Rulers

October 2011

1


Gatti
Fiorini
San Marino: Gabriele Gatti (Christian Democrat) and Matteo Fiorini (Popular Alliance) take office as captains-regent.
Seychelles: In parliamentary elections held from September 29 to October 1 (turnout 74.3%; 31.9% of the cast votes are spoiled), the Parti Lepep wins 88.6% of the vote (31 of 31 seats) and the Popular Democratic Movement 10.9% (0).

2

Papua New Guinea: Former premier of Morobe (1980-87) Utula Samana dies.

3


McLeod
Canada: In parliamentary elections in Prince Edward Island, the Liberal Party wins 51.4% of the vote (22 of 27 seats), the Progressive Conservative Party 40.2% (5), the Green Party 4.3% (0), and the New Democratic Party 3.2% (0). Turnout is 76.1%. In elections in the Northwest Territories, all 19 seats go to independents (3 of them already acclaimed on nomination day, September 9); Bob McLeod is elected as premier on October 26 and sworn in the next day.

Thorning-S.
Søvndal
Denmark: Helle Thorning-Schmidt takes office as prime minister with a government including Villy Søvndal as foreign minister, Nick Hækkerup as defense minister, Margrethe Vestager as interior minister, and Bjarne Corydon as finance minister.
Libya: Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril announces a mostly unchanged cabinet including himself as foreign minister, Jalal Dghaili as defense minister, Ahmad Darrat as interior minister, and Ali Tarhouni as finance minister.

4

Canada: In parliamentary elections in Manitoba, the New Democratic Party wins 46% of the vote (37 of 57 seats), the Progressive Conservative Party 43.9% (19), and the Liberal Party 7.5% (1). Turnout is 57.2%.

Conille
Lamothe
Haiti: The Senate endorses (17-3 with 9 abstentions) the nomination of Garry Conille as prime minister. His cabinet is announced on October 13, with Laurent Lamothe as foreign minister, Thierry Mayard-Paul as defense and interior minister, and André Lemercier Georges as finance minister. The cabinet and government program are approved by the Senate (16-4 with 5 abstentions) on October 14 and by the Chamber of Deputies (81-0 with 7 abstentions) on October 15. The government is sworn in October 18.
United States: In a special gubernatorial election in West Virginia, Acting Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (Democrat) is elected with 49.6% of the vote, while Bill Maloney (Republican) wins 46.9%. Turnout is 24.7%.

6

Canada: In parliamentary elections in Ontario, the Liberal Party wins 37.6% of the vote (53 of 107 seats), the Progressive Conservative Party 35.4% (37), and the New Democratic Party 22.7% (17). Turnout is 49.2%.
India: Former chief minister of Goa (1990) Luis Proto Barbosa dies.
Panama: Frank De Lima takes office as finance minister.

Habumuremyi
Rwanda: Pierre Damien Habumuremyi is appointed as prime minister. He is sworn in on October 7. There is no change in key cabinet portfolios.

7

Albania: Former head of state (1982-92) and first secretary of the Albanian Party of Labour (1985-91) Ramiz Alia dies.

Redford
Canada: Alison Redford is sworn in as premier of Alberta.
Spain: Former president of the Council of the Valencian Country (1979-82) Enrique Monsonís Domingo dies.

8

Mexico: Former governor of Coahuila (1981-87) José de las Fuentes Rodríguez dies.

9

Cameroon: In presidential elections, incumbent Paul Biya (Cameroon People's Democratic Movement) wins 78% of the vote and John Fru Ndi (Social Democratic Front) 10.7%. Turnout is 65.8%.
Poland: In parliamentary elections, the Civic Platform (PO) wins 39.2% of the vote (207 of 460 seats in the Sejm), Law and Justice (PiS) 29.9% (157), the Palikot Movement 10% (40), the Polish People's Party (PSL) 8.4% (28), and the Democratic Left Alliance 8.2% (27). Turnout is 48.9%. In the Senate, the PO wins 63 of 100 seats, PiS 31, and the PSL 2.
Portugal: In parliamentary elections in Madeira, the Social Democratic Party wins 48.6% of the vote (25 of 47 seats), the Democratic and Social Centre-People's Party 17.6% (9), the Socialist Party 11.5% (6), and the Portuguese Labour Party 6.9% (3).

10

Mexico: Former governor of Baja California (1971-77) Milton Castellanos Everardo dies.
United States: Former Washington governor (1957-65) Albert D. Rosellini dies.

