All but one lost their jobs or have legacies in jeopardy amid the rising wave of populism in the West.
And the last one faces a test of her own soon.
The photo showed some of the state of the world in late April. Here’s what happened to the photo’s subjects since.
From the left, (not politically):
Gone: David Cameron
David Cameron
resigned as the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister hours after his countrymen voted to demand a "Brexit” and leave the European Union.
Going: Barack Obama
The shock was not that Obama would leave
the presidency of the United States — two terms and you’re done is in
the US Constitution, after all — but the
transfer of power to a businessman-TV reality star-neophyte politician called Donald Trump stunned much of the world.
Here for now: Angela Merkel
Angela Merkel said she will run for a
fourth term as German Chancellor
in elections next year. She said she had thought about the decision
long and hard. She has angered voters with her policy to keep Germany’s
borders open to migrants and her party lost badly in recent local
elections. But if the German electorate wants someone known and familiar
in these turbulent times, Merkel could be their choice.
Going: Francois Hollande
Francois Hollande revealed last week that
he would not run for re-election as French President.
It’s the first time since 1958, when France’s fifth republic was
created, that an incumbent president has not sought a second term. But
Hollande has low popularity ratings and
France seems to be taking a turn to the right.
Going: Matteo Renzi
Like Cameron, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has
become a victim of a referendum he called.
When nearly 60% of voters opposed his call for constitutional reform,
Renzi handed his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella. He’s agreed
to stay until the country gets its next budget agreed, but he is on his
way out.