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Agence France-Presse

With his shock victory in Malaysia’s election, Mahathir Mohamad has pulled off a political second act that few expected, joining the select ranks of politicians who have revived their careers.
The 92-year-old former strongman ruled Malaysia with an iron fist for more than two decades before stepping down, but returned to political life to challenge his own former party, snatching a surprise win in Wednesday’s poll.
Mahathir to be sworn in as Malaysian prime minister today
Here are some other political figures who have had second, and even third acts during their careers:

Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill is revered for leading Britain from the verge of defeat to victory in the second world war, but his political career was far from smooth sailing.
Churchill was forced to resign from government in 1915 after the disastrous Gallipoli campaign, and his eventual return to the cabinet was contentious.
Appointed prime minister in 1940, he won acclaim for his rousing leadership during the war, but suffered a shock defeat in the 1945 election and was forced into the opposition.
In 1951, he won a second term as prime minister, but resigned several years later as his health deteriorated.
The ups and downs of his career have been cited as inspiration by other politicians looking for their own turnarounds.

                  
Shinzo Abe                 
Shinzo Abe became Japan’s youngest-ever prime minister when he took office in 2006 at the age of 52.
The son of a former foreign minister and grandson of a former prime minister, Abe seemed destined for political office.
But he resigned after just a year, hit by scandals and political disappointment and debilitated by health issues.


In 2012, he made a shock political comeback, returning to office on a pledge to revive Japan’s economy with his signature “Abenomics” programme.
He has said he was encouraged to seek a path back to power by reading a biography of Churchill entitled: “Never Despair.”
 
Silvio Berlusconi
Billionaire Italian media mogul Silvio Berlusconi is perhaps the perennial political comeback kid, serving as prime minister three times, despite a string of scandals and legal woes.
After a first two-year term, he returned to power in 2001 following a campaign in which he sent a book boasting of his achievements to 15 million Italian homes.
He lost power in 2006, but returned to office two years later, only to see his premiership go down in flames over sex scandals and a financial crisis.




A tax fraud conviction means he is now barred from office, but that didn’t stop him seeking to become a kingmaker by backing a protégé in March elections.
The gambit failed, with the ever-confident former cruise ship crooner attributing his party’s poor showing in large part to his absence from the ticket.

                  
Benjamin Netanyahu
A divisive figure at home and abroad, Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu has nonetheless proven a political master.
He became Israel’s youngest prime minister when he first won office in 1996, but was ousted just three years later by the opposition Labour Party.
He returned to government as a minister with his right-wing party in 2002, eventually winning a second term as prime minister in 2009.
He has since earned the nickname “King Bibi”, fighting off a series of challengers despite the notoriously fractious and treacherous nature of Israeli politics.
Written off multiple times over corruption scandals and criticism for his brash and undiplomatic style, he is now Israel’s second longest-serving prime minister, and the only one ever to be re-elected three times in row.


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epaselect epa06714476 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu chairs weekly cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, 06 May 2018. Netanyahu spoke about an imminent visit to Russia to meet President Putin and also spoke about Iran's aggression saying 'We are determined to block Iran's aggression against us even if this means a struggle. Better now than later.' EPA-EFE/JIM HOLLANDER / POOL

Italy's former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi waves before the taping of the television talk show "8 e mezzo" (8 and half) in Rome, Italy February 21, 2018. REUTERS/Max Rossi

epa03495639 Shinzo Abe, former prime minister and the biggest opposition Liberal Democratic Party, shouts for triumph during a campaign for the Lower House election in Sendai, northern Japan, 04 December 2012 after election campaign started on the day. The election will be voted on December 16. About 1,500 people were expected to file their candidacies to fight for the 480 lower house seats over such issues as the nation's economy, nuclear power and social security. EPA/KIMIMASA MAYAMA

***ONE TIME USE ONLY*** EX6P91 Winston Churchill as British wartime prime minister 1941Photo : ALAMY [FEATURES 2017]

Mahathir Mohamad has returned to political life to challenge his own former party, snatching a surprise win in Wednesday’s poll. Photo: EPA

Mahathir Mohamad’s swearing in up in air as election halts Barisan Nasional’s 61-year reign in Malaysia

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Mahathir supporters gather for the election results. Photo: AFP

Two men stand in front of a wall of pictures of Malaysian leaders at the United Malays National Organization (UMNO) in Kuala Lumpur on May 10, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Mohd RASFAN

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak of the ruling coalition party Barisan Nasional (C) listens to his supporters during a campaign event ahead of the upcoming 14th general elections, in Pekan, Pahang on May 6, 2018. Malaysia's 14th general election will be held on May 9. / AFP PHOTO / Mohd RASFAN

(180508) -- PEKAN, May 8, 2018 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian incumbent Prime Minister Najib Razak delivers a speech during a campaign gathering ahead of the general election in Pekan in the eastern state of Pahang, Malaysia, on May 8, 2018. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad found no time to rest on their final day of campaigning before the general election, both making live speeches on Tuesday night to appeal to Malaysian voters for support in a last-minute show-down. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)(rh)

Mahathir Mohamad declares victory in the Malaysian general election. Photo: AFP

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Malaysia’s 92-year-old Mahathir joins the select ranks of politicians who have revived their careers


With his shock victory in Malaysia’s election, Mahathir Mohamad has pulled off a political second act that few expected, joining the select ranks of politicians who have revived their careers.  


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