Rulers
December 2017
1
Guadeloupe: Former president of the Regional Council (1980-81) Robert Pentier dies.
Mexico: Miguel Ángel Riquelme takes office as governor of Coahuila.
New Caledonia: In the fourth attempt, the government reelects Philippe Germain as president (10 of 11 votes). On December 6 the allocation of portfolios is announced with Nicolas Metzdorf as budget minister.
Norway: Former governor of Nordland (1991-2007) Åshild Hauan dies.
Slovakia: Milan Majerský takes office as governor of Presovský kraj.
United States: Tim Keller takes office as mayor of Albuquerque.
3
France: In the first round of territorial elections in Corsica, For Corsica (nationalists) wins 45.4% of the vote, Way of the Future (regionalist right) 15%, Voir plus Grand (linked to the Republicans) 12.8%, Go for Tomorrow (linked to La République en marche) 11.3%, Renewal (independentists) 6.7%, Corse insoumise-Communist Party 5.7%, and the National Front 3.3%; turnout is 52.1%. Lists receiving at least 7% participate in the second round on December 10. For Corsica wins 56.5% of the vote (41 of 63 seats), Way of the Future 18.3% (10), Go for Tomorrow 12.7% (6), and Voir plus Grand 12.6% (6); turnout is 52.5%.
4
Afghanistan: Parliament confirms Tariq Shah Bahrami as defense minister (141-65) and Wais Barmak as interior minister (173-35).
European Union: Former acting president of the European Commission (1999) Manuel Marín dies.
The Gambia: Habib Saihou Drammeh is appointed interior minister.
Montserrat: Andrew Pearce is appointed governor, to take office in January 2018.
Marah |
Sierra Leone: In a cabinet reshuffle, Kaifala Marah is named foreign minister, Alfred Palo Conteh defense minister, and Ismael Sengu Koroma internal affairs minister.
Slovakia: Ján Lunter takes office as governor of Banskobystrický kraj, Juraj Droba as governor of Bratislavský kraj, Rastislav Trnka as governor of Kosický kraj, Jozef Viskupic as governor of Trnavský kraj, and Erika Jurinová as governor of Zilinský kraj.
United States: Gavin Buckley is sworn in as mayor of Annapolis and Vi Lyles as mayor of Charlotte.
Yemen: Former president of Yemen (Sana) (1978-90) and of Yemen (1990-2012) Ali Abdullah Saleh is killed.
5
Lebanon: Prime Minister Saad Hariri rescinds his resignation.
Romania: Former king (1927-30, 1940-47) Mihai I dies.
Solomon Islands: Commins Mewa is sworn in as home affairs minister.
United States: The Senate confirms Kirstjen Nielsen as secretary of homeland security (62-37). She is sworn in on December 6.
United States: In the mayoral runoff in Atlanta, Keisha Lance Bottoms (Democrat) wins 50.4% of the vote and Mary Norwood (Independent) 49.6%.
6
Babis |
Czech Republic: Andrej Babis is named prime minister. His government is sworn in on December 13, including Martin Stropnický as foreign minister, Karla Slechtová as defense minister, Lubomír Metnar as interior minister, and Alena Schillerová as finance minister.
Switzerland: Parliament elects Alain Berset as president for 2018 (190 of 210 votes) and Ueli Maurer as vice president (178 of 192 votes).
7
Liberia: The Supreme Court authorizes the organization of the presidential runoff between George Weah (Coalition for Democratic Change) and Joseph Boakai (Unity Party), subsequently set for December 26. It results in Weah winning 61.5% of the vote and Boakai 38.5%. Turnout is 55.8%.
Nepal: In parliamentary elections held November 26 and December 7, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) wins 33.2% of the vote (121 of 275 seats), the Nepali Congress 32.8% (63), the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) 13.7% (53), the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal 4.9% (17), and the Federal Socialist Forum Nepal 4.9% (16).
