Rulers
April 2015
1
Andorra: Prime Minister Antoni Martí Petit takes office with a cabinet unchanged in key positions.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Fadil Novalic takes office as prime minister of the Federation.
Libya: The dismissed prime minister of the Tripoli-based government, Omar al-Hassi, hands over to First Deputy Prime Minister Khalifa al-Ghawail, who is to head a caretaker government for a month.
New Caledonia: Philippe Germain is elected as president of the government by 6 of its 11 members, against 1 vote for Cynthia Ligeard and 1 abstention; 3 are absent.
Belluzzi | 
Venturini |
San Marino: Andrea Belluzzi (Party of Socialists and Democrats) and Roberto Venturini (Christian Democrat) take office as captains-regent.
2
Lebanon: Parliament again fails to meet a quorum for the election of a president, which is postponed to April 22, and on that date to May 13.
Cateriano | 
Sánchez |
Peru: Pedro Cateriano is sworn in as prime minister. Jakke Valakivi replaces him as defense minister. Ana María Sánchez becomes foreign minister. On April 27 Cateriano wins a parliamentary confidence vote (73-10 with 39 abstentions).
4
India: Keshari Nath Tripathi is sworn in as governor of Mizoram.
5
Renauld |
Haiti: Foreign Minister Duly Brutus resigns. Defense Minister Lener Renauld takes office as interim foreign minister on April 27.
6
Afghanistan: President Ashraf Ghani nominates Gen. Mohammad Afzal Lodin as defense minister. However, Lodin withdraws from consideration on April 8.
7
France: Former acting president of the Regional Council of Centre (2000, 2007) Jean Germain commits suicide.
Iraq: Former president of the Governing Council (2003 [acting], 2004) Muhammad Bahr al-Uloum dies.
United States: Former governor of Montana (1962-69) Tim M. Babcock dies.
United States: In the mayoral runoff in Chicago, incumbent Rahm Emanuel wins 56.2% of the vote and Jesús García 43.8%; turnout is 40.7%. In mayoral elections in Anchorage, Ethan Berkowitz wins 37% of the vote, Amy Demboski 24.1%, Andrew Halcro 21.6%, and Dan Coffey 14.4%; turnout is 26.8%. A runoff will be held on May 5. In Las Vegas, incumbent Carolyn Goodman wins 54.5% of the vote and Stavros Anthony 42%; turnout is 15.6%.
8
Estonia: Parliament approves (58-40) the new government (sworn in April 9) with Keit Pentus-Rosimannus remaining foreign minister, Sven Mikser defense minister, and Hanno Pevkur interior minister, while Sven Sester becomes finance minister.
9
Slovenia: Defense Minister Janko Veber is ousted by parliament (68-11). Agriculture Minister Dejan Zidan becomes acting defense minister. On April 21 Andreja Katic is designated as new defense minister.
10
Gabon: Former interim president (2009) Rose Francine Rogombé dies.
Malawi: In a cabinet reshuffle, Atupele Muluzi is named home affairs and internal security minister.
Tuvalu: Enele Sopoaga is again sworn in as prime minister. The cabinet is unchanged in key positions.
United States: Former governor of Arizona (1975-77) Raul H. Castro dies.
12
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Hokkaido, incumbent Harumi Takahashi wins 56.6% of the vote and Noriyuki Sato 43.4%. In Oita, incumbent Katsusada Hirose wins 62.2% and Ban Kugimiya 32.4%. Incumbents also win in Fukui, Fukuoka, Kanagawa, Mie, Nara, Shimane, Tokushima, and Tottori, without major opposition.
13
Kyrgyzstan: President Almazbek Atambayev accepts the resignation of Finance Minister Olga Lavrova. On April 22 Almaz Baketayev is appointed acting finance minister.
South Sudan: Interior Minister Aleu Ayieny Aleu is dismissed.
The Sudan: In presidential elections, incumbent Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir wins 94% of the vote. In parliamentary elections, the National Congress Party wins 323 of 426 seats. Turnout is 46.4%.
Yemen: Exiled president Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi appoints Prime Minister Khaled Bahah as vice president.
14
Equatorial Guinea: In a cabinet reshuffle, Miguel Engonga Obiang Eyang is named finance minister.
United States: Former governor of Utah (1985-93) Norman H. Bangerter dies.
15
Germany: Olaf Scholz is reelected first mayor of Hamburg (75-44).
Germany: Former first secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of Magdeburg (1979-83) Kurt Tiedke dies.
Vlah |
Moldova: Irina Vlah is sworn in as governor of Gagauzia.
Nepal: Former prime minister (1963-64, 1965-69, 1979-83, 1997-98, 2003-04) and foreign minister (1981-82, 2003-04) Surya Bahadur Thapa dies.
16
Czech Republic: Former prime minister (2004-05) Stanislav Gross dies.
