Rulers

April 2016

1


Sarraj
Siala
China: Lin Duo is appointed acting governor of Gansu and Hu Heping acting governor of Shaanxi. On April 27 Hu is elected governor.
Congo (Kinshasa): José Makila Sumanda (independent) is elected governor of Sud-Ubangi. All new governors take office in the course of the month.
Haiti: François Anick Joseph takes office as interior minister.
Libya: The government of Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj (who is also chairman of a Presidential Council), including Mohamed Taha Siala as foreign minister (see February 14), appears to take control of Tripoli, replacing that of Khalifa al-Ghawail, whose resignation is reported (though apparently contradicted by a statement on April 6).

Berti
Ugolini
San Marino: Gian Nicola Berti (We Sammarinese) and Massimo Andrea Ugolini (Christian Democrat) take office as captains-regent.
Sint Eustatius: Julian Woodley becomes acting administrator.

2


Sarandji
Yacouba
Central African Republic: Simplice Sarandji is named prime minister. On April 11 his government is named including Charles Armel Doubane as foreign minister, Joseph Yakete as defense minister, Jean-Serge Bokassa as interior and public security minister, and Henri Marie Dondra as finance minister.
Niger: President Mahamadou Issoufou, sworn in for a second term, reappoints Brigi Rafini as prime minister. In the government named on April 11, Ibrahim Yacouba becomes foreign minister, Hassoumi Massoudou defense minister, and Mohamed Bazoum interior minister, while Saïdou Sidibé remains finance minister.

Tran
Nguyen
Vietnam: Tran Dai Quang is elected by 452 of 481 votes in parliament (subsequently ratified by 460 of 465 votes) and sworn in as president. On April 7 Nguyen Xuan Phuc is elected (446 of 490 votes) and sworn in as prime minister. The new cabinet is approved on April 9, including Ngo Xuan Lich as defense minister and Le Vinh Tan as home affairs minister; Pham Binh Minh remains foreign minister and Dinh Tien Dung finance minister.

3


Bin Daghr
Yemen: Aden-based president Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi appoints Gen. Ali Mohsin al-Ahmar as vice president and Ahmad Obaid Bin Daghr as prime minister; they are sworn in on April 4.

4


Prak
Cambodia: The National Assembly approves the cabinet reshuffle by which Prak Sokhonn becomes foreign minister.
Canada: In parliamentary elections in Saskatchewan, the Saskatchewan Party wins 62.5% of the vote (51 of 61 seats), the New Democrats 30.3% (10), and the Saskatchewan Liberals 3.6% (0). Turnout is 56.8%.

Mufti
India: Governor's rule in Jammu and Kashmir is lifted and Mehbooba Mufti sworn in as chief minister.

5

Cyprus: The prime minister of North Cyprus, Ömer Kalyoncu, resigns. On April 8 President Mustafa Akinci asks Hüseyin Özgürgün to form a government. On April 16 the government is announced with Tahsin Ertugruloglu as foreign minister, Kutlu Evren as interior minister, and Serdar Denktas as finance minister.

Jóhannsson
Alfredsdóttir
Iceland: The resignation of Prime Minister Sigmundur Davíd Gunnlaugsson is announced. He is to be replaced by Agriculture Minister Sigurdur Ingi Jóhannsson. Later in the day it is announced to be only a temporary replacement, but on April 7 Jóhannsson definitely becomes prime minister, with Lilja Dögg Alfredsdóttir becoming foreign minister. On April 8 a no-confidence vote against the government is defeated 38-25.
South Africa: Parliament rejects (233-143) an impeachment motion against President Jacob Zuma.
United States: In mayoral elections in Milwaukee, incumbent Tom Barrett wins 70.2% of the vote and Bob Donovan 29.8%.

6


Talon
Agbénonci
Benin: Patrice Talon is sworn in as president. His government (without a prime minister) includes Aurélien Agbénonci as foreign minister, Sacca Lafia as interior minister, Romuald Wadagni as finance minister, and Candide Azannaï as minister-delegate in charge of defense.
Iraq: Ali Allawi, who was nominated to be finance minister, withdraws his candidacy.
Ireland: No candidate for prime minister wins the required 79 votes in parliament, as Enda Kenny receives 51 votes, Micheál Martin 43, and Ruth Coppinger 10. In another failed attempt on April 14, Kenny receives 52 votes and Martin 43.
Switzerland: Paolo Beltraminelli becomes president of the Council of State of Ticino.

7

China: Chen Runer is elected governor of Henan.
Kosovo: Hashim Thaçi is sworn in as president.

