Mr. Chretien, 66, is calling the election when he is only three and a half years into his second five-year mandate.

As a result, Peterson decided to call an snap election, less than three years into his mandate.

Drew called another election in 1945, only two years into his mandate, to get a majority government.

The Chrétien government called a new federal election in the summer of 1997, only three-and-a-half years into its five-year mandate.

In fact, this week's bombings could threaten the stability of the government, only a year into its mandate.

The Liberals paid dearly by calling a snap election three years into their mandate in 1990.

That is actually built into its mandate.

"He fit into our mandate perfectly," said the program officer, Caroline Black.

Three years into Bouteflika's mandate, the security situation in Algeria has improved markedly.

Arguello fled to the Embassy of Mexico, after less than 4 weeks into his mandate.