December 2013

1

Argentina: In gubernatorial elections in Santiago del Estero, Claudia Ledesma Abdala (Frente Cívico por Santiago) wins 64.4% of the vote and Emilio Rached (Frente Progresista Cívico y Social) 14.5%. Ledesma is sworn in on December 10.
India: In parliamentary elections in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party wins 162 of 200 seats and the Indian National Congress 21. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot resigns on December 8. On December 13 Vasundhara Raje is sworn in as chief minister.
United States: John Cranley is sworn in as mayor of Cincinnati.

2

Brazil: The governor of Sergipe, Marcelo Déda Chagas, dies. Vice Governor Jackson Barreto de Lima, who already was acting governor from May 27, is sworn in as governor on December 10.
Dominica: Former president (1998-2003) Vernon Shaw dies.

Ahmed

Somalia: Prime Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon loses a parliamentary no-confidence vote, 184-65. On December 12 President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud appoints Abdiweli Sheikh Ahmed as prime minister. He is approved by parliament (243-0) on December 21.
United States: Former governor of Mississippi (1984-88) William A. Allain dies.
United States: Mike Pantelides is sworn in as mayor of Annapolis and Patrick Cannon as mayor of Charlotte.

3

Mexico: Former governor of Coahuila (1963-69) Braulio Fernández Aguirre dies.
The Sudan: President Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir dismisses his cabinet. On December 5 the first vice president, Ali Osman Mohamed Taha, confirms reports that he resigned. On December 8 Bashir appoints Bakri Hassan Saleh as first vice president, Hassabo Mohamed Abdul Rahman as second vice president, Abdul Wahid Yousuf as interior minister, and Badr al-Din Mahmoud as finance minister; Ali Karti remains foreign minister and Abdel Rahim Mohamed Hussein defense minister.
Ukraine: The government of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov survives a no-confidence vote (186 votes in favour of the motion, 226 were required).

4

Kejriwal

India: In parliamentary elections in Delhi, the Bharatiya Janata Party wins 31 of 70 seats, the Aam Aadmi (Common Man) Party 28, and the Indian National Congress 8. Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit resigns on December 8. On December 28 Arvind Kejriwal is sworn in as chief minister.

Bettel

Luxembourg: Xavier Bettel is sworn in as prime minister with a government including Étienne Schneider as defense minister, Pierre Gramegna as finance minister, and Dan Kersch as interior minister; Jean Asselborn remains foreign minister.
Switzerland: Didier Burkhalter is elected president for 2014 (183 of 202 votes) and Simonetta Sommaruga as vice president (180 of 205 votes).

5

South Africa: Former president (1994-99) Nelson Mandela dies.

6

Dutton

Gibraltar: Sir James Dutton is sworn in as governor.

Kokov

Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the head of the republic of Kabardino-Balkariya, Arsen Kanokov, and appoints Yury Kokov as acting head of the republic.

10

Switzerland: François Longchamp becomes president of the Council of State of Genève.

11

Nielsen

Denmark: Foreign Minister Villy Søvndal resigns. In a cabinet reshuffle on December 12 Holger K. Nielsen becomes foreign minister.
Italy: The government of Prime Minister Enrico Letta wins confidence votes in the Chamber of Deputies (379-212) and the Senate (173-127).

13

Guinea-Bissau: Foreign Minister Fernando Delfim da Silva resigns.
United States: The Senate confirms Deborah Lee James as Air Force secretary (79-6). She is sworn in on December 20.
Uzbekistan: Adkham Akhmedbayev is appointed interior minister.

14

Indonesia: In the gubernatorial runoff in Maluku, Said Assagaff wins 50.4% of the vote and Abdullah Vanath 49.6%.
Tunisia: Mehdi Jomaa is chosen as prime minister by the country's political parties.

15

Central African Republic: Security Minister Josué Binoua and Finance Minister Christophe Bremaïdou are sacked.
Chile: In the presidential runoff, Michelle Bachelet wins 62.2% of the vote and Evelyn Matthei 37.8%. Turnout is about 42%.
Mali: In parliamentary elections held November 24 (turnout 38.5%) and December 15 (37.2%), the Rally for Mali wins 66 of 147 seats, the Union for the Republic and Democracy 18, and the Alliance for Democracy in Mali 16.

16

Kurz

Austria: Chancellor Werner Faymann's new government is sworn in with Sebastian Kurz as foreign minister and Michael Spindelegger as finance minister; Gerald Klug remains defense minister and Johanna Mikl-Leitner interior minister.
United States: The Senate confirms (78-16) Jeh Johnson as secretary of homeland security. He is sworn in on December 23.

17

Germany: Angela Merkel is reelected (462-150) and sworn in as chancellor, followed by her cabinet including Frank-Walter Steinmeier as foreign minister, Ursula von der Leyen as defense minister, Thomas de Maizière as interior minister, and Wolfgang Schäuble remaining finance minister.
Guinea-Bissau: Interior Minister António Suka Ntchama resigns.
New Caledonia: Former high commissioner (1985-86) Fernand Wibaux dies.

18

Italy: Marcello Pittella takes office as president of Basilicata.

19

Japan: The governor of Tokyo, Naoki Inose, resigns. Vice Governor Tatsumi Ando becomes acting governor on December 24.

20

Madagascar: In the presidential runoff, Hery Rajaonarimampianina wins 53.5% of the vote and Jean-Louis Robinson 46.5%. Turnout is 50.8%. In parliamentary elections, With President Andry Rajoelina (MAPAR) wins 49 seats, independents 39, the Ravalomanana Movement 20, and Malagasy Miara Miainga 13; elections are delayed for 4 of the 151 seats.
Tanzania: Defense Minister Shamsi Vuai Nahodha and Home Affairs Minister Emmanuel Nchimbi are dismissed.

21

Egypt: Former foreign minister (1984-91) Esmat Abdel Meguid (also secretary-general of the Arab League 1991-2001) dies.
Mauritania: In the second round of parliamentary elections, the ruling Union for the Republic reaches a total of 74 of 147 seats; together with its allies it holds 110 seats.
Uruguay: Economy and Finance Minister Fernando Lorenzo resigns. Mario Bergara is appointed to succeed him; he takes office December 26.

23

Duggal

India: Vinod Kumar Duggal is appointed as governor of Manipur. He is sworn in on December 31.
Switzerland: Former Landammann of Uri (1972-74, 1978-80, 1984-86) Josef Brücker dies.
Zambia: Defense Minister Geoffrey Mwamba resigns. On December 24 Edgar Lungu is named defense minister, while Ngosa Simbyakula replaces Lungu as home affairs minister.

25

Afghanistan: Parliament confirms Zarar Ahmad Moqbel Osmani as foreign minister. He is sworn in on December 30.
Turkey: Interior Minister Muammer Güler resigns. In a cabinet reshuffle, Efkan Ala is appointed interior minister.

27

Vanuatu: Internal Affairs Minister Patrick Crowby dies.