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Obama calls for more young, female leaders
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Former US president Barack Obama speaks at an innovative communications conference organized by Les Napoleons network group, where he appeared as a guest of honor, in Paris, on Dec. 2, 2017. (AFP/Martin Bureau)
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s the world sees the rise of populism and demagogues, former United States President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama called on Monday for the renewal of hope in democracy and wanted women and young people to take up political leadership.
Speaking before a packed auditorium at the Singapore Expo, Obama, who was taking a break from writing his memoir in Hawaii, said most problems in politics arose when old leaders clung to power and refused to step aside.
“Even if I could stay for a third term, I still would not do it. I believe in renewal of leadership and that old people should get away. If people with old ideas stay, new ideas are squashed and tragedies come from that impulse [to stay in power]. It is time for new ideas, new legs. That’s democracy,” said Obama, who was quick to add jokingly that given the stress from his time in office former first lady Michelle Obama would not approve another year in power.
Obama also emphasized that the inclusion of more women in positions of power could also bring more good.
“I used to tell my staff women should run every country in the world for two years. You would see significant improvement across the board. Living standards will improve and there will be no war and after two years, let them run everything,” said the 44th US president who left office in 2017.
Throughout his term in office, Obama made decisions to appoint women to key positions, including former first lady Hillary Clinton as secretary of state, Susan Rice as UN ambassador and Samantha Powers as his chief national security adviser.
After leaving the US presidency, Obama has kept a low profile, only rarely giving interviews and choosing not to directly comment on global or US politics. Despite his low profile he has become the frequent target of criticism from his successor Donald Trump.
