Businessperson and politician

[neoteric]

Does anyone know that a businessperson has ever become a president of a country? If a businessperson becomes a president, do you think he/she will be able to separate his business from politics or he/she will be likely to use his/her political power for his/her business advantage?

[Pinotage]

What about oil-man Bush, now President of the US. Is his interest in invading Iraq, which is very rich in oil, just a coincidence?

[Shatnerfan]

Further to Pinotage, GWB also had an interest in baseball, owning a large part of the Texas Rangers at one time. As Texan Governor, GWB was accused of using Texan taxes to improve the Rangers' stadium. Warren G. Harding, US Pres 1921- 23, was a newspaper publisher. Most were lawyers or, early ones, soldiers and/or farmers. For further info: http://www.whitehouse.gov/history/presidents/

[JohnPPotts]

Silvio Berlusconi is the current Prime Minister of Italy, despite a number of dodgy deals from his business background: he is widely suspected of using his position as head of government to alter the laws on fraud & malpractice to prevent himself being prosecuted, and to rein in the magistrates that attempt to investigate him.