Rulers
January 2022
1
Nigeria: Former administrator of Osun (1996-98) and Abia (1998-99) Anthony Obi dies.
Palestine: Maj.Gen. Ziad Hab al-Reeh is sworn in as interior minister.
Switzerland: Ignazio Cassis takes office as president. Alex Hürzeler becomes Landammann of Aargau, Olivier Curty president of the Council of State of Fribourg, Marcus Caduff president of the government of Graubünden, David Eray president of the government of Jura, Cornelia Stamm Hurter president of the government of Schaffhausen, and Remo Ankli Landammann of Solothurn.
United States: Eric Adams takes office as mayor of New York City and Bruce Harrell as mayor of Seattle.
2
Holguín |
Ecuador: Juan Carlos Holguín is named foreign minister (sworn in January 3).
Ali |
The Sudan: Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok resigns. On January 19, ministerial undersecretaries are tasked with the duties of ministers (including Ali Sadiq Ali at foreign affairs), and Osman Hussein with those of prime minister.
3
Congo (Kinshasa): The government (empowered to do so during a parliamentary recess) adopts a 15th extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu, followed by a 16th on January 14 and a 17th on January 28 (for 15 days beginning February 4).
Gabon: Former foreign minister (1964) Jean-Marc Ekoh dies.
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries: Haitham al-Ghais (Kuwait) is elected (by acclamation) as the next secretary-general, to take office August 1.
United States: Andre Dickens takes office as mayor of Atlanta, Justin Bibb as mayor of Cleveland, and Edward Gainey as mayor of Pittsburgh.
4
United States: Aftab Pureval is sworn in as mayor of Cincinnati.
5
Smailov |
Kazakhstan: President Kasymzhomart Tokayev accepts the resignation of Prime Minister Askar Mamin's government and appoints Alikhan Smailov as acting prime minister. On January 11 Smailov is nominated by Tokayev, unanimously confirmed by parliament, and appointed as prime minister. A cabinet is named with no change in key positions.
Luxembourg: Yuriko Backes is sworn in as finance minister.
7
Berro-Amadeï |
Monaco: Isabelle Berro-Amadeï is named foreign minister, effective January 17.
Russia: Former plenipotentiary of the president in Sibirsky federal district (2004-10) Anatoly Kvashnin dies.
Tanzania: A cabinet reshuffle is announced. The new ministers, including Hamad Masauni as home affairs minister, are sworn in on January 10.
8
Japan: Former governor of Yamagata (1993-2005) Kazuo Takahashi dies.
Hoekstra |
The Netherlands: The formateur, Mark Rutte, submits his final report, including the composition of his cabinet, with Wopke Hoekstra as foreign minister, Kajsa Ollongren as defense minister, Hanke Bruins Slot as interior minister, and Sigrid Kaag as finance minister. The cabinet is sworn in on January 10.
Venezuela: Former governor of Falcón (1995-2000) José Curiel dies.
9
Cyprus: Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulidis announces his resignation, already accepted by the president, effective January 11. On January 10 Ioannis Kasoulidis is named to succeed him (sworn in January 11).
Japan: Former prime minister (1989-91) Toshiki Kaifu dies.
Venezuela: In the re-run gubernatorial election in Barinas, Sergio Garrido (Democratic Unity Roundtable) wins 55.4% of the vote and Jorge Arreaza (United Socialist Party of Venezuela) 41.3%. Turnout is 51.9%. Garrido is sworn in on January 13.
10
Azerbaijan: Former first secretary of the Communist Party of the Azerbaijan S.S.R. (1988-90) Abdurakhman Vezirov dies.
Papua New Guinea: In a cabinet reshuffle, Win Daki is appointed as defense minister.
11
Nigeria: Former chairman of the Transitional Council (1993) and head of the Interim National Government (1993) Ernest Shonekan dies.
Kovacevski |
North Macedonia: Prime minister-designate Dimitar Kovacevski proposes a cabinet including Slavjanka Petrovska as defense minister, with Bujar Osmani to remain foreign minister, Oliver Spasovski interior minister, and Fatmir Besimi finance minister. On January 16 the government is confirmed by parliament (62-46).
12
Nigeria: Former governor of Oyo (2006, 2007-11) Adebayo Alao-Akala dies.
Northern Mariana Islands: The House of Representatives votes (15-4 on each) six articles of impeachment against Governor Ralph Torres.
13
Czech Republic: The government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala wins a confidence vote in parliament (106-87).
14
Canada: Former lieutenant governor of Newfoundland and Labrador (2002-08) Edward Roberts dies.
Federated States of Micronesia: Former governor of Pohnpei (2008-15) John Ehsa dies.
15
United States: Glenn Youngkin is sworn in as governor of Virginia.
16
Mali: Former foreign minister (1993-94), prime minister (1994-2000), and president (2013-20) Ibrahim Boubacar Keita dies.
