency; Housing Act of 1949; Agrarian Reform; nationalization of companies) although it must be said he's at fault for having led to the isolation of the Communist Party
The Socialist PErtini is also respected for having been the President of Republic during Italy's golden age (1978-85) and for his militancy in the Resistance against fascism in WW2 and as a member of the Constituency
Cavour?
I guess politicians have generally been in higher regard in Finland than Italy. It wasn't before the 80's when being a politician was considered something 'bad' here. And while their image might been polished during the years, the high-ranking politicians like Ryti, Paasikivi and Ståhlberg were hugely patriotic uncorrupted civilised gentlemen who worked for the well-being of the country.
I guess politicians have generally been in higher regard in Finland than Italy. It wasn't before the 80's when being a politician was considered something 'bad' here. And while their image might been polished during the years, the high-ranking politicians like Ryti, Paasikivi and Ståhlberg were hugely patriotic uncorrupted civilised gentlemen who worked for the well-being of the country.
No, Mazzini and Garibaldi are more highly thought of although the latter more for his actions as a general than anything else. It's also difficult to consider Cavour as a politician of Unified Italy as he died a couple months after it was born.
Politicians were more highly considered in the past (particularly between the 50s and 80s when generation of families were grown to be communists, socialists or Christian democrats) than they are now. It's no wonder that anti-partitocracy Five Star Movement has a high support (nearly 30%) polling as the second most popular political movement/party.
That's a tough question... in Canada, probably many people would choose either Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson, or Prime Minister John Diefenbaker, but it would depend very much upon whether the person being asked is a Conservative or a Liberal supporter.
No, Mazzini and Garibaldi are more highly thought of although the latter more for his actions as a general than anything else. It's also difficult to consider Cavour as a politician of Unified Italy as he died a couple months after it was born.
Secondary. J.V. Snellman, Leo Mechelin, Robert Montgomery, Ernst Nevanlinna and others are considered among the great politicians though they all served before Finland was independent.
My current favourite MP's :
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