11

Canada: In parliamentary elections in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Progressive Conservative Party wins 56.1% of the vote (37 of 48 seats), the New Democratic Party 24.6% (5), and the Liberal Party 19.1% (6). In Yukon, the Yukon Party wins 40.5% of the vote (11 of 19 seats), the New Democratic Party 32.6% (6), and the Liberal Party 25.3% (2).
Egypt: Finance Minister Hazem al-Beblawi resigns, but the resignation is rejected by the Armed Forces Supreme Council.
Georgia: The president of Abkhazia, Aleksandr Ankvab, appoints Vyacheslav Chirikba as foreign minister and Mirab Kishmariya as defense minister.

Bell
Isle of Man: Allan Bell is elected chief minister, defeating Peter Karran 29-3.
Liberia: In the first round of presidential elections, incumbent Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (Unity Party) wins 43.9% of the vote, Winston Tubman (Congress for Democratic Change) 32.7%, Prince Johnson (National Union for Democratic Progress) 11.6%, and Charles Brumskine (Liberty Party) 5.5%. Turnout is 71.6%.
Slovakia: Prime Minister Iveta Radicová's government is defeated in a confidence vote (55 votes supporting the government, 76 needed). On October 25 the government is reappointed in a caretaker role, with restricted powers.
South Africa: Former administrator of Natal (1984-90) Radclyffe Cadman dies.

12

Uganda: Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa steps aside ahead of a corruption investigation. Internal Affairs Minister Hilary Onek says he will do likewise as soon as the investigation begins.

13

France: Former president of the Regional Council of Franche-Comté (1988-98) Pierre Chantelat dies.

14

Italy: Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi wins a confidence vote in the Chamber of Deputies (316-301).
Malaysia: The Conference of Rulers chooses the sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah ibni al-Marhum Sultan Badlishah, to be the next paramount ruler. His term will begin on December 13.
United Kingdom: Defence Secretary Liam Fox resigns. Philip Hammond is named to replace him.
Western European Union: Former secretary-general (2009-11) Arnaud Jacomet dies.

15

Australia: Former governor of South Australia (1982-91) Sir Donald Beaumont Dunstan dies.

16

Finland: In parliamentary elections in the Åland Islands, the Åland Centre wins 23.6% of the vote (7 of 30 seats), the Liberals of Åland 20.2% (6), the Åland Social Democrats 18.6% (6), the Moderates of Åland 14% (4), the Independent Rally 12.6% (4), and Åland's Future 9.9% (3). Turnout is 66.6%.

Khasawneh

17

Germany: Former acting chairman of the Council of State of East Germany (1989-90) Manfred Gerlach dies.
Italy: In presidential elections in Molise held October 16-17, incumbent Michele Iorio wins 46.8% of the vote and Paolo Di Laura Frattura 46.3%.

Sabah Al Khaled
Jordan: Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit resigns. King Abdullah II designates Awn Khasawneh as new prime minister. On October 24 the new government is approved and sworn in with Khasawneh also serving as defense minister, Umayya Toukan becoming finance minister and Muhammad al-Raoud interior minister; Nasser Judeh remains foreign minister.
Kuwait: Foreign Minister Sheikh Muhammad Al Sabah Al Salim Al Sabah resigns. Ali al-Rashed is appointed acting foreign minister on October 18. On October 23 Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah is sworn in as foreign minister.
Madagascar: Prime Minister Albert Camille Vital and his government resign. On October 28 Omer Beriziky is named as new prime minister.

Fakudze
Swaziland: In a cabinet reshuffle, Mtiti Fakudze is named foreign minister and Prince Gcokoma home affairs minister. They are sworn in on October 18.

19


Rinkevics
Latvia: Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis is asked to form a new government. It is confirmed by the Saeima (57-38) on October 25 and includes Edgars Rinkevics as foreign minister and Rihards Kozlovskis as interior minister; Artis Pabriks remains defense minister and Andris Vilks finance minister.
Nepal: Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai dismisses Defense Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari. Home Affairs Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar takes over the portfolio.

20

Libya: Former leader (1969-2011) Muammar al-Qaddafi is killed.
United States: John Bryson is confirmed by the Senate as commerce secretary (74-26). He is sworn in on October 21.

21


Weatherill
Australia: The premier of South Australia, Mike Rann, resigns and Jay Weatherill is sworn in as new premier.
Kiribati: In the first round of parliamentary elections, President Anote Tong is among the winning candidates. A second round is held on October 28. There are no formal parties.

