Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 145

145th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 145th 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 Mar 05, 2026, and Apr 04, 2026. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Far-Right Leader José Antonio Kast Sworn In as Chile’s President After Landslide Victory

One noteworthy event has occurred in Chile: Far-right leader José Antonio Kast was sworn in as Chile’s new president, marking the Latin American nation’s most pronounced shift to the right since the return of democracy in 1990.

In a ceremony at the National Congress in the coastal city of Valparaíso and attended by dozens of heads of state, Kast and his Cabinet took the oaths of office after a landslide victory in the 2025 elections.

Among those attending the ceremony were Argentina’s President Javier Milei, Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, and Spain’s King Felipe VI. Other guests included Nobel Peace Prize laureate María Corina Machado.

Lt Gen (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain Sworn In as 43rd Governor of Bihar in Patna Ceremony

Shifting our focus to India, Lieutenant General (Retd) Syed Ata Hasnain was sworn in as the 43rd Governor of Bihar at a ceremony held at Lok Bhavan in Patna.

The oath of office and secrecy was administered by Sangam Kumar Sahoo, Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, during a formal event attended by senior political leaders and state officials.

With this, Syed Ata Hasnain became the first former Indian Army officer to serve as the Governor of Bihar, succeeding Arif Mohammad Khan.

The ceremony was attended by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy Chief Ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, Water Resources Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, and Bihar Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar, along with several ministers, senior bureaucrats, and other dignitaries.

Leaders present at the ceremony congratulated the new governor and expressed hope that his experience and leadership would contribute to the development of the state.

Syed Ata Hasnain had arrived in Patna, where he was received by senior administrative officials.

Madagascar’s Colonel Randrianirina Sacks PM, Dissolves Cabinet After Military Takeover

In Madagascar, Madagascar’s leader, Colonel Michaël Randrianirina, has sacked his prime minister and dissolved the cabinet he appointed soon after seizing power following youth-led protests five months ago. The colonel appointed Herintsalama Rajaonarivelo, from the private sector, as prime minister in October soon after a military power grab during protests that sent former president Andry Rajoelina fleeing.

Randrianirina “announces that, in accordance with the provisions of the constitution, the government is suspended from its duties,” the presidency said in a statement released on Monday, March 9. A new prime minister will be appointed “shortly,” it said, without providing a timeline or a reason for the dismissal.

Dutch Prosecutors Fine Louis Vuitton €500,000 for Anti-Money Laundering Violations

In the realm of regulatory affairs, the Public Prosecution Service has imposed a 500,000 euro fine on the Dutch branch of Louis Vuitton for significant violations of the Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Prevention Act. This enforcement action follows a comprehensive investigation into a sophisticated money laundering network that utilized luxury retail channels to disguise the origins of criminal proceeds.

Authorities determined that the fashion house failed to perform adequate customer due diligence while accepting millions in cash payments over a multiyear period. The case highlights the critical role of non-financial institutions in the broader financial ecosystem and the legal consequences of failing to implement robust preventative measures against illicit financial flows.

Jakarta Court Sentences Ex-Communications Officials Over National Data Centre Corruption

Shifting our attention to Indonesia, the Jakarta Corruption Court found two former senior officials at the then Communications and Information Ministry guilty in a corruption case related to procurement in the temporary national data centre (PDNS) project.

Former director-general of informatics applications Semuel Abrijani Pangerapan was sentenced to six years in prison, while former informatics application services director Bambang Dwi Anggono was sentenced to nine years in prison, Kompas.id reported.

Aside from the prison terms, the court also fined Semuel and Bambang 500 million rupiah (S$38,000) each, or an additional 140 days in jail.

Read about the product: Data Asset Builder

Empower your organization with ZIGRAM’s integrated RegTech solutions – Book a Demo