Kasaila
Malawi: In a cabinet reshuffle, Francis Kasaila becomes foreign minister and Jappie Mhango home affairs minister.
Russia: President Vladimir Putin appoints Sergey Morozov, whose regular term would have expired April 8, as acting governor of Ulyanovsk oblast.

8


Silva
Tavares
Cabo Verde: Prospective prime minister Ulisses Correia e Silva presents his government with Luís Filipe Tavares to become foreign and defense minister, Olavo Correia finance minister, and Paulo Costa Rocha internal administration minister. The government takes office April 22.
Djibouti: In presidential elections, incumbent Ismail Omar Guelleh wins 87% of the vote and Omar Elmi Khaireh 7%.
Indonesia: The governor of Kepulauan Riau, Muhammad Sani, dies. On April 18 the deputy governor, Nurdin Basirun, is appointed as acting governor.

Mahafaly
Madagascar: The government of Prime Minister Jean Ravelonarivo resigns. On April 10 Interior Minister Solonandrasana Olivier Mahafaly is named prime minister. He takes office April 13. In the new government named April 15, Beni Xavier Rasolofonirina is defense minister, other key positions remaining unchanged.

9

Afghanistan: Parliament approves Gen. Taj Mohammad Jahid as interior minister.
Dominica: Former chief minister (1960-61) Frank Baron dies.

10

Austria: It is announced that Johanna Mikl-Leitner is to be replaced as interior minister by Wolfgang Sobotka. Sobotka is sworn in on April 21.
Chad: In presidential elections, incumbent Idriss Déby Itno wins 61.6% of the vote, Saleh Kebzabo 12.8%, Laoukein Kourayo Médard 10.7%, and Djimrangar Dadnadji 5.1%. Turnout is 76.1%.
Comoros: In the second round of presidential elections, former head of state Azali Assoumani is elected with 41% of the vote, defeating Vice President Mohamed Ali Soilihi (39.9%) and Grande Comore governor Mouigni Baraka Said Soilihi (19.1%). Turnout is 68.9%. Results of gubernatorial runoffs: Peru: In presidential elections, Keiko Fujimori wins 39.8% of the vote, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski 21%, Verónika Mendoza 18.8%, Alfredo Barnechea 7%, and Alan García 5.8%. Turnout is 81.9%. A runoff will be held on June 5.

Hroisman
Ukraine: Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk resigns. On April 14 parliament approves Volodymyr Hroisman as prime minister (257-50). Oleksandr Danylyuk becomes finance minister, the only change in a key portfolio.

11

Brunei: Former chief minister (1967-72) Dato Pengiran Muhammad Yusuf bin Abdul Rahim dies.

A. Tskhovrebov
Georgia: The foreign minister of South Ossetia, Kazbulat Tskhovrebov, resigns. Andrey Tskhovrebov is appointed acting minister on April 22.
India: In state elections in Assam held on April 4 and 11, the Indian National Congress wins 31% of the vote (26 of 126 seats), the Bharatiya Janata Party 29.5% (60), the All India United Democratic Front 13% (13), the Asom Gana Parishad 8.1% (14), and the Bodoland People's Front 3.9% (12). Turnout is 84.7%.

Jeenbekov
Kyrgyzstan: Prime Minister Temir Sariyev resigns. On April 13 Sooronbay Jeenbekov is approved as prime minister (115-0) with a government unchanged in key portfolios. (Having already taken office, the government is ceremonially sworn in on April 28.)

12

Iraq: Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi presents a new list of ministerial candidates to parliament. Falih al-Fayadh is candidate for foreign minister instead of Sharif Ali ibn al-Hussein and there is no candidate for finance minister.

13

South Korea: In parliamentary elections, the Saenuri Party wins 33.5% of the vote (122 of 300 seats), the People's Party 26.7% (38), the Minjoo Party 25.5% (123), and the Justice Party 7.2% (6). Turnout is 58%.
Lithuania: Tomas Zilinskas is appointed interior minister (sworn in April 14).
Syria: In parliamentary elections, the National Unity coalition (led by the ruling Ba`th Party) wins 200 of 250 seats.

14


Agüero
Honduras: Foreign Minister Arturo Corrales resigns. María Dolores Agüero subsequently becomes acting minister.

15

Liberia: Boima Kamara is appointed finance minister.
Taiwan: Premier-designate Lin Chuan names David Lee as foreign minister, Feng Shih-kuan as defense minister, and Sheu Yu-jer as finance minister. On April 28 he names Yeh Jiunn-rong as interior minister.