22

Japan: Toru Hashimoto announces his resignation as governor of Osaka, effective October 31.
Saudi Arabia: Defense Minister Crown Prince Sultan dies.
United States: In gubernatorial (open primary) elections in Louisiana, incumbent Bobby Jindal (Republican) wins 65.8% of the vote and Tara Hollis (Democrat) 17.9%. Turnout is 35.9%.

23

Argentina: In presidential elections, incumbent Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (Frente para la Victoria) wins 54% of the vote, Hermes Binner (Frente Amplio Progresista) 16.9%, Ricardo Alfonsín (Unión para el Desarrollo Social) 11.1%, Alberto Rodríguez Saá (Compromiso Federal) 8%, and Eduardo Duhalde (Frente Popular) 5.9%. Turnout is 78.9%. As a result of elections to 130 of the 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 24 of 72 in the Senate, the Frente para la Victoria and its allies will have 134 seats in the Chamber and 41 in the Senate and the Radical Civic Union 41 and 17. Results of gubernatorial elections (PJ=Justicialist Party, UCR=Radical Civic Union):
Bulgaria: In presidential elections, Rosen Plevneliev (Citizens for the European Development of Bulgaria) wins 40.1% of the vote, Ivailo Kalfin (Bulgarian Socialist Party) 29%, and Meglena Kuneva (independent) 14%. Turnout is about 52%. In the runoff on October 30, Plevneliev wins 52.6% of the vote and Kalfin 47.4%; turnout is 48%.

Holness
Jamaica: Prime Minister Bruce Golding resigns formally and Andrew Holness is sworn in as prime minister. On October 24 Audley Shaw is reappointed as finance minister and Dwight Nelson as national security minister. On October 25 the full government is named, with Kenneth Baugh remaining foreign minister and Holness holding the defense portfolio.
Libya: Interim Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril resigns. Ali Tarhouni runs affairs until a new government is formed. On October 31 Abdel Rahim al-Kib is elected new interim prime minister by the National Transitional Council.
Lithuania: Former prime minister (1992-93) Bronislovas Lubys dies.
Switzerland: In parliamentary elections, the Swiss People's Party wins 26.6% of the vote (54 of 200 seats), the Social Democratic Party 18.7% (46), the Liberal-Democratic Party 15.1% (30), the Christian Democratic People's Party 12.3% (28), the Greens 8.4% (15), the Green Liberals 5.4% (12), and the Civic Democratic Party 5.4% (9). Turnout is 49.1%.
Tunisia: In elections to a Constituent Assembly, Ennahda wins about 89 of 217 seats, the Congress for the Republic 29, Popular Petition 26, the Democratic Forum for Labour and Liberties 20, and the Progressive Democratic Party 16. Turnout is about 52%.

26

Armenia: Former foreign minister of the Armenian S.S.R. (1986-90) Anatoly Mkrtchyan dies.
Botswana: In a cabinet reshuffle, Ramadeluka Seretse is appointed defense minister and Edwin Batshu home affairs minister.
Fiji: Former interim prime minister (2006-07) Jona Senilagakali dies.

27

Ireland: In presidential elections, Michael D. Higgins (Labour Party) wins 39.6% of the first-preference votes, Sean Gallagher (independent) 28.5%, Martin McGuinness (Sinn Féin) 13.7%, Gay Mitchell (Fine Gael) 6.4%, and David Norris (independent) 6.2%. Turnout is 56.1%. After elimination of the lesser candidates and transference of their votes, Higgins has 56.8% of votes and Gallagher 35.5%.

29

Faeroe Islands: In parliamentary elections, the Union Party wins 24.7% of the vote (8 of 33 seats), the People's Party 22.5% (8), The Republic 18.3% (6), the Social Democratic Party 17.7% (6), the Progressive Party 6.3% (2), the Centre Party 6.2% (2), and the Self-Government Party 4.2% (1). Turnout is 86.6%.

Capes
Saint Helena: Mark Capes is sworn in as governor.
Sweden: Former governor of Halland (1972-77) Yngve Holmberg dies.

30

Kyrgyzstan: In presidential elections, Almazbek Atambayev wins 64.2% of the vote, Adakhan Madumarov 15.0%, and Kamchybek Tashiyev 14.5%. Turnout is 61.3%.

31


Thomas
Australia: Sally Thomas is sworn in as administrator of the Northern Territory.
Liechtenstein: Former head of government (1970-74) Alfred Hilbe dies.
Niger: Former head of state (1987-93) Ali Saibou dies.