A flag featuring a portrait of Vladimir Putin flutters outside the Kremlin in Moscow on March 5, the day after the Russian presidential election (XINHUA/AFP)

Elections Around the Globe

New leaders were elected in many countries in 2012. While Barack Obama won a second term as U.S. president, Vladimir Putin, Francois Hollande, Mohamed Morsi and Enrique Pena Nieto were elected the respective presidents of Russia, France, Egypt and Mexico. Shinzo Abe became Japan's prime minister following a long period of political strife in the country. Park Geun-hye became the first female president of South Korea.