Rulers
May 2017
1
Switzerland: Jacques Melly becomes president of the Council of State of Valais and Markus Kägi president of the government of Zürich.
United States: Former governor of Washington (1993-97) Mike Lowry dies.
2
Czech Republic: Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka announces his government's resignation. However, on May 5 he reverses his decision, asking only for the dismissal of Finance Minister Andrej Babis. On May 17 Sobotka accepts Ivan Pilný as finance minister nominee. Pilný is appointed on May 24.
Uganda: Former member of the Presidential Commission (1980) Yoweri Hunter Wacha-Olwol dies.
3
British Virgin Islands: Gus Jaspert is appointed governor, to take office in August.
Zaharieva |
Bulgaria: Boyko Borisov's proposed cabinet is announced, with Ekaterina Zaharieva as foreign minister, Krasimir Karakachanov as defense minister, Valentin Radev as interior minister, and Vladislav Goranov as finance minister. On May 4 Borisov (133-100) and the cabinet (134-101) are approved by parliament and sworn in.
Spain: Fernando López Miras takes office as president of Murcia.
4
Tebboune | 
Messahel |
Algeria: In parliamentary elections, the National Liberation Front wins 27.7% of the vote (161 of 462 seats), the National Rally for Democracy 16.1% (100), the Movement of Society for Peace-Front of Change 6.6% (34), the Rally of Algerian Hope 4.5% (20), and smaller parties and independents 45.1% (147). Turnout is 35.4%. On May 24 President Abdelaziz Bouteflika appoints Abdelmadjid Tebboune as prime minister. On May 25 Tebboune takes office and the government is named with Abdelkader Messahel as foreign minister, Abderrahmane Raouya as finance minister, and Noureddine Bedoui continuing as interior minister; Bouteflika keeps the defense portfolio.
Nepal: Home Minister Bimalendra Nidhi withdraws his resignation.
5
China: Former chairman of the government of Nei Mongol (1982-93) Bu He dies.
Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Haut-Lomami passes a motion of no confidence in Governor Célestin Mbuyu Kabango Mukolwe (18-3).
Mauritania: Former head of state (2005-07) Ely Ould Mohamed Vall dies.
6
Niue: In parliamentary elections, 20 nonpartisan members are elected. On May 12 Sir Toke Talagi is reelected as premier, defeating O'Love Jacobsen 15-5. On May 16 the cabinet is announced with no change in key portfolios.
United States: In mayoral elections in El Paso, Dee Margo wins 45.3% of the vote, David Saucedo 24%, and Emma Acosta 15.9%. In San Antonio, incumbent Ivy Taylor wins 42% of the vote, Ron Nirenberg 37.1%, and Manuel Medina 15.1%. Runoffs are to be held June 10.
7
France: In the presidential runoff, Emmanuel Macron wins 66.1% of the vote and Marine Le Pen 33.9%. Turnout is 74.6%. In a post-election formality the government resigns on May 10. Macron takes office May 14. On May 15 he appoints Édouard Philippe as prime minister. The cabinet is named on May 17 with Jean-Yves Le Drian as foreign minister, Sylvie Goulard as armies minister, Gérard Collomb as interior minister, and Bruno Le Maire as economy minister.
Germany: In state elections in Schleswig-Holstein, the Christian Democratic Union wins 32.0% of the vote (25 of 69 seats), the Social Democratic Party 27.2% (21), the Greens 12.9% (10), the Free Democratic Party 11.5% (9), the Alternative for Germany 5.9% (5), the Left 3.8% (0), and the South Schleswig Voters Association 3.3% (3). Turnout is 64.2%.
Kazakhstan: Former chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the Kazakh S.S.R. (1988) Zakash Kamalidenov dies.
8
Cyprus: Konstantinos Petridis is appointed interior minister (sworn in May 11).
Muselier |
France: Christian Estrosi announces his resignation as president of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. On May 15 Renaud Muselier becomes acting president, and he is elected president (81-0) on May 29.
9
Brazil: David Almeida becomes governor of Amazonas following the removal of José Melo de Oliveira by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal.
