Rulers
February 2018
1
Pearce |
Montserrat: Andrew Pearce is sworn in as governor.
Namibia: President Hage Geingob dismisses Home Affairs Minister Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana. In a reshuffle on February 8, Frans Kapofi is appointed home affairs minister.
2
Moe |
Canada: Scott Moe is sworn in as premier of Saskatchewan.
Canada: Former premier of British Columbia (1972-75) David Barrett dies.
Erhürman | 
Özersay |
Cyprus: The prime minister-designate of North Cyprus, Tufan Erhürman, announces his cabinet (taking office the same day) with Kudret Özersay as foreign minister, Aysegül Baybars Kadri as interior minister, and Serdar Denktas continuing as finance minister. On February 15 the government wins a confidence vote in parliament (27-22).
Paraguay: President Horacio Cartes names Ariel Martínez as new interior minister.
3
Oyono |
Equatorial Guinea: President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo dissolves the government of Prime Minister Francisco Pascual Obama Asue. On February 5 Obiang reappoints the prime minister as well as Interior Minister Clemente Engonga Nguema Onguene. On February 6 he names the full government (sworn in February 7), including Simeón Oyono Esono Angue as foreign minister, Alejandro Bacale Ncogo as defense minister, and Lucas Abaga Nchama as finance minister.
4
Christodoulidis |
Costa Rica: In presidential elections, Fabricio Alvarado (National Restoration Party) wins 25.0% of the vote, Carlos Alvarado (Citizens' Action Party) 21.6%, Antonio Álvarez (National Liberation Party) 18.6%, Rodolfo Piza (Social Christian Unity Party) 16.0%, and Juan Diego Castro (National Integration Party) 9.5%. Turnout is 65.7%. A runoff will take place April 1. In the parliamentary elections, the National Liberation Party wins 19.5% of the vote (17 of 57 seats), the National Restoration Party 18.2% (14), the Citizens' Action Party 16.3% (10), the Social Christian Unity Party 14.6% (9), and the National Integration Party 7.7% (4); turnout is 65.6%.
Cyprus: In the presidential runoff, incumbent Nikos Anastasiadis (Democratic Rally) wins 56.0% of the vote and Stavros Malas (Progressive Party of Working People) 44.0%. Turnout is 74.0%. On February 13 Anastasiadis names a new government (to be sworn in March 1) including Nikos Christodoulidis as foreign minister and Savvas Angelidis as defense minister.
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Nagasaki (turnout 36.0%), incumbent Hodo Nakamura defeats Toshihiko Haraguchi. In Yamaguchi (turnout 36.5%), incumbent Tsugumasa Muraoka defeats Yuzuru Kumano.
Akeik | 
Zdunov |
Western Sahara: President Ibrahim Ghali names Mohamed Wali Akeik as new prime minister.
5
Russia: The prime minister of Dagestan, Abdusamad Gamidov, is dismissed; Anatoly Karibov is appointed acting prime minister. On February 7 Artyom Zdunov is elected as new prime minister.
Franco |
Sint Eustatius: The Dutch government announces its decision to impose direct rule. On February 6, the Dutch parliament adopts legislation to that effect, dissolving island institutions and removing from office the acting administrator, Julian Woodley. On February 7, Mike Franco is appointed as government commissioner.
6
Findley |
Liberia: The Senate confirms Daniel Dee Ziankahn as defense minister. Earlier Gbehzohngar Findley was confirmed as foreign minister and Samuel Tweah as finance minister; these are sworn in on February 8.
7
Bangladesh: President Abdul Hamid is elected (unopposed) for a second term.
8
Tokelau: Former administrator (1992-93) Brian Absolum dies.
11
Monaco: In parliamentary elections, Priority Monaco wins 57.7% of the vote (21 of 24 seats), Horizon Monaco 26.1% (2), and the Monegasque Union 16.2% (1). Turnout is 70.4%.
12
Finland: Kai Mykkänen is appointed interior minister.
Federated States of Micronesia: Former president (1999-2003) Leo A. Falcam dies.
Switzerland: Former president of the government of Zürich (1975-76, 1982-83, 1987-88, 1991-92) Alfred Gilgen dies.
13
Kaag |
Brazil: Former governor of Mato Grosso do Sul (1983-86, 1995-99) Wilson Barbosa Martins dies.
The Netherlands: Foreign Minister Halbe Zijlstra resigns. Sigrid Kaag becomes acting foreign minister. Parliament rejects (101-43) a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
Switzerland: Former Schultheiss of Luzern (1973, 1979) Peter Knüsel dies.
