In 2008 the National Front coalition suffered its worst election result in decades, losing its two-thirds parliamentary majority and control of five state assemblies.

BBC: Malaysian PM Najib Razak paves way for general election

Today, there are five cities and three public-school districts in Michigan under the control of emergency managers, and none has emerged from state control during Mr. Snyder's two-year-plus tenure.

WSJ: Governor to Appoint Financial Overseer for Detroit

The two bosses want to replace the current arrangements which give effective joint control to three shareholders - Lagardere, the French state, and German industrial group Daimler, which owns 22.5% of the company.

BBC: Tom Enders