Canada: In parliamentary elections in British Columbia, the Liberal Party wins 40.4% of the vote (43 of 87 seats), the New Democratic Party 40.3% (41), and the Green Party 16.8% (3).
China: Former foreign minister (1988-98) Qian Qichen dies.
Tshibala |
Congo (Kinshasa): Bruno Tshibala's government is announced with no change in key positions. Parliament approves the government (336-0) on May 16. Tshibala takes office May 18.
Indonesia: Djarot Saiful Hidayat is appointed acting governor of Jakarta following the imprisonment of Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama. Purnama resigns on May 23.
Moon | 
Lee |
South Korea: In presidential elections, Moon Jae In wins 41.1% of the vote, Hong Joon Pyo 25.5%, and Ahn Cheol Soo 21.4%. Moon is sworn in on May 10 and designates Lee Nak Yon as prime minister. On May 11 Moon accepts the resignation of Prime Minister Hwang Kyo Ahn and Yoo Il Ho becomes acting prime minister. On May 21 Moon nominates Kang Kyung Wha as foreign minister and Kim Dong Yeon as finance minister, and on May 30 Kim Boo Kyum as interior minister. On May 31 parliament endorses Lee Nak Yon as prime minister (164-20).
United States: In mayoral elections in Omaha, incumbent Jean Stothert wins 53.2% of the vote and Heath Mello 46.6%.
10
Minnis | 
Henfield |
The Bahamas: In parliamentary elections, the Free National Movement wins about 57% of the vote (35 of 39 seats) and the Progressive Liberal Party about 37% (4). Turnout is about 87%. Hubert Minnis is sworn in as prime minister on May 11. On May 12 Peter Turnquest is appointed and sworn in as finance minister. The full cabinet is sworn in on May 15, with Darren Henfield as foreign minister and Marvin Dames as national security minister.
Bosnia and Herzegovina: Former president of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (2002-03) Safet Halilovic dies.
Kosovo: In a no-confidence vote (78-25), parliament dismisses the government of Prime Minister Isa Mustafa.
Cayetano |
Philippines: Alan Peter Cayetano is appointed foreign secretary. He is confirmed in the Senate on May 17 and sworn in on May 18.
11
Rhuggenaath |
Curaçao: Eugene Rhuggenaath is named formateur of a new government. On May 29 he is sworn in as prime minister, with Kenneth Gijsbertha as finance minister.
Papua New Guinea: Patrick Pruaitch is removed as treasurer and the portfolio is assumed by Prime Minister Peter O'Neill.
The Sudan: The cabinet of Prime Minister Bakri Hassan Saleh is announced with Hamed Mannan as interior minister and Mohamed Osman al-Rikabi as finance minister, the foreign and defense ministers keeping their posts. The ministers are sworn in on May 12.
United States: The Senate confirms Robert Lighthizer as trade representative (82-14). He is sworn in on May 15.
12
Finland: Former prime minister (1968-70, 1979-82) and president (1982-94) Mauno Koivisto dies.
Indonesia: The following new governors are sworn in: Erzaldi Rosman Djohan (Bangka-Belitung), Wahidin Halim (Banten), Rusli Habibie (Gorontalo), Dominggus Mandacan (Papua Barat), and Andi Ali Baal Masdar (Sulawesi Barat).
14
Germany: In state elections in Nordrhein-Westfalen, the Christian Democratic Union wins 33.0% of the vote (72 of 199 seats), the Social Democratic Party 31.2% (69), the Free Democratic Party 12.6% (28), the Alternative for Germany 7.4% (16), the Greens 6.4% (14), and the Left 4.9% (0). Turnout is 65.2%.
15
Bermuda: Former premier (1995-97) David Saul dies.
India: Former chief minister of Pondicherry (1974, 1977-78) Subramanyan Ramaswamy dies.
16
Georgia: Erik Pukhayev is appointed prime minister of South Ossetia.
