Rulers
May 2007
1
Congo (Brazzaville): Former prime minister (1992-93) Claude Antoine Dacosta dies.
Greenland: Lars Emil Johansen becomes finance and foreign minister in a government reshuffle. On May 30 he announces his resignation; Prime Minister Hans Enoksen takes over responsibility for finance and Aleqa Hammond for foreign affairs.
Switzerland: Jean-Jacques Rey-Bellet becomes president of the Council of State of Valais.
Turkey: The Constitutional Court declares invalid the presidential vote of April 27 because of the lack of a quorum. A new attempt on May 6 also fails, with only 358 members of parliament present (367 required). Abdullah Gül subsequently withdraws his candidacy, and as there is no other candidate, the voting is cancelled on May 9. President Ahmet Necdet Sezer's term expires on May 16, but he remains in the post until a new president can be elected.
United States: In mayoral elections in Lincoln, Chris Beutler (Democrat) defeats Ken Svoboda (Republican), 51%-49%. Beutler takes office May 14.
2
Afghanistan: Former prime minister (1992) Abdul Sabur Farid Kuhestani is assassinated.
Basha |
Albania: Lulzim Basha is sworn in as foreign minister.
Andorra: In a cabinet reshuffle, Meritxell Mateu Pi becomes foreign minister and Antoni Riberaygua Sasplugas interior minister.
Symonette |
The Bahamas: In parliamentary elections, the opposition Free National Movement wins 49.8% of the vote (23 of 41 seats) and the ruling Progressive Liberal Party 47% (18). Turnout is about 90%. On May 4 Hubert Ingraham is sworn in as prime minister and finance minister, Brent Symonette as foreign minister, and Tommy Turnquest as minister of national security.
Russia: President Vladimir Putin nominates incumbent Boris Gromov as governor of Moscow oblast. Gromov is confirmed by the local Duma (50-0) on May 4.
3
Cyprus: Defense Minister Nikos Symeonidis dies. Finance Minister Michalis Sarris becomes acting defense minister. On May 11 Christodoulos Pasiardis is appointed as new defense minister (sworn in May 14).
Japan: Former governor of Osaka (1995-99) Knock Yokoyama dies.
Salmond |
United Kingdom: In elections to the Scottish Parliament, the Scottish National Party (SNP) wins 47 of 129 seats, the Labour Party 46, the Conservatives 17, the Liberal Democrats 16, and the Green Party 2. In elections to the Welsh Assembly, Labour wins 26 of 60 seats, Plaid Cymru 15, the Conservatives 12, and the Liberal Democrats 6. On May 16 the Scottish Parliament elects (49-46) SNP leader Alex Salmond as first minister; he is sworn in on May 17.
4
Chad: Former interim head of state (1975) Noël Milarew Odingar dies.
6
Burkina Faso: In parliamentary elections, the Congress for Democracy and Progress wins 73 of 111 seats, the Alliance for Democracy and Federation-African Democratic Rally 14, the Union for the Republic 5, and the Union for Rebirth-Sankarist Movement 4. Turnout is 56.4%.
France: In the presidential runoff, Nicolas Sarkozy wins 53.1% of the vote and Ségolène Royal 46.9%. Turnout is 84%. On May 15 Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin's government resigns. Sarkozy takes office May 16 and on May 17 appoints François Fillon as prime minister. The new government announced on May 18 includes Bernard Kouchner as foreign minister, Hervé Morin as defense minister, Jean-Louis Borloo as finance minister, and Michèle Alliot-Marie as interior minister.
Grenada: A cabinet reshuffle is announced, in which Prime Minister Keith Mitchell takes over the duties of finance minister from Anthony Boatswain, effective May 15.
7
Wallis and Futuna: The king of `Uvea (Wallis), Tomasi Kulimoetoke II, dies.
8
Bermuda: Governor Sir John Vereker announces he will leave in October and be replaced by Sir Richard Gozney in December.
Brazil: Former acting governor of Piauí (1978-79) Djalma Martins Veloso dies.
