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| Ocasio-Cortez and Cruz team up - but do rival partnerships work? | Ocasio-Cortez and Cruz team up - but do rival partnerships work? |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Two political rivals have caused a stir on Twitter after they agreed to team up. | Two political rivals have caused a stir on Twitter after they agreed to team up. |
| US representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive millennial Democrat who has frequently attracted the ire of the Republicans, tweeted on Thursday that members of Congress should not be allowed to become lobbyists after their service. | |
| Senator Ted Cruz - a conservative Tea Party Republican - wrote back: "Here's something I don't say often: on this point, I AGREE... perhaps a chance for some bipartisan co-operation?" | Senator Ted Cruz - a conservative Tea Party Republican - wrote back: "Here's something I don't say often: on this point, I AGREE... perhaps a chance for some bipartisan co-operation?" |
| A few more tweets later and both sides were agreeing to co-lead a bill banning members of Congress from becoming paid lobbyists - and other politicians were also chipping in to offer their support. | A few more tweets later and both sides were agreeing to co-lead a bill banning members of Congress from becoming paid lobbyists - and other politicians were also chipping in to offer their support. |
| Although it has only amounted to a few tweets so far, US media have already described this common ground as remarkable, given how divided US politics currently is - and since the two are seen as political polar opposites. | Although it has only amounted to a few tweets so far, US media have already described this common ground as remarkable, given how divided US politics currently is - and since the two are seen as political polar opposites. |
| However, strange partnerships - whether borne out of shared values, common goals or marriages of convenience - are nothing new in the world of politics. | However, strange partnerships - whether borne out of shared values, common goals or marriages of convenience - are nothing new in the world of politics. |
| Here are some of the world's counter-intuitive political bedfellows, what they achieved, and how things turned out for the parties involved. | Here are some of the world's counter-intuitive political bedfellows, what they achieved, and how things turned out for the parties involved. |
| Malaysia: Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim (2018 - present) | Malaysia: Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim (2018 - present) |
| The partnership between the two men who toppled Malaysia's former prime minister has been described as a political drama worthy of Shakespeare. | The partnership between the two men who toppled Malaysia's former prime minister has been described as a political drama worthy of Shakespeare. |
| Initially, the men were allies - Mr Anwar served in Dr Mahathir's government in 1982, and quickly rose up the ranks. | Initially, the men were allies - Mr Anwar served in Dr Mahathir's government in 1982, and quickly rose up the ranks. |
| However, the relationship soured after Mr Anwar launched a leadership challenge against Dr Mahathir - and was jailed on corruption and sodomy charges - which Mr Anwar always said were politically motivated, in 1999. | However, the relationship soured after Mr Anwar launched a leadership challenge against Dr Mahathir - and was jailed on corruption and sodomy charges - which Mr Anwar always said were politically motivated, in 1999. |
| Years later - in 2018 - the bitter rivals teamed up to form a coalition against then-Prime Minister Najib Razak - another protégée of Dr Mahathir's - and secured a shock election victory. | Years later - in 2018 - the bitter rivals teamed up to form a coalition against then-Prime Minister Najib Razak - another protégée of Dr Mahathir's - and secured a shock election victory. |
| As part of the agreement, Dr Mahathir said he would secure a royal pardon for Mr Anwar - and would hand over power to him after two years. | As part of the agreement, Dr Mahathir said he would secure a royal pardon for Mr Anwar - and would hand over power to him after two years. |
| How did it go? | How did it go? |
| The partnership is still in progress - Mr Anwar received a full royal pardon shortly after the election. | The partnership is still in progress - Mr Anwar received a full royal pardon shortly after the election. |
| He won a parliamentary seat in October, paving the way for his return to front-line politics. | He won a parliamentary seat in October, paving the way for his return to front-line politics. |
| Dr Mahathir has promised to step down in 2020, although, as with all politics, nothing is considered a done deal until it's done. | Dr Mahathir has promised to step down in 2020, although, as with all politics, nothing is considered a done deal until it's done. |
| South Africa: Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk (1990-1996) | South Africa: Nelson Mandela and FW de Klerk (1990-1996) |
| In 1990, South African President FW de Klerk ordered the release of Nelson Mandela, who had spent 27 years in jail. | In 1990, South African President FW de Klerk ordered the release of Nelson Mandela, who had spent 27 years in jail. |
| Mr de Klerk led the National Party, which sought to protect South Africa's white minority, while Mr Mandela led the African National Congress, which demanded majority black representation in government. | Mr de Klerk led the National Party, which sought to protect South Africa's white minority, while Mr Mandela led the African National Congress, which demanded majority black representation in government. |
| Nonetheless, they agreed to work together to end Apartheid - and received the Nobel Peace Prize jointly in 1993. | Nonetheless, they agreed to work together to end Apartheid - and received the Nobel Peace Prize jointly in 1993. |
| Following South Africa's first multiracial elections in 1994, Mr Mandela became president, while Mr de Klerk served as one of his deputy presidents. | Following South Africa's first multiracial elections in 1994, Mr Mandela became president, while Mr de Klerk served as one of his deputy presidents. |
