Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 137

137th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 137th edition of The PEP Weekly Digest, where we present to you the most recent updates and news on the global political stage.

Recent and upcoming elections influence the worldwide political landscape in eight nations, slated between Dec 28, 2025 and Apr 12, 2026. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Romanian PM Ilie Bolojan to Serve as Interim Education Minister After Daniel David’s Resignation

One noteworthy event has occurred in Romania, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan will temporarily take over the Education Ministry following the resignation of Daniel David in December 2025, Europa Liberã România reported. According to an official statement, a new minister is set to be appointed by the end of the month.

On Tuesday, January 13, Ilie Bolojan formally submitted to president Nicușor Dan the proposal to revoke Daniel David from office, after the minister stepped down on December 22, 2025 – just one year after taking office. Under the government’s plan, the prime minister will assume the role on an interim basis until a new education minister is appointed.

Daniel David said at the time of his resignation that he never aimed for a career in politics and only accepted the minister job temporarily “to help the country and our education and research system in the crisis situations they undergone.”

He served two mandates as education minister with the backing of the National Liberal Party (PNL), first in the cabinet led by Social Democrat (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu between December 23, 2024, and June 23, 2025, and later in the Bolojan government from June 23, 2025, until his resignation last month.

Helena Moreno Sworn In as New Orleans’ First Hispanic Mayor

Shifting our focus to the United States, Helena Moreno was sworn in as New Orleans’ 63rd mayor on Monday (Jan. 12), making history as the city’s first Hispanic mayor and the second woman to assume the role.

Moreno’s inauguration was held at the Saenger Theater, privately funded by a committee chaired by New Orleans Saints and Pelicans owner Gayle Benson.

In her inaugural address, Moreno, 48, promised “excellence and urgency” in city government, as she tries to navigate the city out of a budget deficit and halt an exodus of residents leaving the city.

Moreno, a Democrat, was sworn in by former vice president Kamala Harris, who called Moreno a “dear friend.

Yemen Appoints Foreign Minister Shaya Mohsen al-Zindani as New Prime Minister

In Yemen, the Presidential Leadership Council (PLC) appointed its Foreign Minister Shaya Mohsen al-Zindani as the country’s new prime minister, following the approval of the resignation of Salem Bin Buraik, Xinhua reported, citing the state-run Saba News Agency.

According to Xinhua, citing Saba, at a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the PLC tasked al-Zindani with forming a new government in accordance with Yemen’s constitution and relevant laws. Bin Buraik was appointed as advisor to PLC President Rashad al-Alimi on financial and economic affairs.

Al-Alimi also issued a decree appointing Al-Zandani as the country’s new Prime Minister and tasking him with forming a new cabinet.

CaixaBank Fined Over €30 Million for Anti-Money Laundering Failures in Spain

In the realm of regulatory affairs, Spain-based financial institution CaixaBank has received a EUR 30 million fine from the Anti-Money Laundering Supervisory Authority (Sepblac) over AML failings.

Representing one of the most significant AML penalties imposed in Spain, the fine comes as a result of a real estate deal from nearly a decade ago, which involved the sale of a Madrid skyscraper.

Under resolution BOE-A-2025-26201, a fine of EUR 17.6 million was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) on 11 December 2025. This penalty was disclosed to the public; however, reports suggest that additional fines linked to the same case bring the total amount which CaixaBank has to pay to more than EUR 30 million.

Sepblac’s regulatory action is related to the 2016 sale of the Torre Foster, a skyscraper in Madrid. The deal included Bankia, a lender that CaixaBank bought back in 2021, selling the building to Amancio Ortega, the founder of Inditex, for nearly EUR 500 million.

Former Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili Sentenced to Five Years for Money Laundering

Shifting our attention to Georgia, the Georgian prosecutor general’s office said that Irakli Garibashvili, who served as the country’s prime minister from 2013-2015 and again 2021-2024, pleaded guilty to money laundering and was sentenced to five years in prison.

“The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia has signed a plea agreement with the accused Irakli Garibashvili, according to which the former prime minister was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment for the crime under Article 194, part three of the Criminal Code of Georgia,” the office said in a statement.

Garibashvili was also fined 1 million lari (some $370,000) as an additional penalty, and funds obtained through criminal activity were confiscated by the state.

“Irakli Garibashvili admits the crime and agrees with the terms of the plea agreement. The court has already satisfied the motion of the prosecutor’s office on plea agreement,” the statement added.

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