Rulers
November 2015
1
Azerbaijan: In parliamentary elections, the ruling New Azerbaijan party wins 70 of 125 seats and independents 43. Turnout is 55.5%.
Germany: Former first secretary of the Socialist Unity Party of East Berlin (1985-89) Günter Schabowski dies.
Mexico: Ramón Pérez Díaz takes office as interim governor of Colima (until Jan. 18, 2016).
Turkey: In parliamentary elections, the Justice and Development Party wins 49.5% of the vote (317 of 550 seats), the Republican People's Party 25.3% (134), the Nationalist Movement Party 11.9% (40), and the People's Democratic Party 10.8% (59). Turnout is 85.2%. On November 17 President Recep Tayyip Erdogan asks Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to form a new government. Announced on November 24, it includes Mevlüt Çavusoglu as foreign minister, Ismet Yilmaz as defense minister, Efkan Ala as interior minister, and Naci Agbal as finance minister. The government wins a confidence vote in parliament on November 30 (315-194).
3
Iraq: Former president of the Governing Council (2003) Ahmad Chalabi dies.
United States: In gubernatorial elections in Kentucky, Matt Bevin (Republican) defeats Jack Conway (Democrat), 53%-44%. In Mississippi, incumbent Phil Bryant (Rep.) defeats Robert Gray (Dem.), 67%-32%. Results of mayoral elections:
- Akron: Dan Horrigan (Dem.) defeats Eddie Sipplen (Rep.), 72%-24%.
- Boise: Incumbent David H. Bieter (Dem.) defeats Judy Peavey-Derr (Rep.), 69%-26%.
- Charlotte: Jennifer Roberts (Dem.) defeats Edwin Peacock (Rep.), 52%-48%.
- Columbus: Andrew J. Ginther (Dem.) defeats Zach Scott (Dem.), 59%-40%.
- Des Moines: Incumbent Frank Cownie (Dem.) defeats Anthony Taylor, 80%-19%.
- Hartford: Luke Bronin (Dem.) defeats Joel Cruz, Jr., 76%-18%.
- Houston: Sylvester Turner (Dem.) leads Bill King (Rep.) and Adrian Garcia (Dem.), 32%-25%-17%; a runoff is to take place December 12.
- Indianapolis: Joe Hogsett (Dem.) defeats Chuck Brewer (Rep.), 62%-38%.
- Philadelphia: Jim Kenney (Dem.) defeats Melissa Murray Bailey (Rep.), 85%-13%.
- Salt Lake City: Jackie Biskupski (Dem.) defeats incumbent Ralph Becker (Dem.), 52%-48%.
- San Francisco: Incumbent Edwin M. Lee (Dem.) defeats Francisco Herrera (Green) and Amy Farah Weiss, 57%-14%-12%.
- Toledo: Incumbent Paula Hicks-Hudson (Dem.) defeats Mike Bell, Carty Finkbeiner (Dem.), Sandy Drabik Collins, and Sandy Spang, 35%-17%-16%-15%-11%.
- Tucson: Incumbent Jonathan Rothschild (Dem.) is reelected with 93% of the vote.
4
Belize: In parliamentary elections, the ruling United Democratic Party wins about 20 of 31 seats and the People's United Party about 11. Prime Minister Dean Barrow's new cabinet, named on November 9, is unchanged in key positions.
Trudeau | 
Dion |
Canada: Justin Trudeau is sworn in as prime minister, followed by his cabinet including Stéphane Dion as foreign minister, Harjit Sajjan as defence minister, Ralph Goodale as public safety minister, and Bill Morneau as finance minister.
Kyrgyzstan: A new government is presented, again headed by Temir Sariyev and with Erlan Abdyldayev to remain foreign minister, Melis Turganbayev interior minister, and Adylbek Kasymaliyev finance minister. It is approved by parliament on November 5; the same day the president appoints Marat Kenzhisariyev as head of the State Committee for Defense, replacing the Defense Ministry.
