February 2010

1

Iceland: Former prime minister (1983-87, 1988-91) and foreign minister (1987-88) Steingrímur Hermannsson dies.
Morocco: Former prime minister (1986-92) Azzedine Laraki dies.

3

Angola: In a cabinet reshuffle, Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos is named vice president (a new post replacing that of prime minister under a new constitution), Carlos Alberto Lopes finance minister, and Cândido Pereira dos Santos Van-Dúnem defense minister. The new cabinet takes office on February 5 when the new constitution takes effect.
Greece: Parliament reelects Karolos Papoulias as president (266 votes of 298 members present).

4

Russia: Rustam Minnikhanov is confirmed by the local State Council (94-0) as president of Tatarstan.
United States: The mayor of Baltimore, Sheila Dixon, resigns. The city council president, Stephanie C. Rawlings-Blake, is sworn in as new mayor.

5

Kazakhstan: Former chairman of the Council of Ministers (1970-84) and chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet (1984-85) of the Kazakh S.S.R. Bayken Ashimov dies.

6

South Korea: Former prime minister (1994) Lee Yung Duk dies.
Nigeria: In gubernatorial elections in Anambra, incumbent Peter Obi (All Progressives Grand Alliance) is reelected with 34.4% of the vote, while former governor Chris Ngige (Action Congress) wins 21.2% and Chukwuma Soludo (People's Democratic Party) 20.9%.
United States: In mayoral elections in New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu (Democrat) wins 65.5% of the vote and Troy Henry (Democrat) 13.8%.

7

Central African Republic: Former president (1981-93) André Kolingba dies.
Costa Rica: Presidential elections are won by Laura Chinchilla (National Liberation Party) with about 47% of the vote, followed by Ottón Solís (Citizens' Action Party) with about 25% and Otto Guevara (Libertarian Movement) with about 21%. Turnout is about 69%.
Saint Kitts and Nevis: A new cabinet is sworn in, with Prime Minister Denzil Douglas responsible for finance, and Deputy Prime Minister Sam Condor taking the portfolios of foreign affairs and national security.
Ukraine: In the presidential runoff, Viktor Yanukovych wins 49.6% of the vote and Yuliya Tymoshenko 46%, with 4.4% against all. Turnout is 69.1%. Yanukovych is inaugurated on February 25. The same day Mykhailo Klyuyev becomes acting interior minister.
Uzbekistan: Former chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Uzbek S.S.R. (1988-89) Pulat Khabibullayev dies.

8

Poland: Former foreign minister (1989-93) Krzysztof Skubiszewski dies.

Magomedov

Kuznetsov

Vinnikov

Abdulayev

Russia: President Dmitry Medvedev nominates Magomedsalam Magomedov as president of Dagestan, Natalya Komarova as governor of the Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrug, Lev Kuznetsov as governor of Krasnoyarsk kray, and Aleksandr Vinnikov as head of Yevreyskaya autonomous oblast. Magomedov is confirmed by the local parliament (69-0) on February 10 (sworn in February 20), Komarova by the local Duma (28-0) on February 15, Kuznetsov by the local legislative assembly (48-0) on February 17 (sworn in the same day), and Vinnikov by the local legislative assembly (13-3) also on February 17 (sworn in February 25). On February 25 Magomed Abdulayev is confirmed as prime minister of Dagestan.

9

Chile: President-elect Sebastián Piñera names his cabinet with Alfredo Moreno as foreign minister, Jaime Ravinet as defense minister, Felipe Larraín as finance minister, and Rodrigo Hinzpeter as interior minister.

Ramaroson

10

Costa Rica: Former president (1966-70) José Joaquín Trejos Fernández dies.

Mappus

Germany: The Landtag of Baden-Württemberg elects Stefan Mappus as minister-president (83 of 137 votes).
Madagascar: Foreign Minister Ny Hasina Andriamanjato resigns. President Andry Rajoelina accepts the resignation on February 12. On February 24 Hyppolite Ramaroson is appointed foreign minister; he takes office February 25.

11

Azubalis

Lithuania: Audronius Azubalis takes office as foreign minister.