Russia: President Vladimir Putin appoints Aman Tuleyev, whose regular term would have expired on April 20, as acting governor of Kemerovo oblast.
19
Akinci |
Cyprus: In the first round of presidential elections in North Cyprus, incumbent Dervis Eroglu wins 28.2% of the vote, Mustafa Akinci 26.9%, Sibel Siber 22.5%, and Kudret Özersay 21.2%; turnout is 62.3%. The runoff takes place April 26, Akinci winning 60.5% and Eroglu 39.5%; turnout is 64.1%. Akinci is sworn in on April 30.
Finland: In parliamentary elections, the Centre Party wins 21.1% of the vote (49 of 200 seats), the National Coalition Party 18.2% (37), the Finns Party 17.6% (38), the Social Democratic Party 16.5% (34), the Green League 8.5% (15), the Left Alliance 7.1% (12), the Swedish People's Party 4.9% (9), and the Christian Democrats 3.5% (5). Turnout is 66.8%. On April 28 Prime Minister Alexander Stubb resigns and President Sauli Niinistö asks Juha Sipilä to form a new government.
Finland: Former governor of Pohjois-Karjala (1967-92) Esa Timonen dies.
20
South Korea: Prime Minister Lee Wan Koo offers his resignation. It is accepted by President Park Geun Hye on April 27. Deputy Prime Minister Choi Kyung Hwan becomes acting prime minister.
Portugal: Former foreign minister (1985-87) Pedro Pires de Miranda dies.
Albuquerque |
Portugal: Miguel Albuquerque takes office as president of the government of Madeira.
21
India: Former chief minister of Orissa (1980-89, 1995-99) and governor of Assam (2009-14) Janaki Ballabh Patnaik dies.
22
Banks |
Anguilla: In parliamentary elections, the Anguilla United Front wins 54.5% of the vote (6 of 7 seats), the Anguilla United Movement 38.2% (0), and independents 5.9% (1). Turnout is 73.2%. On April 23 Victor Banks is sworn in as chief minister.
Hurley | 
Kondratyev |
Cook Islands: Nick Hurley is named high commissioner.
Georgia: The foreign minister of South Ossetia, David Sanakoyev, is dismissed and Kazbulat Tskhovrebov appointed acting minister.
Indonesia: Triyono Budi Sasongko is appointed acting governor of Kalimantan Utara.
Russia: Veniamin Kondratyev is appointed acting head of the administration of Krasnodar kray.
23
Kyrgyzstan: Prime Minister Joomart Otorbayev resigns. On April 30 parliament approves Temir Sariyev as prime minister (97-2). Adylbek Kasymaliyev is named finance minister, other key posts being unchanged.
Switzerland: Norman Gobbi becomes president of the Council of State of Ticino.
United States: The Senate confirms Loretta Lynch as attorney general (56-43). She is sworn in on April 27.
24
Poland: Former foreign minister (1995, 2000-01) Wladyslaw Bartoszewski dies.
25
Tajikistan: Former chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Tadzhik S.S.R. (1986-90) and prime minister (1991-92) Izatullo Khayoyev dies.
Togo: In presidential elections, incumbent Faure Gnassingbé wins 58.8% of the vote and Jean-Pierre Fabre 35.2%. Turnout is 60.9%.
26
Argentina: In gubernatorial elections in Neuquén, Omar Gutiérrez (Neuquén Popular Movement) wins 37.8% of the vote, Ramón Rioseco (Front for Victory) 28.8%, and Horacio Quiroga (Alianza Nuevo Compromiso Neuquino) 19.4%.
Benin: In parliamentary elections, the Cauri Forces for an Emerging Benin win 32 of 83 seats, Union Makes the Nation 15, the Party of Democratic Renewal 10, and Rebirth of Benin-Party for Revival 7. Turnout is 65.9%.
Kazakhstan: In presidential elections, incumbent Nursultan Nazarbayev wins 97.7% of the vote. Turnout is 95.1%. Nazarbayev reappoints Karim Masimov as prime minister on April 29 and names an unchanged government on April 30.
Switzerland: Roland Inauen is elected Regierender Landammann of Appenzell Innerrhoden.
27
Mohamed |
Comoros: In a cabinet reshuffle, Abdoulkarim Mohamed becomes foreign minister and Houmed Msaidié interior minister.
Switzerland: Former president of the Small Council of Graubünden (1953, 1957) Ettore Tenchio dies.
29
Georgia: The resignation of a seventh minister brings about the automatic dissolution of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili's government.
India: Former acting governor of Rajasthan (1990) Milap Chand Jain dies.
Jubeir |
Saudi Arabia: In a cabinet reshuffle, Adel al-Jubeir replaces Saud Al Faysal as foreign minister.
Togo: Former foreign minister (1984-87) Atsu Koffi Amega dies.
United States: Former governor of Illinois (1973-77) Daniel Walker dies.
30
Sweden: Former foreign minister (1982-85) Lennart Bodström dies.