Cîmpeanu | 
Ciolos |
Romania: Prime Minister Victor Ponta resigns. On November 5 Sorin Cîmpeanu is appointed interim prime minister. On November 10 Dacian Ciolos is nominated as new prime minister. On November 15 he names his government including Lazar Comanescu as foreign minister, Mihnea Motoc as defense minister, Petre Toba as interior minister, and Anca Paliu Dragu as finance minister. On November 17 the government is approved by parliament (389-115) and sworn in.
5
India: In state elections in Bihar held October 12, 16, 28 and November 1 and 5, the Bharatiya Janata Party wins 24.4% of the vote (53 of 243 seats), the Rashtriya Janata Dal 18.4% (80), the Janata Dal (United) 16.8% (71), and the Indian National Congress 6.7% (27). Turnout is 56.8%.
Nepal: Bhim Bahadur Rawal is appointed defense minister and Bishnu Poudel finance minister.
Poland: Former prime minister (1989) Czeslaw Kiszczak dies.
Tanzania: John Magufuli is sworn in as president (with Samia Suluhu Hassan as vice president). On November 19 he nominates Kassim Majaliwa as prime minister, who is sworn in on November 20.
6
Brazil: Former governor of Ceará (2002-03) Benedito Clayton Veras Alcântara dies.
7
Israel: Former president (1978-83) Yitzhak Navon dies.
Nigeria: An election tribunal declares Aisha Alhassan as the lawfully elected governor of Taraba instead of Darius Dickson Ishaku.
8
Croatia: In parliamentary elections, the Patriotic Coalition (led by the Croatian Democratic Union) wins 59 of 151 seats, the Croatia is Growing coalition (led by the Social Democrats) 56, and Bridge of Independent Lists 19. Turnout is 60.8%.
India: Former governor of Maharashtra (1980-82) and Rajasthan (1982-85) Om Prakash Mehra dies.
Myanmar: In parliamentary elections, the National League for Democracy wins 255 of 330 elective seats in the House of Representatives (with military-appointed members, there are 440 total seats) and 135 of 168 elective seats in the House of Nationalities (224 total). The Union Solidarity and Development Party wins 30 and 12 seats respectively in the two houses, the Arakan National Party 12 and 10, and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy 12 and 3.
Yemen: Former prime minister (1980-83) and foreign minister (1984-90) of Yemen (Sana) and foreign minister (1990-93, 1994-98) and prime minister (1998-2001) of Yemen Abdul Karim al-Iryani dies.
9
Jordan: Omar Zuhair Malhas is appointed finance minister.
Paraguay: Diógenes Martínez is named defense minister (sworn in November 10).
Szydlo | 
Waszczykowski |
Poland: Beata Szydlo is nominated as prime minister, with Witold Waszczykowski to be foreign minister, Antoni Macierewicz defense minister, Mariusz Blaszczak interior minister, and Pawel Szalamacha finance minister. The government is sworn in on November 16.
10
Curaçao: Prime Minister Bernard Whiteman resigns. On November 16 he is asked to form a new cabinet. He succeeds on November 23; only two new ministers are sworn in on November 30.
Germany: Former chancellor of West Germany (1974-82) Helmut Schmidt dies.
Maldives: Parliament approves Adam Shareef Umar as defense minister.
Federated States of Micronesia: In gubernatorial elections in Pohnpei, incumbent Marcelo K. Peterson wins 36.2% of the vote, Akillino H. Susaia 31.3%, Feliciano M. Perma 19%, and Herman P. Semes 13.3%.
Costa | 
A.S. Silva |
Portugal: Parliament passes a no-confidence vote (123-107) against Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho's government. On November 23 President Aníbal Cavaco Silva asks António Costa to form a government. On November 25 Costa nominates Augusto Santos Silva as foreign minister, José Alberto Azeredo Lopes as defense minister, Constança Urbano de Sousa as interior minister, and Mário Centeno as finance minister. The new government is sworn in on November 26.
11
Lebanon: Another attempt at electing a president fails for lack of a quorum, the next being set for December 2.
Macedonia: Parliament approves a cabinet reshuffle that includes Oliver Spasovski becoming interior minister.