12

Côte d'Ivoire: President Laurent Gbagbo dissolves the cabinet of Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, but Soro is immediately asked to form a new cabinet. Its composition is announced on February 23, with Michel Amani N'Guessan being reappointed as defense minister, Désiré Asségnini Tagro as interior minister, and Charles Koffi Diby as finance minister, the foreign affairs portfolio to be attributed at a later date.

13

Georgia: The president of separatist Abkhazia, Sergey Bagapsh, appoints Sergey Shamba as prime minister. On February 26 Maxim Gvinjia is appointed foreign minister.

15

Anguilla: In parliamentary elections, the Anguilla United Movement, with 32.7% of the vote, wins 4 of 7 elected seats, the Anguilla United Front, with 39.4%, only 2, and the Anguilla Progressive Party, with 14.7%, 1. Turnout is 82.1%. On February 16 Hubert Hughes is sworn in as chief minister with his cabinet including himself as finance minister and Walcott Richardson as home affairs minister.
El Salvador: Former member of the Civic-Military Directory (1961-62) Aníbal Portillo dies.

Fofana

Guinea: The cabinet of Prime Minister Jean-Marie Doré is announced with Bakary Fofana as foreign minister, Kerfalla Yansané as finance minister, and Gen. Mamadouba Toto Camara remaining security minister.
Réunion: Michel Lalande takes office as prefect.

16

Kyrgyzstan: Former foreign minister (1944-49) and chairman of the Council of Ministers (1958-61) of the Kirgiz S.S.R. Kazy Dikambayev dies.

17

Nauru: President Marcus Stephen defeats a motion of no-confidence introduced in parliament.

18

Josipovic

Croatia: Ivo Josipovic takes office as president.
Ireland: Defence Minister Willie O'Dea resigns. Prime Minister Brian Cowen assigns the portfolio to himself for the present.

Djibo

Danda

Niger: President Mamadou Tandja is overthrown in a military coup led by Col. Adamou Harouna. A Supreme Council for the Restoration of Democracy is announced to be the new ruling body; on February 19 Squadron Leader Salou Djibo is said to be its leader. On February 23 Djibo appoints Mahamadou Danda as prime minister.

19

Congo (Kinshasa): In a cabinet reshuffle, Adolphe Lumanu Mulenda Bwana N'sefu is appointed as interior minister and Matata Ponyo Mapon as finance minister.

20

The Netherlands: Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende offers the resignation of his government after the Labour Party withdrew. On February 23 new ministers are appointed to replace the Labour ministers, including Jan Kees de Jager as finance minister and Ernst Hirsch Ballin as interior minister.
Russia: President Dmitry Medvedev nominates incumbent Aleksandr Mikhailov as governor of Kursk oblast.
United States: Former secretary of state (1981-82) Alexander Haig dies.

21

Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Nagasaki prefecture, Hodo Nakamura (backed by the Liberal-Democratic Party) wins 45.3% of the vote and Tsuyoshi Hashimoto (supported by the Democratic Party of Japan and its allies) 31.8%. Turnout is 60.1%.

22

Russia: President Dmitry Medvedev nominates Dmitry Kobylkin as governor of Yamalo-Nenets autonomous okrug.
Turks and Caicos Islands: Former governor (1987-93) Michael Bradley dies.

23

Espersen

Denmark: In a cabinet reshuffle, Lene Espersen becomes foreign minister, Gitte Lillelund Bech defense minister, and Bertel Haarder interior minister.
Norway: Former governor of Rogaland (1982-91) Kristin Lønningdal dies.
Pakistan: Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin resigns, effective February 28.
Saint Helena: Former governor (2004-07) Michael Clancy dies.

24

Honduras: Marlon Pascua is sworn in as defense minister.

28

Guatemala: Interior Minister Raúl Velásquez is dismissed and replaced by Carlos Menocal.
Tajikistan: In parliamentary elections, the People's Democratic Party wins 71% of the vote (54 of 63 seats), the Islamic Revival Party 8.2% (2), the Communist Party 7% (2), the Agrarian Party 5.1% (2), and the Party of Economic Reforms 5.1% (2). Turnout is 90.8%.