{"id":2017631,"date":"2026-06-29T10:22:34","date_gmt":"2026-06-29T07:22:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2017631"},"modified":"2026-06-29T10:22:34","modified_gmt":"2026-06-29T07:22:34","slug":"starmer-resigns-which-european-country-has-the-highest-turnover-of-leaders","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2017631","title":{"rendered":"Starmer resigns: Which European country has the highest turnover of leaders?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/36\/16\/1200x675_cmsv2_ddb678d8-1345-5a98-bf45-7c1c2bdb43eb-9813616.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2905920-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905920\" data-cid=\"9818157\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905920-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/67\/61\/55\/189x106_cmsv2_8c737888-66ec-512a-a906-9326e1a1a4e2-9676155.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An aerial view of the Gjader migrant camp at Lezh\u00eb region, Albania, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    MEPs blocked from inspecting Italy&#8217;s Albania migrant centre\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905870-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2905870\" data-cid=\"9817899\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905870-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/78\/99\/189x106_cmsv2_7f4abb38-f308-5bf6-bcf7-58000b6052bb-9817899.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Parade-goers attend the NYC Pride March, Sunday, June 28, 2026 in New York.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Thousands take part in New York Pride parade\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905737-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905737\" data-cid=\"9817598\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905737-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/71\/43\/189x106_cmsv2_b5186e74-5c9c-5465-a068-d84074c57a78-9817143.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Forensic police technicians examine a skydiving plane that crashed in Tomblaine, killing all 11 people on board, on Sunday 28 June 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Eleven killed as parachute training aircraft crashes near Nancy\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905835-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2905835\" data-cid=\"9817666\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905835-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/78\/37\/19\/189x106_cmsv2_5baa526d-662a-5f0d-b339-5f1a9eeafe4f-9783719.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"EU trade commissioner Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d met on 29 June its Chinese counterpart trade Minister Wang Wentao in Brussels.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU sets October deadline to get &#8216;tangible&#8217; results with China\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905920-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2905920\" data-cid=\"9818157\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905920-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/67\/61\/55\/189x106_cmsv2_8c737888-66ec-512a-a906-9326e1a1a4e2-9676155.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"An aerial view of the Gjader migrant camp at Lezh\u00eb region, Albania, Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    MEPs blocked from inspecting Italy&#8217;s Albania migrant centre\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905870-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2905870\" data-cid=\"9817899\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905870-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/78\/99\/189x106_cmsv2_7f4abb38-f308-5bf6-bcf7-58000b6052bb-9817899.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Parade-goers attend the NYC Pride March, Sunday, June 28, 2026 in New York.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Thousands take part in New York Pride parade\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905737-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2905737\" data-cid=\"9817598\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905737-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/71\/43\/189x106_cmsv2_b5186e74-5c9c-5465-a068-d84074c57a78-9817143.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Forensic police technicians examine a skydiving plane that crashed in Tomblaine, killing all 11 people on board, on Sunday 28 June 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Eleven killed as parachute training aircraft crashes near Nancy\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905835-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2905835\" data-cid=\"9817666\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905835-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/78\/37\/19\/189x106_cmsv2_5baa526d-662a-5f0d-b339-5f1a9eeafe4f-9783719.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"EU trade commissioner Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d met on 29 June its Chinese counterpart trade Minister Wang Wentao in Brussels.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU sets October deadline to get &#8216;tangible&#8217; results with China\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe Decoded<\/p>\n<p>                          The Cube<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Starmer resigns: Which European country has the highest turnover of leaders?<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/36\/16\/1536x864_cmsv2_ddb678d8-1345-5a98-bf45-7c1c2bdb43eb-9813616.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"From right: UK PM Keir Starmer, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, 24\/06\/26\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              From right: UK PM Keir Starmer, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, 24\/06\/26<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Michael Kappeler\/DPA via AP, Pool<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Michael Kappeler\/DPA via AP, Pool\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspJames Thomas\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1782728554\">\n                    Published on                 <time datetime=\"2026-06-29 12:22:34 +02:00\">29\/06\/2026 &#8211; 12:22 GMT+2<\/time><span class=\"c-article-publication-date__bullet\">\u2022<\/span>Updated<br \/>\n                                     <time datetime=\"12:30\">12:30<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay js-c-article-share-comment-popup-overlay u-display-none\">\n<div id=\"js-c-article-share-comment-popup\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup js-c-article-share-comment-popup\">\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__header u-display-flex\"><span>Share<\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-close.