Onyeama |
Nigeria: A new cabinet is sworn in including Geoffrey Onyeama as foreign minister, Mansur Dan-Ali as defense minister, Abdulrahman Dambazau as interior minister, and Kemi Adeosun as finance minister.
Nigeria: A new emir of Borgu is appointed, Muhammad Sani Haliru Dantoro Kitoro IV.
Venezuela: Former foreign minister (1989) Enrique Tejera París dies.
12
Konrote |
Fiji: Jioji Konrote is sworn in as president.
Mexico: Former governor of Aguascalientes (1974-80) J. Refugio Esparza Reyes dies.
16
Marshall Islands: In parliamentary elections, several cabinet members including Foreign Minister Tony deBrum lose their seats. Turnout is about 46%.
Uganda: Rose Akol is named internal affairs minister.
19
Guinea: President Alpha Condé dismisses Interior Minister Mamoudou Cissé.
India: Former governor of Gujarat (1986-90) Ram Krishna Trivedi dies.
Marlin |
Sint Maarten: William Marlin is sworn in as prime minister with a cabinet including Richard Gibson, Sr., as finance minister.
21
Nigeria: In gubernatorial elections in Kogi, Abubakar Audu (All Progressives Congress) leads incumbent Idris Wada (People's Democratic Party), but re-run polls are ordered in several polling units. Audu, a former governor (1992-93, 1999-2003), dies on November 22.
United States: In the gubernatorial runoff in Louisiana, John Bel Edwards (Democrat) wins 56.1% of the vote and David Vitter (Republican) 43.9%.
22
Argentina: In the presidential runoff, Mauricio Macri wins 51.4% of the vote and Daniel Scioli 48.6%. Macri, who is to take office December 10, already designated Marcos Peña as cabinet chief, and on November 24 Susana Malcorra is announced to be foreign minister, Julio Martínez defense minister, Rogelio Frigerio interior minister, and Alfonso Prat-Gay finance minister.
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Osaka, incumbent Ichiro Matsui wins 64.1% of the vote and Takako Kurihara 33.3%. Turnout is 45.5%.
South Korea: Former president (1993-98) Kim Young Sam dies.
23
Brazil: Former governor of Bahia (1963-67) Antônio Lomanto Júnior dies.
Canada: In parliamentary elections in the Northwest Territories, 19 nonpartisan members are elected (including one unopposed). Turnout is 43.6%.
24
Pakistan: Mir Ghazanfar Ali Khan is sworn in as governor of Gilgit-Baltistan.
Moli |
Vanuatu: Havo Moli is appointed foreign minister.
25
Sjögren |
Finland: Katrin Sjögren (Liberal) is elected lantråd of the Åland Islands (18-5).
Kosovo: Former secretary of the Central Committee of the League of Communists (1965-71, 1981-82) Velli Deva dies.
26
Gibraltar: In parliamentary elections, the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party wins 68.4% of the vote (10 of 17 seats) and the Gibraltar Social Democrats 31.6% (7). Turnout is 70.8%.
Mardanov |
Russia: Rustem Mardanov is appointed prime minister of Bashkortostan.
27
The Commonwealth: Patricia Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal, is chosen as the next secretary-general, to take office April 1, 2016.
28
United States: Former governor of Utah (2003-05) Olene Walker dies.
29
Burkina Faso: In presidential elections, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré wins 53.5% of the vote and Zéphirin Diabré 29.7%. Turnout is 60%.
Uzbekistan: Former prime minister (1995-2003) Otkir Sultonov dies.
30
Canada: In parliamentary elections in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Liberal Party wins 57.2% of the vote (31 of 40 seats), the Progressive Conservative Party 30.1% (7), and the New Democratic Party 12.1% (2).
India: Former raja of Tigiria (1943-47) Brajraj Kshatriya Birbar Chamupati Singh and former governor of Manipur (1993-94) and Nagaland (1993-94) V.K. Nayar die.
United States: The mayor of Juneau, Greg Fisk, dies. Mary Becker becomes acting mayor.
