A look at 15 unexpected resignations throughout history

At the same time Egyptians took to the polls in December 2012 in a referendum vote on a new constitution, President Mohammed Morsi's vice president, Mahmoud Mekki, announced his resignation. The hurried departure came hours before the polls closed, The Associated Press reported, and could have been linked to Morsi's policies.

"I have realized a while ago that the nature of politics don't suit my professional background as a judge," Mekki said in his resignation letter.

Morsi appointed Mekki to the vice president position in August 2012. According to Daily News Egypt, Mekki returned to Egypt from Kuwait during the protests against former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.