May 2021

1

Australia: In parliamentary elections in Tasmania, the Liberal Party wins 48.7% of the vote (13 of 25 seats), the Labor Party 28.2% (9), the Greens 12.4% (2), and independents 6.2% (1). Turnout is 91.2%.
Peru: Former foreign minister (2011-13) Rafael Roncagliolo dies.
Somalia: Parliament votes (140-0) to nullify the April 12 extension of the term of President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed and to give Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble the mandate to organize indirect parliamentary elections based on an agreement of Sept. 17, 2020 (which had been cancelled by the April 12 decision).
Switzerland: Frédéric Favre becomes president of the Council of State of Valais and Jacqueline Fehr president of the government of Zürich.
United States: In mayoral elections in San Antonio, incumbent Ron Nirenberg wins 61.9% of the vote and Greg Brockhouse 31.5%.

2

Chad: The new transitional government is named including Chérif Mahamat Zène as foreign minister and Daoud Yaya Brahim as minister-delegate for defense, with Souleyman Abakar Adoum remaining in place as public security minister and Tahir Hamid Nguilin as finance minister.
Puerto Rico: Former governor (1977-85) Carlos Romero Barceló dies.

3

Armenia: Parliament rejects (3-1 with 75 abstentions) the candidacy of Nikol Pashinyan for prime minister. It does so again on May 10 (1-1 with 76 abstentions), triggering its dissolution; new elections are to be held on June 20.
Canada: Former premier of Nova Scotia (1991-93) Donald Cameron dies.
Colombia: Finance Minister Alberto Carrasquilla resigns. He is to be succeeded by José Manuel Restrepo, who takes office May 13.

Stalin

India: The chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, resigns. Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin is sworn in as chief minister on May 7.

Rangasamy

India: N. Rangasamy is designated chief minister of Puducherry (sworn in May 7).
India: Former lieutenant governor of Delhi (1980-81, 1982-84) and Goa, Daman and Diu (1981-82) and governor of Jammu and Kashmir (1984-89, 1990) Jagmohan dies.
Seychelles: Former foreign minister (1979-82) Jacques Hodoul dies.

4

Cameroon: Former prime minister (1992-96) Simon Achidi Achu dies.
Congo (Kinshasa): President Félix Tshisekedi appoints Johnny Luboya Nkashama as governor of Ituri and Constant Ndima Kongba as governor of Nord-Kivu after declaring a state of siege in the two provinces effective 30 days from May 6.
Israel: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, unable to form a government, returns the mandate to President Reuven Rivlin. On May 5 Rivlin gives the mandate to Yair Lapid.
Samoa: Head of State Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II declares the April 9 parliamentary elections void and calls for new elections to be held on May 21. The Supreme Court invalidates that decision on May 17, also voiding the addition of an extra women's seat. With an independent having joined Fa'atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST), this party now holds 26 of 51 seats and the Human Rights Protection Party 25. On May 22 the head of state suspends his own May 20 proclamation for the new parliament to convene on May 24; on May 23 the Supreme Court overturns the suspension as unlawful, but the speaker disregards the ruling and refuses to open parliament. On May 24, unable to enter, the members of FAST are sworn in in an ad-hoc ceremony held outside the parliament and a government is announced with Fiame Naomi Mata'afa as prime minister and foreign minister and Mulipola Anarosa Molio'o as finance minister. The incumbent prime minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, announces that he is staying in office.
Slovakia: Prime Minister Eduard Heger's government wins a confidence vote in parliament (89-55).
Spain: In regional elections in Madrid, the Popular Party wins 45.0% of the vote (65 of 136 seats), More Madrid 17.1% (24), the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 16.9% (24), Vox 9.2% (13), Unidas Podemos-United Left 7.2% (10), and Ciudadanos 3.6% (0). Turnout is 76.2%.
United States: In mayoral open primaries in Cincinnati, Aftab Pureval wins 39.1% of the vote, David Mann 29.1%, and Cecil Thomas 16.4%. Turnout is 15.3%. Pureval and Mann will contest the election on November 2.

