April 2014

1

Valls

Coleiro Preca

France: Manuel Valls takes office as prime minister. On April 2 Michel Sapin is named finance minister and Bernard Cazeneuve interior minister. On April 8 the new government wins a vote of confidence in the National Assembly (306-239).
Malta: Parliament unanimously elects Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca as president. She is sworn in on April 4.

Beccari

San Marino: Valeria Ciavatta (Popular Alliance) and Luca Beccari (Christian Democrat) are installed as captains-regent.

2

Georgia: The parliament of South Ossetia approves Domenti Kulumbegov as prime minister.

Brutus

Haiti: In a cabinet reshuffle, Duly Brutus is named foreign minister, Lener Renauld defense minister, Réginald Delva interior minister, and Marie-Carmelle Jean-Marie finance minister.
Kazakhstan: Prime Minister Serik Akhmetov resigns. President Nursultan Nazarbayev names Karim Masimov as new prime minister and he is approved unanimously by parliament. On April 3 Akhmetov is named defense minister.
Kyrgyzstan: A new government is named with Joomart Otorbayev as prime minister and no change in key portfolios. It is approved by parliament on April 3 (103-7) and appointed by the president on April 4, when, however, Abibilla Kudayberdiyev is appointed to replace Taalaybek Omuraliyev as defense minister.

Bocharov

Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the governor of Volgograd oblast, Sergey Bozhenov, and appoints Andrey Bocharov as acting governor.
Switzerland: Manuele Bertoli becomes president of the Council of State of Ticino.

3

Abrahamyan

Armenia: Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisyan resigns. On April 13 Hovik Abrahamyan is named prime minister. On April 26 Gagik Khachatryan is appointed finance minister.
Cyprus: Christoforos Fokaidis is named defense minister. He is sworn in on April 7.
Norway: Former governor of Østfold (1998-2003) Edvard Grimstad dies.

4

Brazil: Vice Governor Luiz Fernando Pezão is sworn in as governor of Rio de Janeiro following the resignation of Sérgio Cabral. Also taking office as governors are José Melo de Oliveira (Amazonas), Alberto Pinto Coelho Júnior (Minas Gerais), João Soares Lyra Neto (Pernambuco), Antonio José de Moraes Souza Filho (Piauí), Francisco de Assis Rodrigues (Roraima), and Sandoval Lobo Cardoso (Tocantins).
Guinea-Bissau: Former president (2000-03) Kumba Ialá dies.

5

Afghanistan: In the first round of presidential elections, Abdullah Abdullah wins 45% of the vote, Ashraf Ghani 31.6%, Zalmay Rasul 11.4%, and Abdo Rabe Rasul Sayyaf 7%. A runoff is scheduled for June 7.
Finland: Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen says he will resign in June.

Mara

Diop

Mali: The government of Prime Minister Oumar Tatam Ly resigns. Moussa Mara is named prime minister. He takes office April 9. His government is named on April 11, including Abdoulaye Diop as foreign minister and Gen. Sada Samaké as interior and security minister; Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga remains defense minister and Bouaré Fily Sissoko finance minister.
Moldova: Valeriu Troenco is sworn in as defense minister.

6

Costa Rica: In the presidential runoff, Luis Guillermo Solís wins about 78% of the vote and Johnny Araya 22%.
Hungary: In parliamentary elections, the Fidesz Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party wins 66.8% of the vote (133 of 199 seats), the coalition of Hungarian Socialist Party, Together, Democratic Coalition, Dialogue with Hungary, and Hungarian Liberal Party 19.1% (38), Jobbik 11.6% (23), and Politics Can Be Different 2.5% (5). Turnout is 61.2%.
Mexico: Former governor of Tabasco (1977-82) Leandro Rovirosa Wade dies.