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"Close Button\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-close\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content u-display-flex\">\n<div id=\"share-comment-popup-content-container\" class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__container u-display-flex\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"facebook\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-facebook.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"facebook\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"twitter\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-twitter.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"twitter\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"flipboard\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Flipboard<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-flipboard.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"flipboard\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"send\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Send<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-send.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"send\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"reddit\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Reddit<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-reddit.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"reddit\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"linkedin\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Linkedin<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-linkedin.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"linkedin\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"messenger\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Messenger<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-messenger.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"messenger\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"telegram\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Telegram<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-telegram.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"telegram\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"vk\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>VK<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-vk.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"vk\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"bluesky\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Bluesky<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-bluesky.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"bluesky\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-share-comment-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        The resignation of Keir Starmer means that the UK, a European country once known for its ability to return stable governments, will see its seventh prime minister since 2016. Social media users claim this is the highest rate on the continent. Is this true?<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>With the resignation of Keir Starmer, the UK is set to have its seventh prime minister in 10 years.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This is a far cry from a country that was once touted for its ability to produce stable and long-lasting governments compared to other European nations, due to its first-past-the-post voting system, the principle of parliamentary sovereignty and its evolutionary tradition of governance.<\/p>\n<p>Since 2016, the political turmoil and polarisation that followed the Brexit referendum, frequent scandals in the previous right-wing Conservative government, and an ailing economy have meant that not a single British prime minister has managed to survive a full parliamentary term from one general election to the next \u2014 cycles that are typically meant to last five years.<\/p>\n<p>David Cameron, who campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU, stepped down during his second term in July 2016 after losing the Brexit vote; Theresa May left the post three years later after repeatedly failing to get her Brexit deal through parliament; and Boris Johnson left the job in September 2022 following numerous scandals, including revelations he attended otherwise prohibited parties during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.<\/p>\n<p>His successor, Liz Truss, stayed in the post for only 49 days, becoming the shortest-serving prime minister in British history, after her government&#8217;s mini-budget sparked severe financial market turmoil. <\/p>\n<p>Rishi Sunak was then defeated by Starmer&#8217;s centre-left Labour Party in the 2024 general election, having been in office for just under two years, and bringing the Conservatives&#8217; 14-year rule to an end.<\/p>\n<p>Now Starmer himself has announced his resignation amid pressure from his own MPs after Labour plummeted in the polls and suffered devastating local election results, and amid controversy over Starmer&#8217;s appointment of the UK&#8217;s ambassador to the US.<\/p>\n<p>With Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, most likely poised to take the leadership of the Labour Party and therefore become the UK&#8217;s seventh prime minister since 2016, the country now finds itself at the centre of online claims that it is &#8220;ungovernable&#8221; and that it has the highest leader turnover rate in Europe.<\/p>\n<p>Others say that other countries are worse, comparing the office of prime minister specifically (rather than presidents or other heads of state or government) across European states in the same time period.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/36\/16\/808x454_cmsv2_352f159a-2069-572c-9825-9f09e2787218-9813616.jpg\" alt=\"Some of the posts saying the UK is an outlier in Europe and the world\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">Some of the posts saying the UK is an outlier in Europe and the world<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>But which of these claims are true? How does the UK compare in the number of leaders it&#8217;s had between 2016 and 2026?<\/p>\n<p>To ensure as fair a comparison as possible, we matched UK prime ministers against the individual European Council members who have held executive power in each EU nation over the past 10 years. The title of this role varies by country: some are presidents, some are prime ministers, and some are chancellors, for example.