Morawiecki |
Poland: Prime Minister Beata Szydlo survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (rejected 239-168) but resigns the same day. Finance Minister Mateusz Morawiecki is nominated to replace her. On December 8 President Andrzej Duda formally asks Morawiecki to form a cabinet. On December 11 the cabinet is announced with no change in key portfolios and it is sworn in. On December 12 it wins a confidence vote in parliament (243-192).
10
Argentina: Gustavo Valdés takes office as governor of Corrientes and Gerardo Zamora as governor of Santiago del Estero.
Venezuela: In gubernatorial elections in Zulia, Omar Prieto wins 57.3% of the vote and Manuel Rosales 41.9%. Prieto is sworn in on December 13.
11
Kuwait: In a cabinet reshuffle, Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah is named defense minister and Nayef al-Hajraf finance minister.
12
Argentina: Former foreign minister (1982-83) Juan Ramón Aguirre Lanari, former governor of Formosa (1983-87) Floro Bogado, and former governor of Misiones (1981-83) Juan Manuel Bayón die.
Pacheco |
Mozambique: In a cabinet reshuffle, José Pacheco is named foreign minister.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization: The term of Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is extended by two years, to Sept. 30, 2020.
United States: The mayor of San Francisco, Edwin M. Lee, dies. London Breed becomes acting mayor.
13
Kretschmer | 
Abdi |
Germany: The Landtag of Sachsen elects Michael Kretschmer as minister-president (69-48).
Somalia: Muse Bihi Abdi is sworn in as president of Somaliland. He takes office December 14 and names a government including Isse Ahmed Yusuf Adale as defense minister, Mohamed Kahin Ahmed as interior minister, and Yusuf Mohamed Erigay as finance minister; Saad Ali Shire remains foreign minister.
Yemen: Maj.Gen. Abdulhakim Ahmed al-Mawri is appointed interior minister.
14
India: In state elections in Gujarat held December 9 and 14, the Bharatiya Janata Party wins 49.1% of the vote (99 of 182 seats), the Indian National Congress 41.4% (77), and independents 4.3% (3). Chief Minister Vijay Rupani resigns on December 21 but on December 22 is again chosen for the post (sworn in December 26).
15
Tokelau: Ross Ardern is appointed as administrator, to take office in early 2018.
16
Kneissl |
Austria: The People's Party and Freedom Party announce agreement on a new government, with Sebastian Kurz as chancellor and including Karin Kneissl as foreign minister, Mario Kunasek as defense minister, Herbert Kickl as interior minister, and Hartwig Löger as finance minister. The government is sworn in on December 18.
Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Maniema passes (16-1) a no-confidence motion against Governor Pascal Tutu Salumu. The deputy governor, Jérôme Bikenge Musimbi, becomes acting governor.
17
Chile: In the presidential runoff, Sebastián Piñera wins 54.6% of the vote and Alejandro Guillier 45.4%. Turnout is 49%.
18
French Guiana: Former president of the Regional Council (1982-92) Georges Othily dies.
Saint Kitts and Nevis: In parliamentary elections in Nevis, the Concerned Citizens Movement wins 56.7% of the vote (4 of 5 seats) and the Nevis Reformation Party 43.3% (1). Turnout is about 59%. On December 19 Mark Brantley is appointed premier.
Tonga: Parliament reelects 'Akilisi Pohiva as prime minister. He receives 14 votes, against 12 for Siaosi Sovaleni.
19
Australia: In a cabinet reshuffle, Peter Dutton is appointed as home affairs minister (sworn in December 20).
Central African Republic: Former prime minister (2003-05) Célestin Gaombalet dies.
Gibraltar: Former governor (1985-89) Sir Peter Terry dies.
Thakur |
India: The chief minister of Himachal Pradesh, Virbhadra Singh, resigns. Jai Ram Thakur is designated chief minister on December 24 and sworn in on December 27.
Moldova: Tudor Ulianovschi is nominated as foreign minister in a cabinet reshuffle. On December 28 President Igor Dodon rejects the nominations.
Timor-Leste: Parliament rejects for a second time the policy program of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri's government.
