February 2014

1

Rawat

India: Harish Rawat is sworn in as chief minister of Uttarakhand.
United States: In mayoral elections in New Orleans, incumbent Mitch Landrieu (Democrat) wins 63.6% of the vote and Michael Bagneris (Democrat) 33.3%.

2

Costa Rica: In presidential elections, Luis Guillermo Solís of the Citizens' Action Party (PAC) wins 30.6% of the vote, Johnny Araya of the National Liberation Party (PLN) 29.7%, José María Villalta of the Broad Front (FA) 17.2%, Otto Guevara of the Libertarian Movement (ML) 11.3%, and Rodolfo Piza of the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) 6%. Turnout is 68.2%. A runoff is to be held on April 6. In parliamentary elections, the PLN wins 18 of 57 seats, the PAC 13, the FA 9, the PUSC 8, and the ML 4.
El Salvador: In presidential elections, Salvador Sánchez Cerén (Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front) wins 48.9% of the vote, Norman Quijano (Nationalist Republican Alliance) 39%, and former president Antonio Saca (Unity) 11.4%. A runoff is to be held on March 9.
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Nagasaki, incumbent Hodo Nakamura wins 81.6% of the vote and Toshihiko Haraguchi 18.4%.
Mauritania: Prime Minister Moulaye Ould Mohamed Laghdaf submits his government's resignation. On February 3 he is asked to form a new government. Announced on February 12, the new cabinet is unchanged in key positions.
Thailand: Parliamentary elections are held, but in many places voting is cancelled due to protests or the lack of election officials and ballots.

3

Lidegaard

Denmark: Martin Lidegaard becomes foreign minister in a cabinet reshuffle.

6

Panama: Former foreign minister (2003-04) Harmodio Arias Cerjack dies.
Romania: Finance Minister Daniel Chitoiu resigns. On February 7, Eugen Nicolaescu is designated as finance minister and Klaus Johannis as interior minister. However, on February 26 the ministers of the National Liberal Party resign, and Liviu Voinea becomes acting finance minister, while Gabriel Oprea remains acting interior minister.
South Africa: Former administrator of Natal (1990-94) Cornelius Johannes van Rooyen Botha dies.

7

India: Former governor of Manipur, Nagaland, and Tripura (1981-84) and of Haryana (1984-88) S.M.H. Burney dies.

9

Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Tokyo, Yoichi Masuzoe wins 43.4% of the vote, Kenji Utsunomiya 20.2%, former prime minister Morihiro Hosokawa 19.6%, and Toshio Tamogami 12.5%. Turnout is 46.1%. Masuzoe takes office February 12.

10

Koirala

Pandey

Nepal: Sushil Koirala is elected as prime minister (405-148). He is sworn in on February 11. On February 25 Mahendra Pandey is sworn in as foreign minister, Bam Dev Gautam as home affairs minister, and Ram Sharan Mahat as finance minister; Koirala holds the defense portfolio.

11

United States: In the mayoral runoff in San Diego, Kevin Faulconer (Republican) wins 54.5% of the vote and David Alvarez (Democrat) 45.5%.

12

Malaysia: The chief minister of Sarawak, Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, announces his resignation effective February 28, on which date Tan Sri Adenan Satem is sworn in as chief minister.

14

Canada: Former government leader of Yukon Territory (1978-85) Chris Pearson dies.
India: The chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, resigns. On February 17 president's rule is imposed.

Renzi

Mogherini

Italy: Prime Minister Enrico Letta resigns. On February 17 President Giorgio Napolitano asks Matteo Renzi to form a government. On February 21 Renzi nominates Federica Mogherini as foreign minister, Roberta Pinotti as defense minister, and Pier Carlo Padoan as finance minister; Angelino Alfano is to remain interior minister. The government is sworn in on February 22. On February 25 it wins confidence votes in the Senate (169-139) and the Chamber of Deputies (378-220).
Mexico: Former governor of Sinaloa (1969-74) Alfredo Valdés Montoya dies.

Kokorin

Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the governor of Kurgan oblast, Oleg Bogomolov, and appoints Aleksey Kokorin as acting governor.
United States: Former governor of Alaska (1957-58) Michael A. Stepovich dies.

