Rulers
December 2021
1
The Sudan: Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok appoints Abdalla Omar Bashir as acting foreign minister.
Turkey: Finance Minister Lütfi Elvan resigns. Nureddin Nebati is appointed in his place (taking office December 2).
2
Nehammer |
Austria: Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announces his resignation, as does Finance Minister Gernot Blümel. On December 3 the Austrian People's Party designates Karl Nehammer as new chancellor; he is to be succeeded as interior minister by Gerhard Karner, while Schallenberg is to become foreign minister and Magnus Brunner finance minister. Nehammer and the new ministers are sworn in on December 6.
Congo (Kinshasa): Parliament approves a 13th extension of the state of siege in the provinces of Ituri and Nord-Kivu, followed by a 14th on December 18.
Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Sud-Kivu adopts (28-0) a no-confidence motion against Governor Théo Ngwabidje Kasi, who rejects the validity of the vote. On December 7 the assembly names Vice Governor Marc Malago Kashekere acting governor, but on December 8 the interior minister suspends him as vice governor. Subsequently the interior minister recognizes Théophile Kiluwe Migo as acting governor.
Indonesia: Former governor of Lampung (1988-97) Poedjono Pranyoto dies.
Switzerland: Former president of the government of Bern (1999-2000) Samuel Bhend dies.
3
Luxembourg: Yuriko Backes is selected to become finance minister in a government reshuffle to take place in January.
Portugal: Interior Minister Eduardo Cabrita resigns. Justice Minister Francisca Van Dunem is additionally appointed interior minister (taking office December 4).
4
The Gambia: In presidential elections, incumbent Adama Barrow (National People's Party) wins 53.2% of the vote, Ousainou Darboe (United Democratic Party) 27.7%, and Mamma Kandeh (Gambia Democratic Congress) 12.3%.
India: Former chief minister of Andhra Pradesh (2009-10) and governor of Tamil Nadu (2011-16) and Karnataka (2014) Konijeti Rosaiah dies.
6
Norway: Former prime minister (1981-86) and governor of Oslo and Akershus (1989-98) Kåre Willoch dies.
Solomon Islands: The government of Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (rejected 32-15).
The Sudan: Former foreign minister (1988-89, 1993-95) Hussein Suleiman Abu Saleh dies.
Augustine |
Trinidad and Tobago: In elections to the Tobago House of Assembly, the Progressive Democratic Patriots win 58.0% of the vote (14 of 15 seats) and the People's National Movement 40.9% (1). Turnout is 57%. On December 9 Farley Chavez Augustine is sworn in as chief secretary.
7
Congo (Kinshasa): The interior minister confirms Paul Tchyabilo Nckoto as acting governor of Sankuru.
Congo (Kinshasa): The governor of Nord-Ubangi, Izato Nzege Koloke, resigns. Despite this, on December 8 the provincial assembly adopts a no-confidence motion against him (16-0).
Libya: Former prime minister (1954-57) and foreign minister (1954-56) Mustafa Ben Halim dies.
Peru: Congress rejects a motion to start an impeachment process against President Pedro Castillo (46 votes for the motion, 76 against; 52 in favour were necessary).
Sri Lanka: The governor of North Western province (and former governor of Uva 2019-20) Raja Collure dies. On December 9 Adm. Wasantha Karannagoda is appointed and sworn in as governor.
8
Zerbo | 
Sori-Coulibaly |
Burkina Faso: President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré accepts the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Christophe Dabiré. On December 10 Kaboré names Lassina Zerbo as prime minister. On December 13 his cabinet is appointed with Rosine Sori-Coulibaly as foreign minister, while Gen. Aimé Barthélemy Simporé remains defense (now called armies) minister, Maxime Koné security minister, and Lassané Kaboré finance minister.
Scholz | 
Baerbock |
Germany: Olaf Scholz is elected by the Bundestag (395-303), appointed by the president, and sworn in as chancellor. His cabinet includes Annalena Baerbock as foreign minister, Christine Lambrecht as defense minister, Nancy Faeser as interior minister, and Christian Lindner as finance minister.
Montserrat: Sarah Tucker is appointed governor, to take office in March 2022.
Switzerland: Parliament elects Ignazio Cassis as president for 2022 (156 of 197 votes) and Alain Berset as vice president (158 of 204 votes).
9
Georgia: Former prime minister (1993-95) Otar Patsatsia dies.
10
Fiala | 
Lipavský |
Czech Republic: President Milos Zeman rejects the nomination of Jan Lipavský as foreign minister. On December 13, however, he agrees to appoint the full government on December 17, on which date accordingly the government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala (see November 9) takes office.
France: Former president of the Regional Council of Pays de la Loire (2004-15) Jacques Auxiette dies.
Lithuania: Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis resigns. On December 14 Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte rejects the resignation.
Senegal: Parliament adopts a constitutional amendment restoring the office of prime minister.
