Politics

Presidents, prime ministers, ministers and campaigners who shaped the countries they served. 61 people are remembered here. Light a candle, read their story, and add a memory of your own.

• 
  Klaus Hänsch

  1938 – 2026 · SPD politician

  Former EP President who brought Klartext from Erkrath to Strasbourg and made Commissioner hearings public.

  47 candles · 5 tributes
• 
  Zenyazen Escobar García

  1984 – 2026 · Politician

  Veracruz teacher and Morena deputy who said the nation is built in the classroom.

  43 candles · 7 tributes
• 
  Mehdi Zana

  1940 – 2026 · Kurdish politician

  Diyarbakir's independent socialist mayor; Prison No. 5 witness for Kurdish rights.

  43 candles · 5 tributes
• 
  Rudy Ariffin

  1953 – 2026 · Civil servant

  Two-term South Kalimantan governor who moved the capital offices and barred coal trucks from public roads.

  41 candles · 9 tributes
• 
  Tung Chee-hwa

  1937 – 2026 · Shipping executive and businessman

  Hong Kong's first Chief Executive, a shipping heir who led the city through the 1997 handover.

  38 candles · 9 tributes
• 
  Mary Gaudron

  1943 – 2026 · Lawyer

  Australia's first female High Court justice, equal-pay advocate and steadfast voice for the rule of law.

  36 candles · 8 tributes
• 
  Cheryl Hall

  1950 – 2026 · Actress

  Citizen Smith's Shirley, Doctor Who's Shirna, and a fierce Labour voice for Kent.

  35 candles · 9 tributes
• 
  Hafidh Ameir Hassan

  1946 – 2026 · agriculturalist

  Tanzania's first First Gentleman, a teacher who stayed offstage.

  31 candles · 4 tributes
• 
  Gastón Acurio Velarde

  1930 – 2026 · Civil engineer

  Cusco engineer who helped found Acción Popular, built roads as minister, and served three Senate terms.

  30 candles · 7 tributes
• 
  Raif Dizdarevic

  1926 – 2026 · Yugoslav-Bosnian politician

  Partisan diplomat who led Yugoslavia's Presidency in crisis and stayed in besieged Sarajevo.

  25 candles · 3 tributes
• 
  Ritu Khullar

  † 2026 · Jurist

  Alberta's Chief Justice and Charter advocate who made history as Canada's first South Asian woman provincial chief justice.

  2 candles · 2 tributes
• 
  Ronald McCoy

  1930 – 2026 · Obstetrician and gynaecologist

  Doctor who delivered thousands of babies and gave the world ICAN to abolish nuclear weapons.

  0 candles · 0 tributes
• 
  Nancy Landon Kassebaum Baker

  1932 – 2026 · U.S. Senator

  Kansas senator who led HIPAA, broke barriers, and chose independence over party lines.

  0 candles · 0 tributes