Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 142

142nd PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 142nd 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 Feb 08, 2026, and Mar 15, 2026. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Tarique Rahman Sworn In as Bangladesh PM; Mohammed Shahabuddin Administers Oath at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban

One noteworthy event has occurred in Bangladesh: The Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairman, Tarique Rahman, took oath as the new Prime Minister of Bangladesh, marking a fresh political chapter after nearly 18 months of uncertainty under the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath to the new government at the South Plaza of Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban in Dhaka, departing from the long-standing practice of holding the ceremony at Bangabhaban. Later, 25 cabinet ministers and 24 state ministers were also sworn in, with portfolio allocations expected soon.

Representing India at the ceremony, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla attended the event along with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in the presence of senior political leaders and top military officials. Following the swearing-in, Birla held a courtesy call with the newly appointed prime minister at the parliament.

Congress of the Republic of Peru Ousts Interim President José Jerí Over Undisclosed Meetings Scandal

Shifting our focus to Peru, Peru’s Congress has ousted interim President José Jerí just four months after he took office for failing to disclose meetings with Chinese businessmen.

The scandal unfolded last month after videos emerged of Jerí meeting several times outside his official schedule with businessman Zhihua Yang, who was under government scrutiny.

Jerí had previously apologised for the meetings, but denied any wrongdoing and accused his rivals of a public smear campaign.

His removal from office makes him the third consecutive president to be ousted, after he replaced former leader Dina Boluarte, who was impeached in October last year.

Keir Starmer Appoints Antonia Romeo as UK’s First Female Cabinet Secretary

In the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer has appointed Dame Antonia Romeo as Britain’s first female cabinet secretary and head of the civil service.

The appointment, which has been rumoured for weeks, comes after allegations emerged that Dame Antonia was previously spoken to about her management style. She had faced claims of bullying relating to her time as consul general in New York in 2017, but was later cleared by the Cabinet Office following an inquiry.

Dame Antonia, who is currently permanent secretary at the Home Office, is the first female cabinet secretary in the more than 100-year history of the role. She succeeds Sir Chris Wormald, who became the latest member of the prime minister’s top team to quit last week as Sir Keir seeks to overhaul his Downing Street operation following a string of scandals.

Bank of Ireland UK plc Fined £3.78m for Missing Confirmation of Payee Deadline

In the realm of regulatory affairs, Bank of Ireland UK plc (BOIUK) has been fined £3,779,300 for implementing a system to send requests for Confirmation of Payee (CoP) checks 14 months after the deadline. As a result, the safeguard was not applied to transactions involving more than 1.14 million new payees, with payments totalling approximately £6.9 billion. 

BOIUK was directed to have a system in place to send and receive CoP requests by 31 October 2023. CoP allows people to confirm the account they’re sending money to is the one they expect. It’s an important mechanism in combating fraud and in giving people confidence when making online payments.

Payment service providers had ample time to put the measure in place, after the PSR confirmed the requirement in October 2022. BOIUK were the last Group 1 payment service provider to achieve compliance.

Yoon Suk Yeol Jailed for Life Over Martial Law Insurrection Plot in South Korea

Shifting our attention to South Korea, South Korea’s ex-president Yoon Suk Yeol has been jailed for life for masterminding an insurrection by trying to impose military rule.

Yoon attempted to subvert the constitution by deploying military troops to seal off the National Assembly and ordering the arrest of politicians on 3 December 2024, a Seoul court ruled. His actions fundamentally damaged South Korea’s democracy and deserves a harsh punishment, presiding judge Ji Gwi-yeon told the court.

Prosecutors had sought the death penalty.

Though it was short-lived, Yoon’s martial law order left the nation more polarised than ever, and those deep divisions were on full display as the sentencing took place.

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