August 2010

1

India: Former ruler of Dhrangadhra (1942-47) Mayurdhwajsinhji Ganshyamsinhji dies.
São Tomé and Príncipe: In parliamentary elections, the opposition Independent Democratic Action wins 26 of 55 seats, the ruling Movement for the Liberation of São Tomé and Príncipe/Social Democratic Party 21, and the Party of Democratic Convergence 7. Turnout is nearly 88%. On August 13 Patrice Trovoada is nominated as prime minister, and his government is sworn in on August 14, including Manuel Salvador dos Ramos as foreign minister, Carlos Olímpio Stock as defense and public security minister, and Américo d'Oliveira dos Ramos as finance minister.

2

Nepal: The election of a prime minister fails again when Pushpa Kamal Dahal receives 259 votes in favour, with 114 against and 208 abstentions, and Ram Chandra Poudel secures 124 votes, with 246 against and 186 abstentions; 300 votes are needed. The pattern is repeated a fourth time on August 6 (Dahal 213-99-156, Poudel 122-245-194) and a fifth time on August 23 (Dahal 246-111-206, Poudel 124-243-200).

3

Indonesia: Hasan Basri Agus is sworn in as governor of Jambi.
Indonesia: In gubernatorial elections in Sulawesi Utara, Sinyo Harry Sarundajang is reelected with 32% of the vote, defeating Stefanus Vreeke Runtu (25.2%), Elly Engelbert Lasut (22.1%), and Ramoy Markus Luntungan (20.7%). Before this is officialized, however, Sarundayang's old term ends on August 13 and Robby Mamuaja becomes acting governor.

4

Italy: Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (299 votes for the government, 229 against, 75 abstentions).
Solomon Islands: In parliamentary elections, the Solomon Islands Democratic Party wins 11 of 50 seats, smaller parties 10, and independents 28. On August 25 Danny Philip is elected prime minister, winning 26 votes against 23 for Steve Abana. On August 27 Peter Shanel Agovaka is sworn in as foreign minister and Manasseh Maelanga as home affairs minister. On August 30 Gordon Darcy Lilo is sworn in as finance minister.

5

British Virgin Islands: Governor David Pearey departs. Deputy Governor V. Inez Archibald becomes acting governor. The new governor, Boyd McCleary, is sworn in on August 20.
Uganda: Former president (1979-80) Godfrey L. Binaisa dies.

6

Schmitt

Hungary: Pál Schmitt takes office as president.
Poland: Bronislaw Komorowski is sworn in as president.
Switzerland: Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz announces his resignation, effective October 1.

7

Santos

Holguín

Colombia: Juan Manuel Santos takes office as president. María Ángela Holguín becomes foreign minister, Rodrigo Rivera defense minister, Germán Vargas Lleras interior minister, and Juan Carlos Echeverry finance minister.
Russia: Former head of the administration of Kaliningrad oblast (1996-2000) Leonid Gorbenko dies.

8

Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Nagano, Shuichi Abe (backed by the Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party, and the People's New Party) wins 39.9% of the vote, Yoshimasa Koshihara (backed by the Liberal-Democratic Party) 39.3%, and Takeshi Matsumoto (backed by the Japan Communist Party) 20.8%. Turnout is 52.7%.
South Korea: President Lee Myung Bak designates Kim Tae Ho as prime minister and announces a cabinet reshuffle with no change in key portfolios. Prime Minister Chung Un Chan leaves office on August 11 and Finance Minister Yoon Jeung Hyun becomes acting prime minister. Kim withdraws on August 29.
Russia: Former head of the administration of Evenkia autonomous okrug (1997-2001) Aleksandr Bokovikov dies.

9

Malawi: Reckford Thotho is appointed defense minister in a cabinet reshuffle.
Rwanda: In presidential elections, incumbent Paul Kagame wins 93.1% of the vote and Jean Ntawukuriryayo 5.1%. Turnout is 97.5%.

10

Canada: Former commissioner of Yukon Territory (1962-66) Gordon Robertson Cameron dies.
Czech Republic: Prime Minister Petr Necas' government wins a parliamentary confidence vote (118-82).
Slovakia: Prime Minister Iveta Radicová's government wins a parliamentary confidence vote (79-66).

12

Malta: Former foreign minister (1990-96, 1998-99) and president (1999-2004) Guido de Marco dies.
Russia: Former head of the republic of Komi (1990-2002) Yury Spiridonov dies.

Bouterse

Lackin

Suriname: Dési Bouterse is sworn in as president. Robert Ameerali becomes vice president, Lamuré Latour defense minister, and Wonnie Boedhoe finance minister. On August 13 Winston Lackin is sworn in as foreign minister and Soewarto Moestadja as interior minister.

14

United States: Former governor of Delaware (1973-77) Sherman W. Tribbitt dies.

15

Indonesia: Irwan Prayitno is installed as governor of Sumatera Barat.

16

Russia: The Legislative Assembly of Karelia adopts a constitutional amendment abolishing the post of prime minister.

17

Italy: Former prime minister (1979-80) and president (1985-92) Francesco Cossiga dies.

19

Indonesia: Muhammad Sani is sworn in as governor of Kepulauan Riau.
Liberia: Former chairman of the Council of State (1994-95) David Kpomakpor dies.

20

Ireland: Former foreign minister (1981-82) James Dooge dies.

21

Australia: In parliamentary elections, the Liberal-National alliance wins 43.6% of the vote (73 of 150 seats), the Labor Party 38% (72), the Greens 11.8% (1), and independents 2.5% (4). Turnout is 93.2%.
Romania: Former first secretary of the Romanian Workers' Party (1954-55) Gheorghe Apostol dies.

23

Paraguay: Defense Minister Luis Bareiro Spaini resigns. Cecilio Pérez Bordón is appointed in his place on August 24, taking office August 25.
Russia: President Dmitry Medvedev nominates incumbent Arsen Kanokov as president of Kabardino-Balkariya and Nikolay Tsukanov as governor of Kaliningrad oblast. Tsukanov is confirmed by the local Duma (30-9) on August 30.

24

Senegal: Former foreign minister (1962) André Guillabert dies.
United States: Former attorney general (1974-75) William B. Saxbe dies.

25

Germany: Christoph Ahlhaus is elected first mayor of Hamburg (70-50).

26

Sierra Leone: Former foreign minister (1961-64) John Karefa-Smart dies.
Switzerland: Former president of the government of Thurgau (1972-73) Franz Josef Harder dies.

27

Netherlands Antilles: In parliamentary elections in Curaçao, the Antillean Restructuring Party wins 30.2% of the vote (8 of 21 seats), the Movement for the Future of Curaçao 21.5% (5), the Sovereign People 18.7% (4), the New Antilles Movement 8.8% (2), the Workers' Liberation Front 30th of May 6.5% (1), and the National People's Party 6.2% (1). Turnout is 65.8%.

28

Serbia: Former secretary of the Central Committee of the League of Communists of Kosovo (1982-83) and president of the Presidency of Yugoslavia (1986-87) Sinan Hasani dies.

29

Burundi: In a cabinet reshuffle, Maj.Gen. Pontien Gaciyubwenge is appointed as defense minister.
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Kagawa, Keizo Hamada wins 54.8% of the vote and Satoko Watanabe 37.4%. Turnout is 36.9%.

Ignatyev

Russia: Mikhail Ignatyev takes office as president of Chuvashia.

30

Botswana: Defense Minister Ramadeluka Seretse resigns. Lesego Motsumi becomes acting defense minister.

31

Bouffier

Germany: The Landtag of Hessen elects Volker Bouffier as minister-president (66-50).