Politics
Putin, McConnell and Infantino all remained in office
Vladimir Putin stayed president, Mitch McConnell kept his senate seat, and Gianni Infantino remained FIFA chief.
Vladimir Putin, Mitch McConnell and Gianni Infantino all remained in their respective posts as of early January 2027. The outcomes were confirmed on Friday 1 January for Putin and Infantino, and on Monday 4 January for McConnell. Each figure therefore continued in office through the end of 2026.
On Friday 1 January it was confirmed that Putin was not out as president of Russia by 31 December 2026. The confirmation indicated he stayed in the presidency for the remainder of the year. No change to his status was recorded.
On Monday 4 January it was confirmed that Mitch McConnell did not step down from the senate before his term ends. The result left him holding his senate seat beyond that point. His position remained unchanged.
On Friday 1 January it was confirmed that Gianni Infantino was not out as FIFA President by 31 December 2026. The confirmation meant he continued to lead FIFA through the end of the year. No departure was noted.
On Thursday 31 December it was confirmed that Gianni Infantino had not announced any intention to leave the FIFA presidency before the end of 2026. The finding showed no public statement of resignation had been made. His tenure therefore proceeded without announced interruption.
Analysis
Without a leadership change, existing domestic initiatives and foreign-policy approaches are likely to persist, though future political dynamics remain uncertain.
Mitch McConnell's decision to stay in the senate maintains the current balance of seniority and committee leadership within the chamber. This stability may affect the legislative agenda and party strategy, but upcoming elections could still reshape the senate's composition and influence his long-term role.
Gianni Infantino's ongoing tenure as FIFA President preserves the organization's current governance structure heading into major tournaments. While the leadership remains unchanged, ongoing scrutiny of FIFA's administration means that challenges to his authority could still arise despite the lack of an announced departure.
What this was built from
Each claim above traces to a market below, at the price it was trading when this edition went to press.