Historical events for
Thursday, 15 January 2026

Birthday of Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy and leader of the Brothers of Italy party.

A journalist by training and a native of Rome, Giorgia Meloni made history in 2022 by becoming the first woman to head the Italian Government. Founder and leader of the conservative Brothers of Italy party, her meteoric rise redefined the European right. She is known for her passionate oratory and staunch defense of national sovereignty and traditional values.

D. Afonso V (born January 15, 1432, and died August 28, 1481) was the twelfth King of Portugal. Nicknamed "The African", he directed the kingdom's military focus towards conquests in North Africa, expanding Portuguese territorial dominance in the Maghreb.

Molière (baptized January 15, 1622, and died February 17, 1673) was a genius French playwright and actor. The undisputed master of satirical comedy, he revolutionized Western theater with works like "Tartuffe", exposing the hypocrisies of the society of his time.

Molière (baptized January 15, 1622, and died February 17, 1673) was a genius French playwright and actor. The undisputed master of satirical comedy, he revolutionized Western theater with works like "Tartuffe", exposing the hypocrisies of the society of his time.

Martin Luther King Jr. (born January 15, 1929, and died April 4, 1968) was an iconic pacifist leader and civil rights activist. His tireless struggle for racial equality in the United States, immortalized in the "I Have a Dream" speech, earned him the Nobel Peace Prize and inspired generations.

Teresa Salgueiro was born, lead singer of the band Madredeus, known for her distinct and emotional voice that characterizes the band's sound.

Emmanuel Macron is re-elected President of the French Republic, obtaining 58.55% of the votes in the second round of the presidential elections. His victory over candidate Marine Le Pen guaranteed the continuity of his centrist and pro-European political project.

Prime Minister of Italy and a top leader in the European Council, Giorgia Meloni (b. 1977) represents the new pragmatic conservatism in the EU. She focuses her agenda on migration management, defending national identity within the European project, and the political influence of sovereignist right-wing in Brussels’ decisions.

A former football commentator and university law professor, André Ventura shook the foundations of Portuguese politics by creating the CHEGA party. With his charismatic, populist, and highly vocal rhetoric against the established system, he broke the historic national bipartisanship, assuming leadership of the country's third-largest party.

David Keith Lynch, American filmmaker, passed away on January 15, 2025, aged 78.