11
Petkov | 
Genchovska |
Bulgaria: President Rumen Radev hands a mandate to form a government to Kiril Petkov, who immediately submits a cabinet list including Teodora Genchovska as foreign minister, Stefan Yanev as defense minister, and Asen Vasilev as finance minister, with Boyko Rashkov to remain interior minister. On December 13 Petkov is elected in parliament (134-104) and takes office.
12
Moldova: In presidential elections in Transnistria, incumbent Vadim Krasnoselsky wins 87.0% of the vote and Sergey Pynzar 13.0%. Turnout is 35.2%. Krasnoselsky reappoints Aleksandr Martynov as prime minister on December 24 and Vitaly Ignatyev as foreign minister on December 28.
Papua New Guinea: Former governor-general (2004-10) Sir Paulias Matane dies.
13
Argentina: Former acting governor of Corrientes (1991-92) Hugo Mancini dies.
Canada: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government wins a confidence vote in parliament (215-117).
Tunisia: President Kaïs Saïed says parliament will remain suspended until the next elections, to be held Dec. 17, 2022.
15
Jordan: Former foreign minister (1997-98) and prime minister (1998-99, 2012) Fayez Tarawneh dies.
The Netherlands: The informateurs, Wouter Koolmees and Johan Remkes, submit their final report to parliament with a coalition agreement between the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, the Democrats 66, the Christian Democratic Appeal, and the Christian Union. On December 16 parliament names Mark Rutte as formateur.
'Utoikamanu |
Tonga: Parliament elects Siaosi Sovaleni as prime minister-designate. He receives 16 votes, against 10 for 'Aisake Eke. He is appointed by the king on December 28 (backdated to December 27). On December 29 he announces his cabinet with himself as armed forces minister, Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu as foreign minister, Sione Sangster Saulala as internal affairs minister, and Tatafu Moeaki as finance minister.
16
Federated States of Micronesia: The legislature of Yap adopts (8-2) a resolution removing Governor Henry S. Falan from office. On December 23 the federal Supreme Court denies Falan's motion to invalidate the action. The lieutenant governor, Jesse J. Salalu, is sworn in as governor on December 29.
Nepal: Defense Minister Minendra Rijal resigns. On December 20 the president designates Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to assume the portfolio.
18
Malaysia: In parliamentary elections in Sarawak, the Gabungan Parti Sarawak wins 76 of 82 seats, the Parti Sarawak Bersatu 4, and the Pakatan Harapan 2.
19
Chile: In the presidential runoff, Gabriel Boric wins 55.9% of the vote and José Antonio Kast 44.1%. Boric will take office March 11.
China: In parliamentary elections in Hong Kong, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong wins 19 of 90 seats, the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions 8, the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong 7, the New People's Party 5, and the Liberal Party 4, independents taking most of the remaining seats. Turnout is 30.2%.
Indonesia: Former governor of Nusa Tenggara Timur (2008-18) Frans Lebu Raya dies.
20
Argentina: Former governor of Entre Ríos (1987-91, 1995-99, 2003-07) Jorge Busti dies.
Guinea-Bissau: Former foreign minister (2000-01) Iaia Djaló dies.
21
Giffey |
Germany: Franziska Giffey is elected governing mayor of Berlin (84-52).
Grenada: Former governor-general (2008-13) Sir Carlyle Glean dies.
Guatemala: Henry Reyes Chigua is appointed and sworn in as defense minister.
Malaysia: Former chief minister of Johor (2018-19) Datuk Osman Sapian dies.
22
Italy: Former president of Abruzzo (1995-2000) Antonio Falconio dies.
North Macedonia: Prime Minister Zoran Zaev submits his resignation. Parliament accepts it on December 23. On December 29 President Stevo Pendarovski gives Dimitar Kovacevski a mandate to form a government.
23
United States: Cavalier Johnson is sworn in as acting mayor of Milwaukee following the resignation of Tom Barrett.
25
Papua New Guinea: Former premier of East New Britain (1981-89) Sir Ronald ToVue dies.
Switzerland: Former president of the government of Thurgau (1978-79, 1982-83, 1986-87, 1990-91) Arthur Haffter dies.
26
Bolivia: Former foreign minister (1982) Agustín Saavedra Weise dies.
Greece: Former foreign minister (1985-89, 1993-96) and president (2005-15) Karolos Papoulias dies.
Somalia: Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble appoints Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur as defense minister.
27
China: Wang Weizhong is appointed as acting governor of Guangdong.
San Marino: Former captain-regent (1987) Carlo Franciosi dies.
Somalia: President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed suspends the powers of the prime minister, Mohamed Hussein Roble. The other ministers are to continue their duties. A government spokesperson says the move is unconstitutional.
28
Kuwait: A new cabinet is formed (sworn in December 29) including Sheikh Ahmad Mansour Al Ahmad Al Sabah as interior minister and Abdulwahab al-Rushaid as finance minister.