<\/p>\n<p>British prime ministers were themselves European Council members before the UK left the EU in 2020.<\/p>\n<p>We did not exclusively compare the office of prime minister in each country, as some posts did, because the role varies across the continent. Our count includes any leader who has served at any point between 2016 and 2026, and anyone who left office during that time and returned at a later period is only counted once.<\/p>\n<p>With all this considered, Bulgaria is top of the leaderboard, coming in with 10 unique prime ministers between 2016 and 2026, owing to years of political instability and fragile coalitions. <\/p>\n<p>The UK and Austria are in joint second place with seven, once the incoming British prime minister is factored in and excluding short-term acting chancellors in Austria who temporarily exercised office between governments but were never formally sworn in as permanent chancellors.<\/p>\n<p>Italy was once seen as the poster child for countries with a conveyor belt of leaders, famously cycling through dozens of governments since World War II at an average rate of about one per year, often with a new prime minister. Now, though, it comes in joint third place with Latvia and Slovakia at five leaders each.<\/p>\n<p>At the bottom of the table are a number of EU countries with only two leaders between 2016 and 2026, including two French presidents, two Portuguese prime ministers, and two Spanish prime ministers.<\/p>\n<h2>Europe&#8217;s differences make it hard to fully compare<\/h2>\n<p>Of course, each country has a different system of government, and leaders across the continent are voted in in different ways, meaning some positions are more stable than others.<\/p>\n<p>Some, such as the UK, have a parliamentary system, in which there is both a head of government (the prime minister) and a separate head of state (a monarch or ceremonial president). Voters elect members of parliament, who then select the prime minister (usually the leader of the majority party or coalition). Prime ministers and their cabinets are accountable to parliament, which can remove the executive through a vote of no confidence.<\/p>\n<p>Others, such as Cyprus, have a presidential system, where a president is the sole head of government and head of state. They are elected directly by the public and generally cannot be removed simply because they lose parliamentary support.<\/p>\n<p>Others still have semi-presidential systems, where a directly-elected president, who serves as head of state, and the prime minister share executive powers. This is the case in the likes of France and Romania. The prime minister and cabinet are accountable to both the president and parliament, the latter of which can force the prime minister to resign via a vote of no confidence. <\/p>\n<p>The president, however, generally serves a fixed term and cannot be simply removed by parliament, although some countries have constitutional procedures for impeachment in exceptional circumstances. <\/p>\n<p>All of this to say that, in true European fashion, it can be difficult to make direct comparisons between leaders across countries, as they all function in different ways.<\/p>\n<p>For example, the president of France is voted for directly in a presidential election, while the prime minister of the UK is the leader of the party that commands a majority in parliament, traditionally after a general election.<\/p>\n<p>This means that, if the party wants to change leadership, as was the case with Starmer, the country doesn&#8217;t need to hold another general election. Instead, the ruling party chooses a new leader who then slots into the role of prime minister.<\/p>\n<p>Other European countries, meanwhile, have governments that are made up of fragile coalitions, meaning that if one coalition partner pulls out, the whole government could topple, and a new one, including the prime minister, would need to be built from scratch.<\/p>\n<h2>Direct comparison of PMs also not fully clear<\/h2>\n<p>This also shows why posts comparing the number of prime ministers specifically (rather than heads of state or government) across Europe and the world are misleading, as their roles differ depending on the country. <\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/36\/16\/808x454_cmsv2_aff182f7-f686-5ace-8785-439f2503215f-9813616.jpg\" alt=\"These posts compare prime ministers across countries, but it is not quite fair to do so\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">These posts compare prime ministers across countries, but it is not quite fair to do so<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">Euronews<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Sometimes they hold the highest office in the land, and at other times they are presidential appointees and are often used as an administrative shield for the head of state.<\/p>\n<p>This explains why some countries that don&#8217;t operate in a parliamentary system, such as France, have indeed had their own revolving door of prime ministers in recent years. Indeed, if we were to compare the changes in the office of prime minister in Europe since 2016 specifically, the UK doesn&#8217;t actually feature in the top three.<\/p>\n<p>France has seen nine, largely caused by the political crisis between 2024 and 2025 in the wake of legislative elections that returned a hung parliament split three ways. The deadlock, coupled with budgetary disputes, led to a swift handover of power from Gabriel Attal to Michel Barnier, then to Fran\u00e7ois Bayrou, and finally to current Prime Minister S\u00e9bastien Lecornu.<\/p>\n<p>Bulgaria&#8217;s 10 prime ministers in the same time period are the result of extreme political fragmentation and the inability of parties to form stable majority coalitions. In April, voters went to the polls for the eighth time in five years and seemingly put an end to the instability: the left-wing populist party Progressive Bulgaria won a landslide victory, and Rumen Radev was named prime minister.<\/p>\n<p>Romania, meanwhile, has had 11 prime ministers since 2016 (counting each individual only once, in the case they ever returned to office). The country&#8217;s governments have been unstable for years, with the last time a prime minister completed a term being in 2008.<\/p>\n<p>Most recently, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan&#8217;s government fell in May after losing a vote of no-confidence in the wake of a political crisis and controversial pension reforms, although he remains in office for now as caretaker.