India: In state elections in Uttar Pradesh held April 7, 13, 18, 23, 28, and May 3 and 8, the Bahujan Samaj Party wins 206 of 403 seats, the Samajwadi Party 97, the Bharatiya Janata Party 50, the Indian National Congress 22, and the Rashtriya Lok Dal 10. Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav resigns on May 11. Mayawati is sworn in as chief minister on May 13.
India: Former lieutenant governor of Himachal Pradesh (1967-71) K. Bahadur Singh dies.
Nicaragua: Ruth Tapia Roa is appointed secretary-general of the defense ministry, with the rank of minister.
Turkey: Interior Minister Abdülkadir Aksu resigns and is replaced by Osman Günes.
Paisley |
United Kingdom: Ian Paisley takes office as first minister of Northern Ireland.
9
da Silva |
Timor-Leste: In the presidential runoff, Prime Minister José Ramos-Horta wins 69% of the vote and Francisco Guterres 31%. On May 19 Estanislau da Silva is sworn in as interim prime minister and Adaljiza Magno becomes acting foreign minister. Ramos-Horta takes office May 20.
10
Malawi: In a cabinet reshuffle, Bob Khamisa becomes defense minister and Ernest Malenga home affairs and internal security minister.
Nesterenko |
Russia: President Vladimir Putin dismisses the governor of Amur oblast, Leonid Korotkov, and appoints Aleksandr Nesterenko as acting governor. On May 24 Putin nominates Nikolay Kolesov as governor.
11
Argentina: Daniel Peralta takes office as governor of Santa Cruz following the resignation of Carlos Sancho.
Comoros: Dhoihirou Halidi is appointed as interim president of Anjouan.
Halidi | 
Mori |
Federated States of Micronesia: Manny Mori is elected president and Alik L. Alik vice president.
Samoa: The head of state, Malietoa Tanumafili II, dies.
12
Afghanistan: Parliament votes to sack Foreign Minister Rangin Dadfar Spanta.
Armenia: In parliamentary elections, the Armenian Republican Party wins 32.8% of the vote (64 of 131 seats), Prosperous Armenia 14.7% (18), the Armenian Revolutionary Federation 12.7% (16), Orinats Yerkir 6.8% (9), and the Heritage Party 5.8% (7). Turnout is 59.4%.
Guinea: Gen. Bailo Diallo is named defense minister.
Gísladóttir |
Iceland: In parliamentary elections, the Independence Party wins 36.6% of the vote (25 of 63 seats), the Social Democratic Alliance 26.8% (18), the Left-Green Movement 14.3% (9), the Progressive Party 11.7% (7), and the Liberal Party 7.3% (4). Turnout is 83.6%. On May 24 Prime Minister Geir H. Haarde's new government takes office, including Ingibjörg Sólrún Gísladóttir as foreign minister.
Seychelles: In parliamentary elections held May 10-12, the Seychelles People's Progressive Front wins 56.2% of the vote (23 of 34 seats) and the Seychelles National Party 43.8% (11). Turnout is 85.9%.
Taiwan: Premier Su Tseng-chang resigns. On May 14 President Chen Shui-bian names Chang Chun-hsiung as new premier. On May 18 Chang names Lee Tien-yu as defense minister, retaining the other key ministers. The new cabinet is sworn in on May 21.
United States: In the first round of mayoral elections in Dallas, Tom Leppert receives 27.1% of the votes, Ed Oakley 20.6%, Don Hill 13.9%, and Max Wells 12.2%.
13
Germany: In state elections in Bremen, the Social Democratic Party wins 36.8% of the vote (33 of 83 seats), the Christian Democratic Union 25.7% (23), the Greens 16.4% (14), the Left 8.4% (7), the Free Democratic Party 6% (5), and the German People's Union 2.7% (1). Turnout is 57.6%.
14
Palestine: Interior Minister Hani al-Qawasmi resigns and Prime Minister Ismail Haniya becomes acting interior minister.
15
Faeroe Islands: Magni Laksáfoss becomes finance minister.
Jeremic |
Serbia: Parliament approves (133-106) Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica's new cabinet, including Vuk Jeremic as foreign minister, Dragan Sutanovac as defense minister, Mirko Cvetkovic as finance minister, and Dragan Jocic remaining interior minister.
16
Lithuania: Rimantas Sadzius is appointed finance minister. He takes office May 17.