Yanev

Stoev

5

Bulgaria: After Korneliya Ninova immediately returned a mandate to form a government, President Rumen Radev announces that new elections will be held on July 11. On May 11 Radev appoints a caretaker government (taking office May 12) with Stefan Yanev as prime minister, Svetlan Stoev as foreign minister, Georgi Panayotov as defense minister, Boyko Rashkov as interior minister, and Asen Vasilev as finance minister.

Makosso

Congo (Brazzaville): The government of Prime Minister Clément Mouamba resigns. On May 12 Anatole Collinet Makosso is named prime minister. On May 15 his cabinet is announced with Rigobert Roger Andely as finance minister (other key posts unchanged). Makosso takes office May 18.

Montalvo

Ecuador: President-elect Guillermo Lasso names Simón Cueva as finance minister. On May 7 he names Fernando Donoso as defense minister, on May 11 Mauricio Montalvo as foreign minister, and on May 21 César Monge as interior minister. Lasso takes office May 24.
Switzerland: Manuele Bertoli takes office as president of the Council of State of Ticino.

6

Bhutan: The resignation of Home Minister Dasho Sherub Gyeltshen is accepted. On May 24 Foreign Minister Lyonpo Tandi Dorji takes office as acting home minister.
Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Tanganyika adopts (13-0) a no-confidence motion against Governor Zoé Kabila.
Kyrgyzstan: Prime Minister Ulukbek Maripov is appointed under a new constitution as chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers. The cabinet is unchanged in key positions.
Pakistan: The governor of Balochistan, Amanullah Khan Yasinzai, refuses to resign as requested by Prime Minister Imran Khan on April 30, saying only the president is authorized to ask him to do so.
Qatar: Finance Minister Ali Sharif al-Emadi is relieved from office and the commerce and industry minister, Ali ibn Ahmed al-Kuwari, is given additional charge of finance.
United Kingdom: In parliamentary elections in Scotland, the Scottish National Party wins 40.3% of the vote (64 of 129 seats), the Conservative Party 23.5% (31), the Labour Party 17.9% (22), the Green Party 8.1% (8), and the Liberal Democrats 5.1% (4); turnout is about 63%. In Wales, the Labour Party wins 36.2% of the vote (30 of 60 seats), the Conservative Party 25.1% (16), Plaid Cymru 20.7% (13), the Green Party 4.4% (0), and the Liberal Democrats 4.3% (1); turnout is 46.6%. On May 12 the Welsh Parliament reelects Mark Drakeford (Labour) unopposed as first minister (sworn in May 13). On May 18 the Scottish Parliament reelects Nicola Sturgeon (Scottish National Party) as first minister (sworn in May 19); she receives 64 votes, against 31 for Douglas Ross (Conservative).

7

Anguilla: Former chief minister (1994-2000, 2010-15) Hubert Hughes dies.
Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Sud-Kivu rejects (24-20) a no-confidence motion against Governor Théo Ngwabidje Kasi.
Sierra Leone: Dennis Vandy is appointed finance minister.
Somalia: Former foreign minister (2004-06) Abdullahi Sheikh Ismail dies.

8

Chile: Former foreign minister (1983) Miguel Alex Schweitzer Walters dies.
South Korea: Former prime minister (2000-02) Lee Han Dong dies.
South Sudan: President Salva Kiir dissolves parliament. On May 10 he announces the composition of a new parliament with 332 members chosen by him, 128 members chosen by the first vice president, Riek Machar, and 90 members chosen by the other signatory parties of the Sept. 12, 2018, peace accord.
United States: Former governor of Delaware (1977-85) Pierre S. du Pont IV dies.

9

Argentina: Former governor of Santa Fe (2015-19) Miguel Lifschitz and former federal interventor in Córdoba (1974) Duilio Brunello die.

Ramírez

Colombia: Foreign Minister Claudia Blum resigns. On May 13 Adriana Mejía becomes acting foreign minister. On May 19 Vice President Marta Lucía Ramírez is appointed foreign minister (sworn in May 31).