16

Nigeria: Former administrator of Akwa Ibom (1996-98) Joseph Adeusi dies.

17

Brazil: The Chamber of Deputies votes 367-137 in favour of impeachment proceedings against President Dilma Rousseff.

18

Lebanon: Parliament fails for the 38th time to elect a president, with only 53 members attending, short of the 86 needed for a quorum. The vote is postponed to May 10.
Malta: Parliament rejects (38-31) a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Joseph Muscat's government.

19

Canada: In parliamentary elections in Manitoba, the Progressive Conservative Party wins 53.4% of the vote (40 of 57 seats), the New Democratic Party 25.6% (14), the Liberal Party 14.2% (3), and the Green Party 5.2% (0). Turnout is 58.8%.
Chile: Former president (1990-94) Patricio Aylwin Azócar dies.
Jordan: Mazen Qadi is appointed interior minister in a cabinet reshuffle.

Saleumxay
Laos: Boungnang Vorachith is elected president, Phankham Viphavanh vice president, and Thongloun Sisoulith prime minister. The new cabinet includes Saleumxay Kommasith as foreign minister, Lt.Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath as defense minister, and Somdy Douangdy as finance minister; Khammanh Sounvileuth remains home affairs minister.

20

Egypt: Parliament passes a vote of confidence in the cabinet of Prime Minister Sherif Ismail (433-38).

21

Germany: Former mayor of Bremen (1967-85) Hans Koschnick dies.
India: The High Court of Uttarakhand invalidates the president's rule imposed on the state on March 27 and revives the cabinet of Chief Minister Harish Rawat. On April 22, however, the Supreme Court stays the High Court decision and restores president's rule.

Telnov
Russia: The Legislative Assembly of Karelia approves Oleg Telnov as prime minister.

22

Colombia: All cabinet ministers resign in preparation for a reshuffle. However, in the new government named on April 25, María Ángela Holguín remains foreign minister, Luis Carlos Villegas defense minister, Juan Fernando Cristo interior minister, and Mauricio Cárdenas finance minister.

23


Mouamba
Congo (Brazzaville): President Denis Sassou-Nguesso names Clément Mouamba as prime minister. In the new government named April 30, Calixte Nganongo becomes finance minister, other key positions being unchanged.
Thailand: Former prime minister (1995-96) Banharn Silpa-archa dies.

24

Austria: In presidential elections, Norbert Hofer (Freedom Party) wins 35.1% of the vote, Alexander Van der Bellen (Greens/independent) 21.3%, Irmgard Griss (independent) 18.9%, Rudolf Hundstorfer (Social Democratic Party) 11.3%, Andreas Khol (People's Party) 11.1%, and Richard Lugner (independent) 2.3%. Turnout is 68.5%. A runoff will be held on May 22.
Equatorial Guinea: In presidential elections, incumbent Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea) wins 93.7% of the vote. Turnout is 93%.
Serbia: In parliamentary elections, the Serbia Wins coalition led by the Serbian Progressive Party wins 49.7% of the vote (131 of 250 seats), the coalition led by the Socialist Party of Serbia 11.3% (29), the Serbian Radical Party 8.3% (22), Enough is Enough 6.2% (16), the For a Just Serbia coalition 6.2% (16), the Dveri-Democratic Party of Serbia coalition 5.2% (13), and the Alliance for a Better Serbia 5.2% (13). Turnout is 56.1%.

25

Australia: Former premier of New South Wales (1975-76) Thomas Lancelot Lewis dies.

Phillips
Saint Helena: Lisa Phillips is sworn in as governor.

26

Slovakia: The government of Prime Minister Robert Fico wins a confidence vote in parliament (79-61).
South Sudan: Riek Machar is sworn in as vice president.
Spain: King Felipe VI announces that there is no candidate able to form a government, setting the stage for new elections on June 26.

27

Guernsey: In parliamentary elections, 38 nonpartisan members are elected. Turnout is 71.9%.
Montenegro: Foreign Minister Igor Luksic resigns.
Russia: Former head of the administration of Krasnoyarsk kray (1993-98) Valery Zubov dies.

28

Papua New Guinea: The governor of Hela, Anderson Agiru, dies.
South Sudan: President Salva Kiir names a new cabinet with Deng Alor as foreign minister and Alfred Lado Gore as interior minister; Kuol Manyang remains defense minister and David Deng Athorbei finance minister.

29

Switzerland: Former president of the government of Basel-Stadt (1978-79, 1984-85, 1991-92) Karl Schnyder dies.