7 Powerful Political Families

Bush and Trudeau, for instance, were democratically elected officials who, provided that their fathers had previously served in the same capacity, often had direct ties to that position. In reality, technically, North America has the largest rate of leaders with family ties. Of the eight presidents and prime ministers who served during our sample time, two were linked to previous heads of state.

Posted On March 5th, 2021

The Ecevit Family, Turkey

Mustafa Bülent Ecevit was a Turkish politician, author, academic, scholar, and journalist who served four times between 1974 and 2002 as Turkey's Prime Minister. In 1974, 1977, 1978–79, and 1999–2002, he served as Turkey's prime minister.

House of Bernadotte, Sweden

The House of Bernadotte is Sweden's royal house. Established in 1818, it was also Norway's royal house between 1818 and 1905. Its founder, Charles XIV, John of Sweden, was born as Jean Bernadotte in Pau, in southern France.

De Kelrk Family, South Africa

Frederik Willem de Klerk OMG DMS is a former politician from South Africa who served from 1989 to 1994 as State President of South Africa and from 1994 to 1996 as Vice President.

Bratianau Family, Romania

One of the main political personalities of 19th-century Romania was Ion Constantin Brătianu. He was the son of Dincă Brătian and Dimitrie's younger brother, and the father of Ionel, Dinu, and Vintilă Brătianu. He was also the grandfather of Ion Pillat, a poet.

The Belaunde/Diez Cansco Family, Peru

Victor Andrés Belaunde was a member of a noted political family in Peru. Twice president was his nephew Fernando Belaunde Terry; from 1945-1946 his brother Rafael Belaunde Diez Canseco was prime minister, and three times president was his grandfather Pedro Diez Canseco as well.

The Kim Family, North Korea

A North Korean politician, Kim Jong-il or Kim Jong Il, served as North Korea's second Supreme Leader from 1994 to 2011. He led North Korea from the death of his father, Kim Il-sung, the first Supreme Leader of North Korea, in 1994, until his own death in 2011, when his son, Kim Jong-un, succeeded him.

Nguema Family, Equatorial Guinea

Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo is a politician from Equatorial Guinea who has been Equatorial Guinea's second president since August 1979. In an August 1979 military coup, he expelled his uncle, Francisco Macías Nguema, and oversaw the rise of Equatorial Guinea as an important oil producer, starting in the 1990s.