Sarma

India: Himanta Biswa Sarma is designated chief minister of Assam (sworn in May 10).
Switzerland: Roland Dähler is elected Regierender Landammann of Appenzell Innerrhoden.

10

Nepal: Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli loses a confidence vote in parliament (93 votes in favour, 124 against; 136 in favour needed). On May 13 he is reappointed as prime minister by President Bidya Devi Bhandari as opposition parties failed to garner a majority; he is sworn in on May 14, retaining the previous cabinet. However, on May 20 the Supreme Court annuls the appointment of Ram Bahadur Thapa as home affairs minister because he has not become a member of parliament since his previous appointment in April. On May 22 Bhandari dissolves parliament on Oli's recommendation (after neither he nor the opposition could demonstrate a majority), announcing new elections for November 12 and 19.

11

Caribbean Community: Carla Barnett (Belize) is appointed secretary-general, to take office August 15.
United States: In mayoral elections in Omaha, incumbent Jean Stothert wins 66.7% of the vote and R.J. Neary 33.3%. In the runoff in Anchorage, David Bronson wins 50.7% of the vote and Forrest Dunbar 49.3%; turnout is 38.4%.

12

Congo (Kinshasa): Serge Mongulu Mandubola is appointed as acting governor of Mongala.
Germany: The Landtag of Baden-Württemberg reelects Winfried Kretschmann as minister-president (95-55).
The Netherlands: Mariëtte Hamer is named to replace Herman Tjeenk Willink as informateur.
New Caledonia: In a fourth attempt, the new government fails to elect its president, Thierry Santa receiving 4 votes and Samuel Hnepeune 3 (6 votes required).

13

Kim

South Korea: Parliament approves (168-5) the nomination of Kim Boo Kyum as prime minister. He takes office May 14.
Réunion: Former prefect (1980-81) Jacques Seval dies.

14

Haiti: President Jovenel Moïse renews for 30 days the mandate of the acting prime minister, Claude Joseph.
India: Former governor of Kerala (2004-08) and Bihar (2008-09) Raghunandan Lal Bhatia dies.
Mali: Interim Prime Minister Moctar Ouane resigns but is immediately reappointed. On May 24 his government is named with Gen. Souleymane Doucouré as defense minister, Gen. Mamadou Lamine Ballo as security minister, and Dionké Diarra as finance minister; Zeïni Moulaye remains foreign minister. Later that day military officers arrest President Bah N'Daw, Prime Minister Ouane, and Defense Minister Doucouré. On May 25 Vice President Assimi Goita confirms he has seized power. N'Daw and Ouane resign on May 26. Goita then takes over the transitional presidency (confirmed as such for the duration of the transition by the Constitutional Court on May 28).

15

Congo (Kinshasa): Former governor of Kinshasa (1992) Kibabu Madiata Nzau dies.

16

North Macedonia: Former secretary of the Central Committee of the League of Communists of Macedonia (1986-89) Jakov Lazaroski dies.

17

Brazil: Former governor of Santa Catarina (1990-91) Casildo Maldaner dies.
United States: Former governor of Louisiana (1988-92) Charles E. Roemer III dies.

18

Cabo Verde: The new government of Prime Minister Ulisses Correia e Silva is announced (taking office May 20), with Janine Lélis as defense minister, other key ministers remaining in place.
Germany: The Landtag of Rheinland-Pfalz reelects Malu Dreyer as minister-president (55-46).

19

Australia: Frances Adamson is appointed governor of South Australia, to take office in October.
India: Former chief minister of Rajasthan (1980-81) and governor of Bihar (1989-90) and Haryana (2009-14) Jagannath Pahadia dies.

Akar

Lebanon: Foreign Minister Charbel Wehbe resigns. Defense Minister Zeina Akar is appointed acting foreign minister.
New Caledonia: Patrice Faure is appointed high commissioner.