17
Algeria: In parliamentary elections, the governmental coalition wins 249 of 389 seats (National Liberation Front 136, National Rally for Democracy 61, Movement of Society for Peace 52), the Workers' Party 26, the Rally for Culture and Democracy 19, the Algerian National Front 13, other parties 49, and independents 33. Turnout is 35.7%.
Portugal: Interior Minister António Costa resigns and is replaced by Rui Pereira.
18
Canada: Pierre Duchesne is appointed lieutenant governor of Quebec. He will be sworn in on June 7.
Comoros: The Constitutional Court proclaims vacant the office of president of Mohéli as of May 19. The president of the island's assembly, Youssouf El-Farouk, is invested as interim president on May 22.
Croatia: Former chairman of the Executive Council (1963-67) and secretary of the Central Committee of the League of Communists (1984-86) of Croatia and president of the Federal Executive Council (1967-69) and of the Presidency (1983-84) of Yugoslavia Mika Spiljak dies.
North Korea: Pak Ui Chun is appointed foreign minister.
19
Romania: President Traian Basescu survives a referendum on his removal from office, with 75.1% of valid votes in his favour. Turnout is 44.5%. He resumes presidential powers on May 23.
20
Argentina: In gubernatorial elections in Río Negro, incumbent Miguel Saiz (Radical Civic Union) is reelected with 46.8% of the vote against 40.1% for Miguel Ángel Pichetto (Justicialist Party).
Bulgaria: In elections to the European Parliament, Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria wins 21.7% of the vote (5 of Bulgaria's 18 seats), the Socialist Party 21.4% (5), the Movement for Rights and Freedoms 20.3% (4), Ataka 14.2% (3), and the National Movement Simeon II 6.3% (1). Turnout is 28.6%.
Mexico: In gubernatorial elections in Yucatán, Ivonne Ortega (Institutional Revolutionary Party) wins about 50% of the vote and Xavier Abreu (National Action Party) about 43%.
Vietnam: In parliamentary elections, 450 Communist Party members and 43 independents are elected. Turnout is over 99%.
21
Switzerland: Rita Fuhrer becomes president of the government of Zürich.
22
Belize: Prime Minister Said Musa fires Defense Minister Cordel Hyde.
Canada: In parliamentary elections in Manitoba, the New Democratic Party of Premier Gary Doer wins 47.8% of the vote (36 of 57 seats), the Progressive Conservative Party 38.1% (19), and the Liberal Party 12.4% (2). Turnout is 59.3%.
Papua New Guinea: Former premier of Sandaun (1984-87) Paul Langro dies.
Russia: President Vladimir Putin nominates incumbent Aleksandr Khloponin as governor of Krasnoyarsk kray and incumbent Leonid Polezhayev as governor of Omsk oblast. Polezhayev is confirmed by the local legislative assembly (36-6 with 1 abstention) on May 24.
23
Benin: Security Minister Edgar Alia resigns.
Kuzmitsky |
Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the governor of Kamchatka oblast, Mikhail Mashkovtsev, and appoints Aleksey Kuzmitsky as interim governor until the inauguration of Kamchatka kray on July 1. On May 26 Putin nominates Kuzmitsky as governor of Kamchatka kray. On May 30 Kuzmitsky is confirmed by the Kamchatka oblast council (34-1); he still has to be confirmed by the Duma of Koryak autonomous okrug.
24
Ireland: In parliamentary elections, Fianna Fáil wins 41.6% of the vote (78 of 166 seats), Fine Gael 27.3% (51), the Labour Party 10.1% (20), Sinn Féin 6.9% (4), the Green Party 4.7% (6), and the Progressive Democrats 2.7% (2).
25
Solomon Islands: Former prime minister (1997-2000) Bartholomew Ulufa'alu dies.
27
Argentina: Former foreign minister (1955, 1970-72) Luis María de Pablo Pardo dies.
Faeroe Islands: Former high commissioner (1954-61) Niels Elkær-Hansen dies.