17
Zaev | 
Dimitrov |
Macedonia: President Gjorge Ivanov gives a mandate to Zoran Zaev to form a government. On May 29 Zaev announces his cabinet, including Nikola Dimitrov as foreign minister, Radmila Sekerinska as defense minister, Oliver Spasovski as interior minister, and Dragan Tevdovski as finance minister. On May 31 the cabinet is confirmed by parliament (62-44) and Zaev is sworn in.
United Kingdom: Former first minister of Wales (2000-09) Rhodri Morgan dies.
18
Armenia: Karen Karapetyan is reappointed as prime minister.
19
Iran: In presidential elections, incumbent Hassan Rouhani wins 58.8% of the vote and Ebrahim Raisi 39.4%. Turnout is about 73%.
Libya: Defense Minister Mahdi al-Barghathi is suspended.
Switzerland: Former president of the Council of State of Ticino (1985-86, 1988-89) Claudio Generali dies.
Timor-Leste: Former governor of Timor Timur (1983-92) Mário Viegas Carrascalão dies.
20
Russia: Former prime minister (1993-95), chairman of the State Council (1995-2000), and president (2000-14) of Udmurtia Aleksandr Volkov dies.
Guterres |
Timor-Leste: Francisco Guterres takes office as president.
21
Comoros: Former foreign minister (1997) Mouhtar Ahmed Charif dies.
22
Albania: Parliament approves a cabinet reshuffle, with Dritan Demiraj becoming interior minister and Helga Vukaj finance minister.
Karunanayake |
Sri Lanka: In a cabinet reshuffle, Ravi Karunanayake becomes foreign minister and Mangala Samaraweera finance minister.
23
World Health Organization: Tedros Adhanom (Ethiopia) is elected director-general, to take office July 1.
24
Cayman Islands: In parliamentary elections, independents win 44.7% of the vote (9 of 19 seats), the People's Progressive Movement 31.2% (7), and the Cayman Democratic Party 24.1% (3). Turnout is 74.8%. On May 31 a government is sworn in with Alden McLaughlin again as premier, the ministerial portfolios to be announced later.
Moreno | 
Espinosa |
Ecuador: Lenín Moreno takes office as president. María Fernanda Espinosa becomes foreign minister, Miguel Carvajal defense minister, César Navas interior minister, and Carlos de la Torre economy and finance minister.
Nepal: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal announces his resignation.
United States: Terry Branstad resigns as governor of Iowa. Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds is sworn in as governor.
25
Colombia: Guillermo Rivera Flórez is named interior minister.
Georgia: Dmitry Medoyev is appointed foreign minister of South Ossetia.
26
Congo (Kinshasa): The Constitutional Court nullifies the no-confidence motion of April 18 against the governor of Haut-Katanga, Jean-Claude Kazembe Musonda, and reinstalls him in his office immediately.
Nigeria: Former administrator of Ekiti (1996-98) and Gombe (1998-99) Mohammed Bawa dies.
United States: Former national security advisor (1977-81) Zbigniew Brzezinski dies.
27
Argentina: Former governor of San Juan (1976-78) Alberto Vicente Lombardi dies.
China: Chen Jining is appointed acting mayor of Beijing.
28
Chad: Former foreign minister (1991-92) Mahamat Saleh Ahmat dies.
29
Argentina: Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra resigns. Jorge Faurie is named foreign minister, to take office June 12.
Greece: Former foreign minister (1980-81, 1992) and prime minister (1990-93) Konstantinos Mitsotakis dies.
Panama: Former de facto ruler (1983-89) Manuel Noriega dies.
30
Canada: In parliamentary elections in Nova Scotia, the Liberal Party wins 39.5% of the vote (27 of 51 seats), the Progressive Conservative Party 35.8% (17), and the New Democratic Party 21.4% (7). Turnout is 53.6%.
Germany: The minister-president of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Erwin Sellering, resigns.
Serbia: Aleksandar Vucic resigns as prime minister to take office as president. On May 31 the National Assembly acknowledges his resignation and Ivica Dacic becomes acting prime minister; later that day Vucic is sworn in as president.
Switzerland: Laurent Favre becomes president of the Council of State of Neuchâtel.