| How did it go? | How did it go? |
| The two men had a tense working relationship - and Mr de Klerk and his party withdrew from the government in 1996 as tied between the parties deteriorated. However, they also remained on friendly terms. | The two men had a tense working relationship - and Mr de Klerk and his party withdrew from the government in 1996 as tied between the parties deteriorated. However, they also remained on friendly terms. |
| Mr de Klerk paid tribute to Mr Mandela following the ANC stalwart's death in 2013, adding in a statement: "Although we were political opponents - and although our relationship was often stormy - we were always able to come together at critical moments." | Mr de Klerk paid tribute to Mr Mandela following the ANC stalwart's death in 2013, adding in a statement: "Although we were political opponents - and although our relationship was often stormy - we were always able to come together at critical moments." |
| UK: David Cameron and Nick Clegg (2010 - 2015) | UK: David Cameron and Nick Clegg (2010 - 2015) |
| It was dubbed "Britain's hot new bromance" - as David Cameron, then leader of the Conservative Party, and Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats at the time, agreed to form a coalition government after the UK had its first hung parliament in decades. | It was dubbed "Britain's hot new bromance" - as David Cameron, then leader of the Conservative Party, and Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats at the time, agreed to form a coalition government after the UK had its first hung parliament in decades. |
| Their joint press conference was dubbed a "love-in" in the "rose garden" - a contrast from the past, when Mr Cameron once responded to a question about what his favourite joke was with the answer "Nick Clegg". | Their joint press conference was dubbed a "love-in" in the "rose garden" - a contrast from the past, when Mr Cameron once responded to a question about what his favourite joke was with the answer "Nick Clegg". |
| The two parties differed on some pretty fundamental things - Europe, human rights and tuition fees - but argued that they were teaming up to provide a stable government to fix the economic deficit. | The two parties differed on some pretty fundamental things - Europe, human rights and tuition fees - but argued that they were teaming up to provide a stable government to fix the economic deficit. |
| How did it go? | How did it go? |
| The coalition lasted the full five years - against many expectations - and delivered several policies, including pensions reform and same-sex marriage. | The coalition lasted the full five years - against many expectations - and delivered several policies, including pensions reform and same-sex marriage. |
| However, the Liberal Democrats were decimated as their supporters were angry at increased tuition fees, and austerity measures undertaken by the coalition government. | However, the Liberal Democrats were decimated as their supporters were angry at increased tuition fees, and austerity measures undertaken by the coalition government. |
| In the 2015 elections, they lost half their MPs, while the Conservatives secured a majority and stayed in government. | In the 2015 elections, they lost half their MPs, while the Conservatives secured a majority and stayed in government. |
| What about friendships? | What about friendships? |
| Given that compromise is part-and-parcel of politics, perhaps it's the genuine friendships across political lines that are even more remarkable. | Given that compromise is part-and-parcel of politics, perhaps it's the genuine friendships across political lines that are even more remarkable. |
| Republican Senator John McCain was famously friends with many Democrats, including Joe Biden, despite them running on rival presidential tickets in 2008. | Republican Senator John McCain was famously friends with many Democrats, including Joe Biden, despite them running on rival presidential tickets in 2008. |
| While giving an emotional eulogy at Mr McCain's funeral, Mr Biden said: "We understood the same thing: All politics is personal. It's all about trust. I trust John with my life... and I think he would trust me with his." | While giving an emotional eulogy at Mr McCain's funeral, Mr Biden said: "We understood the same thing: All politics is personal. It's all about trust. I trust John with my life... and I think he would trust me with his." |
| And one of the most surprising friendships was at the Supreme Court - between liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and conservative Justice Anthony Scalia. | And one of the most surprising friendships was at the Supreme Court - between liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and conservative Justice Anthony Scalia. |
| The two fought on same sex marriage, the constitution and voting rights, and frequently wrote sharp critiques of each other's legal opinions. | The two fought on same sex marriage, the constitution and voting rights, and frequently wrote sharp critiques of each other's legal opinions. |
| Yet they were friends for decades, sharing New Year's Eve dinners, a love of opera and even once, famously, riding an elephant together in 1994. | Yet they were friends for decades, sharing New Year's Eve dinners, a love of opera and even once, famously, riding an elephant together in 1994. |
| Following Justice Scalia's death in 2016, Justice Ginsburg said: "We were best buddies. We disagreed now and then, but when I wrote for the Court and received a Scalia dissent, the opinion ultimately released was notably better than my initial circulation... it was my great good fortune to have known him as a working colleague and treasured friend." | Following Justice Scalia's death in 2016, Justice Ginsburg said: "We were best buddies. We disagreed now and then, but when I wrote for the Court and received a Scalia dissent, the opinion ultimately released was notably better than my initial circulation... it was my great good fortune to have known him as a working colleague and treasured friend." |