History of Nepotism in Timeline

Nepotism is the practice of favoring relatives by granting them advantages, privileges, or positions, particularly in fields like business, politics, and entertainment. Similar to cronyism, it involves preferential treatment based on familial ties rather than merit. While it can offer stability and trust within an organization, it often leads to perceptions of unfairness, reduced morale among non-relatives, and potentially less qualified individuals in key roles. The ethical implications of nepotism are widely debated, as it can undermine fair competition and equal opportunity.

1902: Arthur Balfour appointed as Prime Minister

In 1902, the Marquess of Salisbury, who was Prime Minister, appointed his nephew, Arthur Balfour, as Prime Minister.

1948: First democratic elections in Mauritius marked by family control

Since the first democratic elections in 1948, politics in Mauritius has been dominated by a few families who have controlled the four major political parties.

1955: Satcam Boolell enters politics

In 1955, Satcam Boolell entered politics, initiating the Boolell family's involvement in Mauritian politics.

1956: S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike becomes Prime Minister of Ceylon

In 1956, S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike began his term as the Prime Minister of Ceylon.

1959: Lee Kuan Yew becomes prime minister of Singapore

In 1959, Lee Kuan Yew became the prime minister of Singapore, holding the position until 1990.

1959: End of first term of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike as Prime Minister of Ceylon

In 1959, the first term of S. W. R. D. Bandaranaike as Prime Minister of Ceylon came to an end.

1960: Sirimavo Bandaranaike becomes Prime Minister of Ceylon

In 1960, Sirimavo Bandaranaike became the Prime Minister of Ceylon.

1964: Malta gains independence from British Empire

In 1964, Malta gained independence from the British Empire, which led to a more evident culture of nepotism due to its small native population.

1965: End of first term of Sirimavo Bandaranaike as Prime Minister of Ceylon

In 1965, the first term of Sirimavo Bandaranaike as Prime Minister of Ceylon ended.

1970: Sirimavo Bandaranaike becomes Prime Minister of Ceylon for the second time

In 1970, Sirimavo Bandaranaike began her second term as the Prime Minister of Ceylon.

1977: Peter Jay Appointed Ambassador to the United States

In 1977, Peter Jay, son-in-law of Prime Minister James Callaghan, was appointed Ambassador to the United States, sparking controversy due to his young age, lack of diplomatic experience, and absence of prior public office.

1977: End of second term of Sirimavo Bandaranaike as Prime Minister of Ceylon

In 1977, the second term of Sirimavo Bandaranaike as Prime Minister of Ceylon ended.

1978: Indira Gandhi floats Congress(I) faction

In 1978, Indira Gandhi initiated the Congress(I) faction of the Congress Party, marking a significant point in the Nehru-Gandhi family's political prominence.

1979: Bill Clinton Appoints Hillary Clinton to Rural Health Advisory Committee

In 1979, shortly after being elected Governor of Arkansas, Bill Clinton appointed his wife, Hillary Clinton, to chair the Rural Health Advisory Committee.

1980: Juan Antonio Samaranch becomes president of the International Olympic Committee

In 1980, Juan Antonio Samaranch became president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

1990: Lee Kuan Yew's term as prime minister ends

In 1990, Lee Kuan Yew's term as prime minister of Singapore came to an end.

1993: Heydar Aliyev elected president of Azerbaijan

In 1993, Heydar Aliyev was elected as the president of Azerbaijan, marking the beginning of the Aliyev family's long-standing rule.

1993: Ranil Wickremesinghe becomes Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

In 1993, Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is a nephew of former Sri Lankan president J. R. Jayewardene, began his term as prime minister of Sri Lanka.

1993: Bill Clinton Appoints Hillary Clinton to Task Force on National Health Care Reform

In 1993, newly elected as President of the United States, Bill Clinton appointed his wife, Hillary Clinton, to chair a Task Force on National Health Care Reform.

1994: Chandrika Kumaratunga becomes President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

In 1994, Chandrika Kumaratunga served as both the President and Prime Minister of Sri Lanka.

1994: Ranil Wickremesinghe ends first term as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

In 1994, Ranil Wickremesinghe's first term as prime minister of Sri Lanka came to an end.

1995: Lee Hsien Yang becomes CEO of Singapore Telecommunications

In 1995, Lee Hsien Yang, another son of Lee Kuan Yew, was appointed as the chief executive officer of Singapore Telecommunications.

1995: US Court Rulings on White House Nepotism

In 1995, US court rulings determined that the White House does not constitute an "agency" for purposes of anti-nepotism laws.

2000: Anura Bandaranaike becomes Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka

In 2000, Anura Bandaranaike was appointed as the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

2001: Anura Bandaranaike leaves position of Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka

In 2001, Anura Bandaranaike ceased his position as the Speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

2001: Juan Antonio Samaranch's son becomes a member of the International Olympic Committee

In 2001, Juan Antonio Samaranch Salisachs, son of Juan Antonio Samaranch, became a member of the International Olympic Committee.