United States: In mayoral elections in Oklahoma City, David Holt wins 78.5% of the vote, Taylor Neighbors 13.3%, and Randall Smith 8.2%.
14
Juma |
Kenya: Parliament approves the new cabinet members, including Monica Juma as foreign minister. They are sworn in on February 16.
The Netherlands: Former prime minister (1982-94) Ruud Lubbers dies.
Russia: Former head of the administration of Yamalo-Nenets autonomous okrug (1991-94) Lev Bayandin dies.
South Africa: President Jacob Zuma resigns. Cyril Ramaphosa becomes acting president; on February 15 he is elected (unopposed) and sworn in as president. On February 26 he appoints Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza as deputy president, Lindiwe Sisulu as international relations minister, Malusi Gigaba as home affairs minister, and Nhlanhla Nene as finance minister; they are sworn in on February 27, Refilwe Mtshweni becoming acting premier of Mpumalanga.
Sweden: Former governor of Gotland (1984-91) Claes Elmstedt dies.
Zambia: In a cabinet reshuffle, Margaret Mwanakatwe is appointed finance minister.
Zimbabwe: Former prime minister (2009-13) Morgan Tsvangirai dies.
15
Ethiopia: Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigns.
Libya: In a cabinet reshuffle, Abdul Salam Ashour is named to replace al-Aref al-Khoja as interior minister.
Nepal: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba resigns. President Bidya Devi Bhandari appoints K.P. Sharma Oli as prime minister. He is sworn in at the head of a three-member cabinet the same day. On February 26, Ishwor Pokhrel is appointed and sworn in as defense minister, Yubaraj Khatiwada as finance minister, and Ram Bahadur Thapa as home affairs minister.
18
India: In state elections in Tripura, the Bharatiya Janata Party wins 43.0% of the vote (35 of 60 seats), the Communist Party of India (Marxist) 42.7% (16), and the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura 7.5% (8).
Jordan: The government of Prime Minister Hani Mulki survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (rejected 67-49).
19
Honduras: Fredy Díaz is sworn in as defense minister.
Indonesia: Teguh Setyabudi becomes acting governor of Sulawesi Tenggara after the term of the (suspended) governor Nur Alam ended February 18.
20
Congo (Kinshasa): Henry Mova Sakanyi is appointed as interior minister.
Russia: Former acting prime minister of North Ossetia-Alania (2000-02) Kazbek Karginov dies.
23
Djibouti: In parliamentary elections, the Union for the Presidential Majority wins 87.8% of the vote (57 of 65 seats) and the Union for Democracy and Justice-Djibouti Party for Development coalition 10.9% (7). Turnout is 67.1%.
Switzerland: Former president of the Council of State of Ticino (1975-76, 1979-80) Benito Bernasconi dies.
Wu |
Taiwan: In a cabinet reshuffle, Joseph Wu is named foreign minister and Yen Teh-fa defense minister; they are sworn in on February 26.
25
Austria: In state elections in Tirol, the Austrian People's Party wins 44.3% of the vote (17 of 36 seats), the Social Democratic Party 17.3% (6), the Freedom Party 15.5% (5), the Greens 10.7% (4), the Citizens' Forum Tirol 5.5% (2), and New Austria 5.2% (2). Turnout is 60.0%.
Jordan: The government is reshuffled, with Samir Mubaidin being appointed interior minister.
26
Brazil: Defense Minister Raul Jungmann is named minister of public security, taking office February 27. Gen. Joaquim Silva e Luna becomes acting defense minister.
Sint Maarten: In parliamentary elections, the United Democrats win 42.4% of the vote (7 of 15 seats), the National Alliance 30.5% (5), the United Sint Maarten Party 13.2% (2), and the Sint Maarten Christian Party 8.7% (1). Turnout is 61.9%.
27
India: In state elections in Meghalaya, the Indian National Congress wins 28.5% of the vote (21 of 60 seats), the National People's Party 20.6% (19), the United Democratic Party 11.6% (6), independents 10.8% (3), the Bharatiya Janata Party 9.6% (2), the People's Democratic Front 8.2% (4), and the Hill State People's Democratic Party 5.3% (2). In Nagaland, the Naga Peoples Front wins 38.8% of the vote (27 of 60 seats), the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party 25.2% (16), the Bharatiya Janata Party 15.3% (12), the National People's Party 6.9% (2), and Janata Dal (United) 4.5% (1).
28
Switzerland: Former Regierender Landammann of Appenzell Innerrhoden (1976-78, 1980-82) Johann Baptist Fritsche dies.