15

Salam

Bassil

Lebanon: A new government is formed with Tammam Salam as prime minister, Gebran Bassil as foreign minister, Samir Mokbel as defense minister, Nouhad Machnouk as interior minister, and Ali Hassan Khalil as finance minister.

16

Italy: In presidential elections in Sardegna, Francesco Pigliaru (centre-left) is elected with 42.4% of the vote, while incumbent Ugo Cappellacci (centre-right) wins 39.7% and Michela Murgia (independentist) 10.3%.

18

Vanuatu: Christophe Emelee is appointed as internal affairs minister. In a reshuffle on February 26, he is replaced by Paul Telukluk.

19

India: The chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, Kiran Kumar Reddy, resigns. His resignation is accepted on February 21 but he is asked to continue in office "till alternative arrangements are made."
Indonesia: Annas Maamun is sworn in as governor of Riau.
Nicaragua: Martha Elena Ruiz Sevilla is named defense minister.

Solovyov

Russia: President Vladimir Putin appoints Aleksandr Solovyov as acting head of the republic of Udmurtia, replacing Aleksandr Volkov whose term has expired.

20

Uruguay: Former acting president (1985) Rafael Addiego Bruno dies.

21

Turchynov

Deshchytsia

Ukraine: Parliament suspends Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko (332 of 383 votes), who is subsequently said to have "disappeared." On February 22 Arsen Avakov is elected acting interior minister and Oleksandr Turchynov acting prime minister. The same day parliament (with 328 votes) declares President Viktor Yanukovych, who is also at "an unknown location," as constitutionally unable to carry out his duties and sets an early election for May 25. On February 23 parliament assigns the duties of president to Turchynov and votes to dismiss Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara. On February 26 Arseniy Yatsenyuk is designated as prime minister and Andriy Deshchytsia as acting foreign minister, with Avakov confirmed as interior minister. On February 27 Yatsenyuk is approved with 371 votes and the new cabinet, also including Oleksandr Shlapak as finance minister and Ihor Tenyukh as acting defense minister, with 331 votes.

22

Koshin

Russia: President Vladimir Putin appoints Igor Koshin as acting governor of Nenets autonomous okrug, replacing Igor Fyodorov, whose term has expired.

23

Estonia: Prime Minister Andrus Ansip announces he will resign on March 4.
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Yamaguchi, Tsugumasa Muraoka wins 63.9% of the vote, Tsutomu Takamura 25.8%, and Naoko Fujii 10.3%. Turnout is 38.8%.

24

Egypt: The government of Prime Minister Hazem al-Beblawi resigns. On February 25 Ibrahim Mahlab is asked to form a new government. On February 26 most of the cabinet portfolios are assigned, with Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy and Interior Minister Mohamed Ibrahim to remain in their posts.

Cornejo

Peru: Prime Minister César Villanueva resigns. René Cornejo is sworn in as prime minister in a reshuffle that leaves key ministries unchanged.
Taiwan: The resignation of Interior Minister Lee Hong-yuan is announced. On February 26 Chen Wei-zen is named as new interior minister.

25

Falkland Islands: Governor Nigel Haywood departs. John Duncan is designated as acting governor for the interim until the new governor, Colin Roberts, takes office in April. Duncan is sworn in on February 27.
Guernsey: Chief Minister Peter Harwood resigns.

26

Bangladesh: Abul Hasan Mahmud Ali is appointed foreign minister.

Potomsky

Russia: President Vladimir Putin appoints Vadim Potomsky as acting governor of Oryol oblast, replacing Aleksandr Kozlov, whose term has expired.
San Marino: Former foreign minister (1973-75) and captain-regent (1993-94) Gian Luigi Berti dies.

27

Moldova: Defense Minister Vitalie Marinuta resigns.
Russia: President Vladimir Putin appoints Andrey Turchak, whose regular term has expired, as acting governor of Pskov oblast.

Aksyonov

Ukraine: Sergey Aksyonov is elected prime minister of Crimea.

28

Cyprus: The cabinet resigns after the Democratic Party decided to withdraw from the government.
Western Sahara: Hamma Salama is appointed interior minister.