Regenvanu |
Vanuatu: In a cabinet reshuffle, Ralph Regenvanu is appointed foreign minister and Andrew Napuat internal affairs minister. Later the same day Prime Minister Charlot Salwai survives a parliamentary no-confidence vote, which is defeated 37-13.
20
Saint Lucia: Governor-General Dame Pearlette Louisy announces she will leave office on December 31.
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon: Thierry Devimeux is appointed prefect.
Sint Maarten: Franklin Meyers returns the mandate to form an interim government. On December 22, Governor Eugene Holiday names Sarah Wescot-Williams as formateur of an interim government.
Switzerland: Former president of the Council of State of Ticino (1974-75, 1978-79) Ugo Sadis dies.
21
Brazil: Former governor of Minas Gerais (1979-83) Francelino Pereira dos Santos dies.
Congo (Kinshasa): In Équateur, Bobo Boloko Bolumbu (Presidential Majority) is elected as governor (21 of 22 votes). In Kasaï Central, Denis Kambayi Cimbumbu (Presidential Majority) is elected, receiving 12 votes, against 10 for Martin Kabuya Mulamba Kabitanga (Independent). In Mongala, Louis Mbonga Magalu Engwanda (Presidential Majority) is elected with 22 of 23 votes.
Peru: President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski survives an impeachment vote in parliament (78 votes in favour of the motion, 19 against, 21 abstentions; 87 votes were required for adoption). On December 22 Interior Minister Carlos Basombrío resigns. On December 27 Vicente Romero is sworn in as interior minister.
Spain: In parliamentary elections in Catalonia, Ciutadans wins 25.5% of the vote (36 of 135 seats), Together for Catalonia 21.7% (34), the Republican Left of Catalonia 21.5% (32), the Party of Socialists of Catalonia 13.9% (17), Catalonia in Common-We Can 7.5% (8), Popular Unity Candidacy 4.5% (4), and the Popular Party 4.3% (4). Turnout is 81.9%.
22
Haiti: Former foreign minister (1971-74) Adrien Raymond dies.
India: Former lieutenant governor of Delhi (2004-07) and governor of Meghalaya (2007), Uttarakhand (2007-09), and Uttar Pradesh (2009-14) B.L. Joshi dies.
Narolin |
Russia: Aleksandr Narolin is named acting prime minister of Adygeya. On December 29 the parliament unanimously appoints him prime minister.
24
Zène |
Chad: In a government reshuffle, Chérif Mahamat Zène is appointed foreign minister, Ahmadaye Abdelkerim Bokit public security minister, and Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul finance minister.
Yemen: In a reshuffle of the government of President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi, Ahmed bin Ahmed al-Maysari is appointed interior minister (sworn in December 25).
25
Gusev |
Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the governor of Voronezh oblast, Aleksey Gordeyev, and appoints Aleksandr Gusev as acting governor until elections. Gordeyev is appointed plenipotentiary of the president in the Tsentralny federal district, while his predecessor, Aleksandr Beglov, succeeds Nikolay Tsukanov as plenipotentiary in the Severo-Zapadny federal district.
26
Pakistan: Miftah Ismail is appointed finance advisor.
27
Barbados: Sandra Mason is named governor-general, to be installed Jan. 8, 2018.
Congo (Kinshasa): The acting governor of Équateur, Jeannine Intombi Embele, is removed from office. Alexis Nkumu Isangola becomes acting governor.
Zimbabwe: Constantino Chiwenga and Kembo Mohadi are appointed vice presidents. They are sworn in on December 28. On December 29 Chiwenga is also appointed defense minister.
28
Sierra Leone: Former foreign minister (1971-73) Solomon Athanasius James Pratt dies.
29
Mali: The government of Prime Minister Abdoulaye Idrissa Maïga resigns. On December 30 President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita names Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga as prime minister. Later that day the government is named including Tieman Coulibaly as foreign minister and Mohamed Ag Erlaf as minister of territorial administration; Tiéna Coulibaly remains defense minister and Boubou Cissé finance minister.
30
Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Lomami passes (17 of 24 members) a no-confidence motion against Governor Patrice Kamanda.