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  To use air con or not? The facts behind the politicised battle to stay cool in Europe<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Fact check: Were you fooled by these AI-generated images of the World Cup?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Fact check: Viral drone interception video shows Russia&#8217;s Yolka system<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Fact checking<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Keir Starmer<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  European politics<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Politics<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Europe<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Prime Minister<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"o-article-newsy__aside\">\n<div class=\"c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-1\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-top-stories\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-top-stories\">\n<h2 class=\"c-top-stories__title\">Top stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905830-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905830\" data-cid=\"9817683\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905830-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/76\/83\/320x180_cmsv2_39a8a0a0-746f-536c-b232-ea8571d0d97d-9817683.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The June heatwave has broken historical records across Europe.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Neither pro nor con: EU declines to take stand on AC amid heatwave<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905653-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905653\" data-cid=\"9816733\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905653-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/67\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_953900f0-6250-58c7-b776-495d33b641b1-9816733.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Tankers and cargo vessels are seen in the Gulf of Oman, along shipping routes linking the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, Tuesday, June 16, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran and Oman hold first Hormuz talks as US-Iran deal stays on edge<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905809-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905809\" data-cid=\"9817559\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905809-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/75\/59\/320x180_cmsv2_7352bbad-3113-56eb-ac66-4b13e329b0b6-9817559.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Emergency responders and forensic investigators in Stade, 29 June, 2026 \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    At least six killed in shooting in northern Germany, police say<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905753-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905753\" data-cid=\"9817221\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905753-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/75\/23\/320x180_cmsv2_7cc8f428-17dc-5ee1-8135-e951a886fc99-9817523.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People cool off at Trocadero fountain near the Eiffel Tower during a heat wave in Paris, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe&#8217;s record heatwave shifts east, death toll tops 1,300<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2905835-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905835\" data-cid=\"9817666\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905835-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/78\/37\/19\/320x180_cmsv2_5baa526d-662a-5f0d-b339-5f1a9eeafe4f-9783719.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"EU trade commissioner Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d met on 29 June its Chinese counterpart trade Minister Wang Wentao in Brussels.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU sets October deadline to get &#8216;tangible&#8217; results with China<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-2\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-most-viewed\">\n<h2 class=\"c-most-viewed__title qa-section-title\">Most read<\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__list\">\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2905599-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905599\" data-cid=\"9816571\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Another heat record broken in Germany<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2905658-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905658\" data-cid=\"9816753\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Putin admits oil deficit amid Ukrainian strikes on refineries<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2905653-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905653\" data-cid=\"9816733\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran and Oman hold first Hormuz talks as US-Iran deal stays on edge<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2905592-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905592\" data-cid=\"9816514\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Swiss glaciers melting rapidly in June as Europe faces extreme heat<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-most-viewed__item\"><span class=\"c-most-viewed__item__number\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2904967-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904967\" data-cid=\"9813915\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Heatwave: Which European countries are running out of water?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto c-ad-wrapper o-article-newsy__aside__content-3\" data-ad-name=\"adzone-halfpage\">\n<div class=\"c-ad c-ad-halfpage u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905830-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905830\" data-cid=\"9817683\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905830-label-pos2-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/76\/83\/320x180_cmsv2_39a8a0a0-746f-536c-b232-ea8571d0d97d-9817683.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The June heatwave has broken historical records across Europe.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Neither pro nor con: EU declines to take stand on AC amid heatwave<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905653-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905653\" data-cid=\"9816733\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905653-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/67\/33\/320x180_cmsv2_953900f0-6250-58c7-b776-495d33b641b1-9816733.