Two years later he became president in a fixed election.

ECONOMIST: Nguyen Van Thieu

It would not be possible to implement fixed-term parliaments if a general election could be called by a simple majority in the House of Commons, he said.

BBC: Two-thirds dissolution rule 'is dangerous' - Tory MP

To avoid allowing a "zombie government" to stagger on for years, unable to muster a majority to pass any new laws, the Fixed Term Parliaments Bill, says an election will be called 14 days after a lost confidence vote if no alternative government is able to show they have the confidence of MPs.

BBC: Q&A: Fixed term parliaments

There is no doubt that Mr Jospin keeps his eye fixed firmly on 2002, when a parliamentary election is due in March and a presidential election two months later.

ECONOMIST: France shuffles its pack

In the new province of KwaZulu-Natal it was widely believed at the time that the result of the 1994 election was fixed to allow Inkatha to have a majority in the provincial assembly.

ECONOMIST: Prince Mcwayizeni

With a fixed and overvalued exchange rate, Chavez will rely on tough spending cuts (after a pre-election bonanza) and devaluation, which would act as a de facto tax hike.

FORBES: What Chavez's Reelection In Venezuela Means For Global Oil Markets