April 1997

1

Bolivia: Víctor Hugo Canelas Zannier is appointed acting interior minister.
Federated States of Micronesia: In parliamentary elections held March 4 and April 1, only nonpartisans are elected.

Andreoli

Mularoni

San Marino: Paride Andreoli (Socialist) and Pier Marino Mularoni (Christian Democrat) take office as captains-regent.
Zaire: Parliament names Étienne Tshisekedi as prime minister. The appointment is approved by President Mobutu Sese Seko on April 2. Tshisekedi offers six cabinet posts, including those of foreign affairs and defense, to the rebels who control the eastern third of the country, but they refuse.

2

Austria: Herbert Sausgruber (ÖVP) replaces Martin Purtscher (ÖVP) as premier of Vorarlberg.

4

Paraguay: Finance Minister Carlos Facetti Maculli resigns. He is succeeded by Miguel Ángel Maidana Zayas.

9

Cyprus: Ioannis Kasoulidis is sworn in as foreign minister, replacing Alekos Michailidis in a cabinet reshuffle.
Zaire: President Mobutu Sese Seko appoints Gen. Likulia Bolongo as prime minister, replacing Étienne Tshisekedi after only one week in office. On April 11 a cabinet is announced, including Gen. Mahele Lieko Bokungu as defense minister, Gen. Ilunga Shamanga as interior minister, and again Gérard Kamanda Wa Kamanda as foreign minister.

10

Colombia: Gilberto Echeverri Mejía is sworn in as defense minister.

11

Gujral

India: The Congress party having withdrawn its support of the United Front government, a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda carries with 292 votes, against 158 votes in support of Gowda and 6 abstentions. Congress then says it would renew its backing if a new leader replaced Gowda. On April 19 the United Front nominates Foreign Minister Inder Kumar Gujral as new prime minister. He is sworn in April 21. He keeps the post of foreign minister and also takes over the finance portfolio from Palaniappan Chidambaram. Gujral wins a confidence vote (voice vote, no count) on April 22.
Martinique: Former prefect (1975-78) Paul Noirot-Cosson (also high commissioner of French Polynesia 1981-83) dies.

12

Malaysia: Muhammad Muhammad Taib resigns as chief minister of Selangor, effective April 14.

13

Mali: A first round of parliamentary elections is held, and early results point to a lead for President Alpha Oumar Konaré's ADEMA alliance; turnout is 30%. However, on April 25 the constitutional court cancels the election because of irregularities, and the second round, planned for April 27, does not take place.

14

Brazil: Former Espírito Santo governor (1979-83) Eurico Vieira Resende dies.

17

India: Bijayananda Patnaik, former chief minister of Orissa (1961-63, 1990-95), dies.
Israel: Former president (1983-93) Chaim Herzog dies.
Italy: Prime Minister Romano Prodi's government wins a confidence vote in the Chamber of Deputies by 315 votes to 185.

Counsell

18

Canada: Marilyn Trenholme Counsell is sworn in as lieutenant governor of New Brunswick.

19

Bulgaria: Parliamentary elections result in a victory for the Union of Democratic Forces led by Ivan Kostov, with 52.3% of the votes (137 of 240 seats), followed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party with 22.1% (58 seats), the Union for National Salvation with 7.5% (19 seats), Euro-Left with 5.5% (14 seats), and the Bulgarian Business Bloc with 5% (12 seats). Turnout is 58%.
Peru: Interior Minister Juan Briones Dávila resigns. Gen. César Saucedo is sworn in as new interior minister.

21

Paraguay: Former president (1989-93) Andrés Rodríguez dies.
Philippines: Former president (1961-65) Diosdado Macapagal dies.

22

Argentina: Former governor of Santiago del Estero (1987-91) César Iturre dies.

24

Gobbo

Australia: Sir James Gobbo takes office as governor of Victoria.

25

Russia: Former head of the administration of Krasnodar kray (1992-94, 1996-97) Nikolay Yegorov dies.

27

Yemen: President Ali Abdullah Saleh's General People's Congress wins parliamentary elections. The GPC has 187 out of 301 seats, the Islah party 54, smaller parties 5, and independents 55. Turnout is about 80% officially, but observers say it is closer to 60%.

28

American Samoa: Former governor (1956-61, 1978-85, 1989-93) Peter Tali Coleman dies.

29

Estonia: Interior Minister Riivo Sinijärv is dismissed. The next day Robert Lepikson is appointed to succeed him.

30

Norfolk Island: Only nonpartisans are elected in a parliamentary election.