2001: Ranil Wickremesinghe begins second term as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

In 2001, Ranil Wickremesinghe began his second term as prime minister of Sri Lanka.

2001: Peter Jensen accused of nepotism as Anglican Archbishop of Sydney

In 2001, shortly after becoming the Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Peter Jensen faced accusations of nepotism after nominating his brother, Phillip Jensen, as Dean of Sydney and appointing his wife, Christine Jensen, to an official position within the Sydney diocese.

2003: Ilham Aliyev becomes president of Azerbaijan after his father's death

In 2003, Ilham Aliyev succeeded his father, Heydar Aliyev, as the president of Azerbaijan after his death in a United States hospital.

2004: Frank Lowy leads Football Federation Australia

In 2004, Frank Lowy began leading the Football Federation Australia from its inception until 2015.

2004: Ranil Wickremesinghe ends second term as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

In 2004, Ranil Wickremesinghe's second term as prime minister of Sri Lanka came to an end.

2005: Bruno Tobback becomes Belgian federal government minister

In 2005, Bruno Tobback, son of senator and former minister Louis Tobback, became the Belgian federal government's minister for pensions and environment at the age of 35.

2005: End of Chandrika Kumaratunga's presidency

In 2005, Chandrika Kumaratunga's term as the President of Sri Lanka came to an end.

2005: Maria Teresa Samaranch Salisachs becomes president of the Spanish Federation of Sports on Ice

In 2005, Maria Teresa Samaranch Salisachs, daughter of Juan Antonio Samaranch, became president of the Spanish Federation of Sports on Ice.

2007: Lee Hsien Yang's term as CEO of Singapore Telecommunications ends

In 2007, Lee Hsien Yang's term as chief executive officer of Singapore Telecommunications concluded.

2008: Jean Sarkozy voted regional councillor

In 2008, Jean Sarkozy was elected as a regional councillor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, a town where his father had previously served as mayor.

2008: Family Members Employed by Northern Irish Politicians

In 2008, a report showed that 19 elected politicians from the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) in Northern Ireland directly employed family members and relatives, making up 27 of their 136 staff.

September 2009: Pierre Sarkozy requests funds for artistic project

In September 2009, Pierre Sarkozy, son of then-President Nicolas Sarkozy, requested financial contribution from SCPP for an artistic project. The request was initially rejected due to his non-membership but led to intervention from the Élysée.

October 2009: Jean Sarkozy poised to become director of EPAD

In October 2009, Jean Sarkozy, son of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, was considered to become the director of the EPAD authority despite lacking higher education and professional experience.

2009: Anna Bligh accused of nepotism for giving position to husband

In 2009, Anna Bligh, after winning the Queensland State election, was accused of nepotism for appointing her husband, Greg Withers, as the head of the Office of Climate Change.

2009: Elena Băsescu elected to European Parliament

In 2009, Elena Băsescu, the daughter of Romanian President Traian Băsescu, was elected to the European Parliament, despite lacking significant professional or political experience.

February 2010: MPs Employing Relatives Using Parliamentary Allowances

In February 2010, Sir Christopher Kelly, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, reported that over 200 MPs used Parliamentary allowances to employ relatives and suggested the practice be banned.

2011: Grahame Maxwell Disciplined for Assisting Relative

In 2011, North Yorkshire Police's Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell was disciplined by the IPCC for assisting a relative in a recruitment process, but he refused to resign.

December 2012: Nepotism Practices at Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority

In December 2012, The Washington Post reported on nepotism practices within the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA), including multiple family members employed. The MWAA was pressured by the U.S. Department of Transportation and Congress to resolve these issues, leading to a policy where employees can no longer influence the hiring or promotion of relatives.

2012: Palm Beach County Schools Reinforce Nepotism Rules

In 2012, Palm Beach County, Florida, schools reinforced nepotism rules to ensure an "equitable work environment".

2013: Bill Clinton Appoints Chelsea Clinton to Clinton Foundation Board

In 2013, Bill Clinton appointed his daughter, Chelsea Clinton, as a member of the governing board of the Clinton Foundation and Clinton Global Initiative.

2013: Family members of Cambodian officials enter government positions

In 2013, at least eight candidates in the Cambodian parliamentary elections were sons of high-ranking Cambodian People's Party officials. Despite losing the elections, they were eventually appointed to high-ranking government positions.

January 1, 2014: Start Date for Potential Offenses Covered by Potential Pardon

January 1, 2014 marks the starting date for potential offenses against the United States by Hunter Biden that could be covered by a potential future presidential pardon from Joe Biden.

2015: Ranil Wickremesinghe becomes Prime Minister of Sri Lanka for the third time

In 2015, Ranil Wickremesinghe began his third term as prime minister of Sri Lanka.