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Tankers and cargo vessels are seen in the Gulf of Oman, along shipping routes linking the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Sea, Tuesday, June 16, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran and Oman hold first Hormuz talks as US-Iran deal stays on edge<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905809-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905809\" data-cid=\"9817559\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905809-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/75\/59\/320x180_cmsv2_7352bbad-3113-56eb-ac66-4b13e329b0b6-9817559.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Emergency responders and forensic investigators in Stade, 29 June, 2026 \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    At least six killed in shooting in northern Germany, police say<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905753-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905753\" data-cid=\"9817221\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905753-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/75\/23\/320x180_cmsv2_7cc8f428-17dc-5ee1-8135-e951a886fc99-9817523.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People cool off at Trocadero fountain near the Eiffel Tower during a heat wave in Paris, Wednesday, June 24, 2026. \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Europe&#8217;s record heatwave shifts east, death toll tops 1,300<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905835-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905835\" data-cid=\"9817666\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2905835-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/78\/37\/19\/320x180_cmsv2_5baa526d-662a-5f0d-b339-5f1a9eeafe4f-9783719.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"EU trade commissioner Maro\u0161 \u0160ef\u010dovi\u010d met on 29 June its Chinese counterpart trade Minister Wang Wentao in Brussels.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU sets October deadline to get &#8216;tangible&#8217; results with China<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905599-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905599\" data-cid=\"9816571\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Another heat record broken in Germany<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905658-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905658\" data-cid=\"9816753\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Putin admits oil deficit amid Ukrainian strikes on refineries<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905653-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905653\" data-cid=\"9816733\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Iran and Oman hold first Hormuz talks as US-Iran deal stays on edge<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2905592-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2905592\" data-cid=\"9816514\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Swiss glaciers melting rapidly in June as Europe faces extreme heat<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2904967-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2904967\" data-cid=\"9813915\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Heatwave: Which European countries are running out of water?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">With the resignation of Keir Starmer, the UK is set to have its seventh prime minister in 10 years.This is a far cry from a country that was once touted for its ability to produce stable and long-lasting governments compared to other European nations, due to its first-past-the-post voting system, the principle of parliamentary sovereignty and its evolutionary tradition of governance.Since 2016, the political turmoil and polarisation that followed the Brexit referendum, frequent scandals in the previous right-wing Conservative government, and an ailing economy have meant that not a single British prime minister has managed to survive a full parliamentary term from one general election to the next \u2014 cycles that are typically meant to last five years.David Cameron, who campaigned for the UK to remain in the EU, stepped down during his second term in July 2016 after losing the Brexit vote; Theresa May left the post three years later after repeatedly failing to get her Brexit deal through parliament; and Boris Johnson left the job in September 2022 following numerous scandals, including revelations he attended otherwise prohibited parties during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns.His successor, Liz Truss, stayed in the post for only 49 days, becoming the shortest-serving prime minister in British history, after her government&#8217;s mini-budget sparked severe financial market turmoil.Rishi Sunak was then defeated by Starmer&#8217;s centre-left Labour Party in the 2024 general election, having been in office for just under two years, and bringing the Conservatives&#8217; 14-year rule to an end.Now Starmer himself has announced his resignation amid pressure from his own MPs after Labour plummeted in the polls and suffered devastating local election results, and amid controversy over Starmer&#8217;s appointment of the UK&#8217;s ambassador to the US.With Andy Burnham, the former mayor of Greater Manchester, most likely poised to take the leadership of the Labour Party and therefore become the UK&#8217;s seventh prime minister since 2016, the country now finds itself at the centre of online claims that it is &#8220;ungovernable&#8221; and that it has the highest leader turnover rate in Europe.Others say that other countries are worse, comparing the office of prime minister specifically (rather than presidents or other heads of state or government) across European states in the same time period.But which of these claims are true? How does the UK compare in the number of leaders it&#8217;s had between 2016 and 2026?To ensure as fair a comparison as possible, we matched UK prime ministers against the individual European Council members who have held executive power in each EU nation over the past 10 years. The title of this role varies by country: some are presidents, some are prime ministers, and some are chancellors, for example.British prime ministers were themselves European Council members before the UK left the EU in 2020.We did not exclusively compare the office of prime minister in each country, as some posts did, because the role varies across the continent. Our count includes