Spain: Results of parliamentary elections in various autonomous communities (IU=United Left; PP=Popular Party; PSOE=Spanish Socialist Workers' Party):
- Aragón: PSOE 41% of the votes (30 of 67 seats), PP 31.1% (23), Aragonese Party 12.1% (9), Aragonese Junta 8.2% (4), IU 4.1% (1)
- Asturias: PP 41.8% (20 of 45), PSOE 41.6% (21), IU-Bloc for Asturias-Greens 9.8% (4)
- Baleares: PP 46% (28 of 59), PSOE 27.2% (16), Socialist Party of Majorca-Nationalist Agreement-United Left-The Greens-Republican Left 9% (4), Majorcan Union 6.7% (3), PSOE-Ibiza for Change 4.6% (6)
- Canarias: PSOE 34.7% (26 of 60), PP 24.4% (15), Canarian Coalition-Canarian Nationalist Party 23.1% (17)
- Cantabria: PP 41.5% (17 of 39), Regionalist Party of Cantabria 28.9% (12), PSOE 24.3% (10)
- Castilla-La Mancha: PSOE 51.9% (26 of 47), PP 42.5% (21), IU 3.4% (0)
- Castilla-León: PP 49.4% (48 of 83), PSOE 37.5% (33), IU-The Greens 3.1% (0), Union of Leonese People 2.7% (2)
- Ceuta: PP 65.2% (19 of 25), Ceuta Democratic Union-IU 16.4% (4), PSOE 8.7% (2)
- Extremadura: PSOE-Regionalists 52.9% (38 of 65), PP-United Extremadura 38.8% (27), United Left-Independent Socialists of Extremadura 4.5% (0)
- La Rioja: PP 48.7% (17 of 33), PSOE 40.5% (14), Riojan Party 5.9% (2)
- Madrid: PP 53.3% (67 of 120), PSOE 33.5% (42), IU 8.9% (11)
- Melilla: PP 56% (15 of 25), Coalition for Melilla 21.7% (5), PSOE 18.1% (5)
- Murcia: PP 58.5% (29 of 45), PSOE 31.8% (15), IU-The Greens 6.2% (1)
- Navarra: Union of the Navarrese People 42.2% (22 of 50), Navarra Yes 23.7% (12), PSOE 22.4% (12), Convergence of Democrats of Navarra 4.4% (2), IU 4.4% (2)
- Valencia: PP 52.5% (55 of 99), PSOE 34.4% (37), Compromís pel País Valencià 8% (7)
Syria: In a presidential referendum, incumbent Bashar al-Assad is confirmed with 97.6% of the vote. Turnout is about 96%.
28
Canada: In parliamentary elections in Prince Edward Island, the Liberal Party wins 52.9% of the vote (23 of 27 seats) and the Progressive Conservative Party 41.3% (4). Turnout is 83.8%.
29
Pastorelli |
Monaco: Jean Pastorelli is appointed foreign minister, effective June 1.
Yar'Adua |
Nigeria: Umaru Musa Yar'Adua is sworn in as president. The following new governors take office: Theodore Ahamefule Orji (Abia), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Andy Uba (Anambra), Isa Yuguda (Bauchi), Timipre Sylva (Bayelsa), Gabriel Suswam (Benue), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi), Oserheimen Osunbor (Edo), Olusegun Oni (Ekiti), Sullivan Chime (Enugu), Ikedi Ohakim (Imo), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Namadi Sambo (Kaduna), Ibrahim Shehu Shema (Katsina), Usman Saidu Nasamu (Kebbi), Babatunde Raji Fashola (Lagos), Aliyu Akwe Doma (Nasarawa), Muazu Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Adebayo Alao-Akala (Oyo), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Celestine Omehia (Rivers), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto), Danbaba Suntai (Taraba), Mamman Ali (Yobe), and Mamuda Aliyu Shinkafi (Zamfara).
30
Comoros: Soudjay Hamadi is sworn in as interim president of Grande Comore.
31
Ikouébé |
Congo (Brazzaville): Basile Ikouébé is named foreign minister.
Latvia: Valdis Zatlers is elected president, defeating Aivars Endzins by 58 votes to 39 in parliament. He is to take office July 8.
Niger: Prime Minister Hama Amadou's government is defeated when a vote of no-confidence is passed by 62 votes in the 113-seat parliament.