7

Couillard

Canada: In parliamentary elections in Quebec, the Quebec Liberal Party wins 41.5% of the vote (70 of 125 seats), the Parti Québécois 25.4% (30), the Coalition Avenir Québec 23.1% (22), and Québec Solidaire 7.6% (3). Turnout is 71.4%. On April 23 Philippe Couillard is sworn in as premier.
United States: The City Council of Charlotte names Dan Clodfelter as mayor; he is sworn in April 9.

8

Libya: Parliament confirms Abdullah al-Thani as prime minister and asks him to form a government. On April 13, however, he resigns. On April 29, the parliament fails in the first round of voting to elect a new prime minister as Ahmed Matiq receives 67 of 152 votes and Omar al-Hassi 34. When gunmen storm parliament and start shooting, the second round is postponed to May 4.
Pakistan: The governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Shaukatullah Khan, resigns. Asad Qaiser becomes acting governor. On April 10 Sardar Mahtab Ahmad Khan is appointed governor. He is sworn in on April 15.

Garre

Spain: Alberto Garre López is elected president of Murcia. He takes office April 10.

9

Jagne

The Gambia: Mamour Alieu Jagne becomes foreign minister in a cabinet reshuffle.
India: In parliamentary elections in Arunachal Pradesh, the Indian National Congress wins 49.5% of the vote (42 of 60 seats), the Bharatiya Janata Party 31% (11), and the People's Party of Arunachal 9% (5).
Indonesia: In parliamentary elections, the Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle wins 18.9% of the vote (109 of 560 seats), the Party of Functional Groups (Golkar) 14.7% (91), the Great Indonesia Movement Party (Gerindra) 11.8% (73), the Democratic Party 10.2% (61), the National Awakening Party 9% (47), the National Mandate Party 7.6% (49), the Prosperous Justice Party 6.8% (40), the Nasdem Party 6.7% (35), the United Development Party 6.5% (39), and the People's Conscience Party (Hanura) 5.3% (16). Turnout is about 73%. In gubernatorial elections in Lampung, Muhammad Ridho Ficardo wins 44.8% of the vote, Herman H.N. 33.1%, and Berlian Tihang 15%.

North Korea: The Supreme People's Assembly confirms Kim Yong Nam as the chairman of its Presidium, Kim Jong Un as first chairman of the National Defense Commission, and Pak Pong Ju as premier. Ri Su Yong becomes foreign minister.
Laos: Xaysi Santivong takes office as home affairs minister.
Trinidad and Tobago: Former foreign minister (1967-70), prime minister (1986-91), and president (1997-2003) A.N.R. Robinson dies.

10

Congo (Kinshasa): Former foreign minister (1960-63, 1965-69, 1981) Justin Marie Bomboko Lokumba dies.
France: Former president of the Regional Council of Midi-Pyrénées (1986-88) Dominique Baudis dies.

11

Kolo	Razafitrimo

Madagascar: President Hery Rajaonarimampianina names Roger Kolo as prime minister. He takes office April 16. On April 18 his government is named including Arisoa Razafitrimo as foreign minister, Gen. Dominique Rakotozafy as defense minister, Solonandrasana Olivier Mahafaly as interior minister, and Jean Razafindravonona as finance minister.
United States: President Barack Obama nominates Sylvia Mathews Burwell as secretary of health and human services following the resignation of Kathleen Sebelius.

12

India: In parliamentary elections in Sikkim, the Sikkim Democratic Front wins 55% of the vote (22 of 32 seats) and the Sikkim Krantikari Morcha 40.8% (10). Turnout is 81%.
Niue: In parliamentary elections, 20 nonpartisans are elected. On April 24 Toke Talagi is reelected as premier, defeating Stanley Kalauni by 12 votes to 8. In the cabinet named on April 29, Talagi remains finance minister.