2015: Steven Lowy replaces his father Frank Lowy at Football Federation Australia

In 2015, Steven Lowy, Frank Lowy's son, replaced him as the head of Football Federation Australia. Steven's appointment led to governance issues, factional opposition, and FIFA intervention. He eventually resigned due to forced governance reforms.

February 2017: Ilham Aliyev appoints his wife as Vice President of Azerbaijan

In February 2017, Ilham Aliyev, the President of Azerbaijan, created the position of Vice President and appointed his wife, Mehriban Aliyeva, to the role.

2017: Donald Trump Appoints Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump to Advisory Roles

In 2017, President Donald Trump was accused of nepotism after appointing his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his daughter, Ivanka Trump, as advisors to the president, despite their lack of experience in public service.

2018: Ranil Wickremesinghe serves as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

In 2018, Ranil Wickremesinghe continued to serve as prime minister of Sri Lanka. Ruwan Wijewardene, a cousin of Ranil, was a defense state minister in his government.

2018: Government sets limit on nepotism through Decree 93/2018

In 2018, the government of Mauricio Macri in Argentina established Decree 93/2018, limiting nepotism by preventing the appointment of individuals with kinship to high-ranking officials within the National Public Sector. The decree specified that appointments could not be made for people related up to the second degree to the President, Vice President, Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministers, or other officials with ministerial rank. Spouses and cohabitating partners were also included in these restrictions.

2018: Mauricio Macri government sets limit on nepotism through Decree 93/2018

November 2019: General Elections in Mauritius

The November 2019 general election in Mauritius preceded Harry Ganoo's appointment as president of the Civil Service College in March 2020.

2019: Ranil Wickremesinghe serves as Prime Minister of Sri Lanka

In 2019, Ranil Wickremesinghe continued to serve as prime minister of Sri Lanka.

2019: ICAC investigates Roshi Bhadain and Akilesh Deerpalsing

In 2019, Roshi Bhadain, minister of the MSM government and Akilesh Deerpalsing, Bhadain's advisor, were investigated by ICAC for suspicious recruitment practices during Bhadain's tenure as minister.

2019: Sajith Premadasa runs for president

In 2019, Sajith Premadasa, son of former president Ranasinghe Premadasa, ran for the presidential election in Sri Lanka. He was the Opposition leader at the time.

2019: Sushant Singh Rajput worked in the Netflix film Drive

In 2019, Sushant Singh Rajput worked in the Netflix film Drive, directed by Tarun Mansukhani.

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March 2020: Harry Ganoo nominated as president of Civil Service College Mauritius

In March 2020, Harry Ganoo, the retired brother of Minister Alan Ganoo, was appointed as the president of the Civil Service College Mauritius.

June 2020: Debate on nepotism follows Sushant Singh Rajput's death

In June 2020, a debate on nepotism emerged following the suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, leading to accusations against filmmaker Karan Johar and calls to boycott him, his studio Dharma Productions, and actor Salman Khan. Several actors and actresses from film families, like Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, and others, also faced criticism.

2020: Kate Bingham Appointed to UK Vaccine Taskforce

In 2020, Kate Bingham, wife of British Conservative Party politician Jesse Norman, was appointed chair of the UK's Vaccine Taskforce, despite other qualified candidates being available, leading to accusations of nepotism.

2020: Donald Trump Appoints Kyle Yunaska to NASA

In 2020, President Donald Trump appointed his son Eric Trump's brother-in-law, Kyle Yunaska, to the position of NASA Deputy Chief of Staff.

2022: Nepotism perpetuates inefficiency and corruption in Brazil

In 2022, it was noted that high rates of nepotism often result in biased audit outcomes, eroding public trust and obstructing fair governance in Brazil.

February 2023: Minister of transportation quits after rail disaster

In February 2023, a member of the Karamanlis family, serving as the minister of transportation in Greece, resigned from his position following the worst rail disaster in the country's history.

December 10, 2023: Javier Milei takes office and modifies Decree 93/2018

On December 10, 2023, Javier Milei assumed the presidency and promptly modified Mauricio Macri's Decree 93/2018, which limited nepotism, to appoint his sister, Karina Milei, as the General Secretary of the Presidency.

2023: Eurobarometer survey reports on nepotism in Maltese businesses

In 2023, a Eurobarometer survey indicated that 55% of Maltese businesses reported that nepotism and patronage were primary problems, and 70% stated that close ties between businesspeople and politicians led to corruption.

2023: Nepotism affects public institutions in Brazil

In 2023, studies indicated that around 30% of audit judges in Brazil are directly related to other politicians, creating a network of familial ties that can lead to conflicts of interest and reduce the effectiveness of independent oversight.

December 1, 2024: End Date for Potential Offenses Covered by Potential Pardon

Hypothetically, in 2024, President Joe Biden was accused of nepotism for preemptively pardoning his son Hunter Biden's potential offenses against the United States occurring between January 1, 2014, and December 1, 2024. In reality, this never took place.