any leader who has served at any point between 2016 and 2026, and anyone who left office during that time and returned at a later period is only counted once.With all this considered, Bulgaria is top of the leaderboard, coming in with 10 unique prime ministers between 2016 and 2026, owing to years of political instability and fragile coalitions.The UK and Austria are in joint second place with seven, once the incoming British prime minister is factored in and excluding short-term acting chancellors in Austria who temporarily exercised office between governments but were never formally sworn in as permanent chancellors.Italy was once seen as the poster child for countries with a conveyor belt of leaders, famously cycling through dozens of governments since World War II at an average rate of about one per year, often with a new prime minister. Now, though, it comes in joint third place with Latvia and Slovakia at five leaders each.At the bottom of the table are a number of EU countries with only two leaders between 2016 and 2026, including two French presidents, two Portuguese prime ministers, and two Spanish prime ministers.Europe&#8217;s differences make it hard to fully compareOf course, each country has a different system of government, and leaders across the continent are voted in in different ways, meaning some positions are more stable than others.Some, such as the UK, have a parliamentary system, in which there is both a head of government (the prime minister) and a separate head of state (a monarch or ceremonial president). Voters elect members of parliament, who then select the prime minister (usually the leader of the majority party or coalition). Prime ministers and their cabinets are accountable to parliament, which can remove the executive through a vote of no confidence.Others, such as Cyprus, have a presidential system, where a president is the sole head of government and head of state. They are elected directly by the public and generally cannot be removed simply because they lose parliamentary support.Others still have semi-presidential systems, where a directly-elected president, who serves as head of state, and the prime minister share executive powers. This is the case in the likes of France and Romania. The prime minister and cabinet are accountable to both the president and parliament, the latter of which can force the prime minister to resign via a vote of no confidence.The president, however, generally serves a fixed term and cannot be simply removed by parliament, although some countries have constitutional procedures for impeachment in exceptional circumstances.All of this to say that, in true European fashion, it can be difficult to make direct comparisons between leaders across countries, as they all function in different ways.For example, the president of France is voted for directly in a presidential election, while the prime minister of the UK is the leader of the party that commands a majority in parliament, traditionally after a general election.This means that, if the party wants to change leadership, as was the case with Starmer, the country doesn&#8217;t need to hold another general election. Instead, the ruling party chooses a new leader who then slots into the role of prime minister.Other European countries, meanwhile, have governments that are made up of fragile coalitions, meaning that if one coalition partner pulls out, the whole government could topple, and a new one, including the prime minister, would need to be built from scratch.Direct comparison of PMs also not fully clearThis also shows why posts comparing the number of prime ministers specifically (rather than heads of state or government) across Europe and the world are misleading, as their roles differ depending on the country.Sometimes they hold the highest office in the land, and at other times they are presidential appointees and are often used as an administrative shield for the head of state.This explains why some countries that don&#8217;t operate in a parliamentary system, such as France, have indeed had their own revolving door of prime ministers in recent years. Indeed, if we were to compare the changes in the office of prime minister in Europe since 2016 specifically, the UK doesn&#8217;t actually feature in the top three.France has seen nine, largely caused by the political crisis between 2024 and 2025 in the wake of legislative elections that returned a hung parliament split three ways. The deadlock, coupled with budgetary disputes, led to a swift handover of power from Gabriel Attal to Michel Barnier, then to Fran\u00e7ois Bayrou, and finally to current Prime Minister S\u00e9bastien Lecornu.Bulgaria&#8217;s 10 prime ministers in the same time period are the result of extreme political fragmentation and the inability of parties to form stable majority coalitions. In April, voters went to the polls for the eighth time in five years and seemingly put an end to the instability: the left-wing populist party Progressive Bulgaria won a landslide victory, and Rumen Radev was named prime minister.Romania, meanwhile, has had 11 prime ministers since 2016 (counting each individual only once, in the case they ever returned to office). The country&#8217;s governments have been unstable for years, with the last time a prime minister completed a term being in 2008.Most recently, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan&#8217;s government fell in May after losing a vote of no-confidence in the wake of a political crisis and controversial pension reforms, although he remains in office for now as caretaker.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/06\/29\/starmer-resigns-which-european-country-has-the-highest-turnover-of-leaders&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/81\/36\/16\/1200x675_cmsv2_ddb678d8-1345-5a98-bf45-7c1c2bdb43eb-9813616.jpg&#8221;] Europe News MEPs blocked from inspecting Italy&#8217;s Albania migrant centre No Comment Thousands take part in New York Pride parade Europe News Eleven killed as parachute training aircraft crashes near Nancy Europe News EU sets October deadline to get &#8216;tangible&#8217; results with China Europe News MEPs blocked from inspecting Italy&#8217;s Albania migrant [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2017631","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2017631","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2017631"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2017631\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2017631"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2017631"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2017631"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}