20

Russia: Former head of the administration of Perm oblast (1996-2000) Gennady Igumnov dies.

21

Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Maniema adopts (13-9) a no-confidence motion against Governor Augustin Musafiri Myoma. On May 30 Afani Idrissa Mangala is appointed as acting governor (taking office May 31).
Lebanon: President Michel Aoun informs parliament that the prime minister-designate, Saad Hariri, has been unable to form an adequate government. On May 22, however, parliament affirms Hariri's mandate.

Alsina

Spain: The parliament of Catalonia elects Pere Aragonès as president of the Generalitat (74-61). He takes office May 24. Victòria Alsina Burgués becomes foreign minister in the government taking office May 26.

22

Uruguay: Interior Minister Jorge Larrañaga dies. Defense Minister Javier García becomes acting interior minister. On May 24 Luis Alberto Heber is named interior minister (taking office May 25).
Venezuela: The governor of La Guaira, Jorge Luis García Carneiro, dies. José Manuel Suárez Maldonado becomes acting governor.

23

Honduras: Former foreign minister (1995-98) Delmer Urbizo Panting dies.
Vietnam: In parliamentary elections, 499 members are elected, including 485 Communist Party members. Turnout is 99.6%.

24

Djibouti: President Ismail Omar Guelleh (who was sworn in for his new term on May 15) names a new government with Said Nouh Hassan as interior minister, other key ministers remaining in place.
Honduras: Luis Fernando Mata is sworn in as finance minister.
The Netherlands: Sigrid Kaag is appointed foreign minister.
New Zealand: Dame Cindy Kiro is appointed governor-general, to take office October 21.
Pacific Islands Forum: Henry Puna takes office as secretary-general.

25

Benin: President Patrice Talon (sworn in for his new term on May 23) names a government with Alassane Seïdou as interior minister, other key ministers being unchanged.
Switzerland: Laurent Favre becomes president of the Council of State of Neuchâtel.
United States: Former navy secretary (1972-74) John W. Warner dies.

26

Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Haut-Lomami adopts (17-3) a no-confidence motion against the acting governor, Denis Ngandu Ngoy.
Slovenia: Parliament rejects an impeachment motion against Prime Minister Janez Jansa (42 votes in favour of the motion, 44 against; 46 in favour were required).
Sweden: Former governor of Södermanland (1980-90) Bengt Gustavsson dies.
Syria: In presidential elections, incumbent Bashar al-Assad wins 95.1% of the vote. Turnout is 78.6%.

27

Armenia: Foreign Minister Ara Ayvazyan resigns. President Armen Sarkisyan accepts the resignation on May 31.

Tzalam

Belize: Froyla Tzalam takes office as governor-general.
Brazil: Former governor of Paraná (1995-2003) Jaime Lerner dies.
Colombia: Defense Minister Diego Molano survives a no-confidence vote in the Senate (rejected 69-31).
Cyprus: Former foreign minister (1978-83) Nikos Rolandis dies.
Denmark: Former prime minister (1982-93) Poul Schlüter dies.
Finland: Annika Saarikko is appointed finance minister.

29

Switzerland: Former Landammann of Zug (1981-82, 1987-88) Anton Scherer dies.

30

Cyprus: In parliamentary elections, the Democratic Rally wins 27.8% of the vote (17 of 56 seats), the Progressive Party of Working People 22.3% (15), the Democratic Party 11.3% (9), the National Popular Front 6.8% (4), the Movement of Social Democrats 6.7% (4), the Democratic Front 6.1% (4), and the Movement of Ecologists 4.4% (3). Turnout is 65.7%.

31

Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Lomami adopts (21-5) a no-confidence motion against Governor Sylvain Lubamba Mayombo.
Russia: Former head of the administration of Amur oblast (1991-93) Albert Krivchenko dies.
Somalia: In parliamentary elections in Somaliland, the Somaliland National Party (Waddani) wins 31 of 82 seats, the Peace, Unity and Development Party (Kulmiye) 30, and the Justice and Welfare Party 21.