13

Guinea-Bissau: In the first round of presidential elections, José Mário Vaz of the African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde (PAIGC) wins 41% of the vote and Nuno Gomes Nabiam (independent) 25.1%. A runoff is to be held on May 18. In parliamentary elections, the PAIGC wins 55 of 100 seats and the Party for Social Renewal 41.
Macedonia: In the first round of presidential elections, incumbent Gjorge Ivanov wins 53.1% of the vote and Stevo Pendarovski 38.6%. Turnout is about 49%. Because a candidate must win 50% of the registered voters to win outright, a runoff is held on April 27. Ivanov then wins 57.3% of the vote and Pendarovski 42.7%; turnout is 54.4%. In parliamentary elections also held on April 27, the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity wins 42.2% of the vote (61 of 123 seats), the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia 24.9% (34), the Democratic Union for Integration 13.5% (19), and the Democratic Party of the Albanians 5.8% (7).

14

Menyaylo

Russia: President Vladimir Putin appoints Sergey Aksyonov as acting head of the republic of Crimea and Sergey Menyaylo as acting governor of Sevastopol.

16

Baird

Australia: The premier of New South Wales, Barry O'Farrell, resigns. On April 17 Mike Baird is sworn in as premier.
Liberia: Former chairman of the National Transitional Government (2003-06) Gyude Bryant dies.
Samoa: Finance Minister Faumuina Tiatia Liuga resigns. On April 25 Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi takes over the finance portfolio.
São Tomé and Príncipe: Former prime minister (1996-99) Raul Bragança dies.

17

Algeria: In presidential elections, incumbent Abdelaziz Bouteflika (National Liberation Front) wins 81.5% of the vote, Ali Benflis (independent) 12.2%, and Abdelaziz Belaid (Front for the Future) 3.4%. Turnout is 51.7%. On April 28 Bouteflika names Abdelmalek Sellal as prime minister, who takes office April 29.
India: In parliamentary elections in Odisha held April 10 and 17, the Biju Janata Dal wins 43.4% of the vote (117 of 147 seats), the Indian National Congress 25.7% (16), and the Bharatiya Janata Party 18% (10).

18

Andorra: Former acting co-prince (1969-71) Ramon Malla Call dies.
Tunisia: Former foreign minister (1990-91) Habib Boularès (also secretary-general of the Arab Maghreb Union 2002-06) dies.

20

Australia: Former premier of New South Wales (1976-86) Neville Wran dies.
Chad: In a cabinet reshuffle, Abderahim Bireme is named interior minister.

21

Macaire

France: Jean-François Macaire becomes acting president of the Regional Council of Poitou-Charentes, replacing Ségolène Royal, who resigned after entering the national government.

22

Vucic

Serbia: President Tomislav Nikolic designates Aleksandar Vucic as prime minister. On April 25 Ivica Dacic is nominated as foreign minister, Bratislav Gasic as defense minister, Nebojsa Stefanovic as interior minister, and Lazar Krstic to remain finance minister. On April 27 the government is endorsed by parliament (198-23) and sworn in.

23

Angola: João Lourenço is named defense minister.
Lebanon: Parliament fails to elect a president in the first round of voting, Samir Geagea (Lebanese Forces) receiving 48 votes, Henri Hélou (Democratic Gathering) 16, and Amin Gemayel 1, with 52 votes blank and 7 void. 86 votes were required to be elected. The second round on April 30 fails due to lack of a quorum (only 75 members present instead of the necessary 86); the third round is scheduled for May 7.

24

Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the president of Sakha, Yegor Borisov, and appoints him as acting head of the republic.

25

Palestine: Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah offers his resignation.

27

South Korea: Prime Minister Chung Hong Won offers his resignation.

29

Roberts

Falkland Islands: Colin Roberts takes office as governor.

30

Iraq: In parliamentary elections, the State of Law Alliance wins 92 of 328 seats, Sadrists 34, Mowatin 31, Mutahidun 28, the Kurdistan Democratic Party 25, Wataniyya 21, the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan 21, the Arabiyya Alliance 10, and Gorran (Change) 9. Turnout is about 62%.