Death of Politicians

The mayor of Zagreb, Milan Bandić, died unexpectedly at the age of 65 on Sunday night of a heart attack, Croatian media reported. Bandić led the Croatian capital for almost 21 years.

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, president of France from 1974 to 1981, has died at the age of 94 of Coronavirus complications. He died surrounded by his family in his home in central France. Giscard d'Estaing was pro-Europe and liberalised laws on divorce, abortion and contraception during his tenure.

President Emmanuel Macron praised Giscard d'Estaing for transforming France and its direction: "A servant of the state, a politician of progress and freedom, his death has plunged the French nation into mourning."

Former Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has died at age 84. He tested positive for the Coronavirus and was in a coma following a brain surgery earlier in August. His death is followed by seven days of state mourning.

His son bhijit Mukherjee took to Twitter to release a statement: "With a Heavy Heart , this is to inform you that my father Shri #PranabMukherjee has just passed away inspite of the best efforts of Doctors of RR Hospital & prayers ,duas & prarthanas from people throughout India ! I thank all of You 🙏."

Irish politician and former SDLP leader John Hume has died at a nursing home in Derry on August 3 at the age of 83. He had suffered from dementia since the late 90s.

From 1979 to 2001, he was the leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party and was described as "the man who kept hope alive". Hume was a leading player in the peace process in Northern Ireland and won Nobel Peace Prize alongside David Trimble in 1998.

Benjamin Mkapa, the former President of Tanzanzia, has died at age 81. The news were broadcasted by Tanzania’s president John Pombe Magufuli alongside a declaration of a seven-day national mourning period.

Mkapa led from 1995 to 2005 and was the leader of regional peace mediation efforts. He also played a part in the ending of the post-election violence in Kenya in 2007.