19
Barbados: In parliamentary elections, the Barbados Labour Party wins 69.0% of the vote and all 30 seats, while the Democratic Labour Party wins 26.5%. Turnout is about 43%. On January 20 Mia Mottley is sworn in for a new term as prime minister. On January 24 she names her cabinet with herself remaining finance minister, Jerome Walcott foreign minister, and Wilfred Abrahams home affairs minister.
Belarus: Former first secretary of the Communist Party of the Belorussian S.S.R. (1990-91) Anatoly Malofeyev dies.
Kazakhstan: President Kasymzhomart Tokayev dismisses Defense Minister Murat Bektanov and appoints Ruslan Zhaksylykov in his place.
20
The Gambia: President Adama Barrow (sworn in for a new term on January 19) constitutes a caretaker cabinet (sworn in January 27), in which all the previous ministers continue in their portfolios.
21
Chile: President-elect Gabriel Boric names his cabinet, including Antonia Urrejola as foreign minister, Maya Fernández as defense minister, Izkia Siches as interior minister, and Mario Marcel as finance minister.
Mexico: Former governor of Hidalgo (1987-93) Adolfo Lugo Verduzco dies.
Russia: Former acting head of the administration of Kemerovo oblast (2001) Valentin Mazikin dies.
22
Guinea: The transitional president, Mamady Doumbouya, appoints the 81 members of a National Transitional Council, to act as a parliament during the transitional period preceding the return to an elected parliament.
23
Armenia: President Armen Sarkisyan resigns. The resignation will be formalized if not retracted within one week.
Cyprus: In parliamentary elections in North Cyprus, the National Unity Party wins 39.5% of the vote (24 of 50 seats), the Republican Turkish Party 32.0% (18), the Democratic Party 7.4% (3), the People's Party 6.7% (3), and the Rebirth Party 6.4% (2). Turnout is 57.6%.
Philippines: Former foreign secretary (1992-95) Roberto Romulo dies.
24
Damiba |
Burkina Faso: President Roch Marc Christian Kaboré is deposed (and announces his resignation) in a military coup led by Lt.Col. Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba at the head of a Patriotic Movement for Safeguard and Restoration. The government and parliament are dissolved. On January 31 Damiba is proclaimed president.
Italy: The election of a president by the assembly of 1,008 members of parliament and regional delegates fails in the first round, with 672 blank and 49 invalid votes being cast, 36 for Paolo Maddalena, 16 for incumbent Sergio Mattarella, and 203 for other candidates. The second round, on January 25, with 1,009 electors (after the filling of a vacancy), is also inconclusive, 527 votes being blank and 38 invalid, while Maddalena and Mattarella win 39 votes each, Renzo Tondo 18, Roberto Cassinelli 17, Ettore Rosato 14, Umberto Bossi 12, others 272. In the third round, on January 26, 412 votes are blank and 22 invalid, while Mattarella receives 125, Guido Crosetto 114, Maddalena 61, Pier Ferdinando Casini 52, Giancarlo Giorgetti 19, others 173. In the fourth round, on January 27, now with a simple majority (505 votes) sufficient instead of two-thirds, Mattarella receives 166 votes, Nino Di Matteo 56, others 52, with 261 blank votes and 441 abstentions. On January 28, the fifth round results in 382 votes for Elisabetta Casellati, 46 for Mattarella, 38 for Di Matteo, 44 for others, and 406 abstentions, and the sixth round in 336 votes for Mattarella, 41 for Di Matteo, 45 for others, 106 blank votes, and 445 abstentions. On January 29, in the seventh round, Mattarella receives 387 votes, Carlo Nordio 64, Di Matteo 40, Casini 10, others 31, with 60 blank votes and 380 abstentions; and in the eighth, Mattarella is elected with 759 votes, against 90 for Nordio, 37 for Di Matteo, 59 for others, and 25 blank votes.
Tembo |
Malawi: President Lazarus Chakwera dissolves his cabinet. On January 28 Nancy Tembo is appointed foreign minister, Sosten Gwengwe finance minister, and Jean Muonaowauza Sendeza minister of homeland security.
25
China: Zhao Long is elected governor of Fujian.
Guatemala: Foreign Minister Pedro Brolo announces his resignation, effective February 1. Interior Minister Gendri Reyes also resigns and David Napoleón Barrientos Girón is appointed and sworn in as interior minister.
Venezuela: Former governor of Sucre (1992-98, 2000-08) Ramón Martínez dies.
26
Kuwait: Defense Minister Sheikh Hamad Jaber Al Ali Al Sabah survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (rejected 23-18).
United States: Former acting commerce secretary (1987) Clarence J. Brown dies.
27
Castro | 
Reina |
Honduras: Xiomara Castro takes office as president. Her cabinet includes Eduardo Enrique Reina as foreign minister, José Manuel Zelaya as defense minister, Ramón Sabillón as security minister, Tomás Vaquero as interior minister, and Rixi Moncada as finance minister.
28
Argentina: Carlos Alfredo Imbaud, former federal interventor (1962) and governor (1970-71) of Tucumán, dies.
Malaysia: Former head of state of Sarawak (1977-81, 2000-14) Tun Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin dies.
Peru: Interior Minister Avelino Guillén resigns. President Pedro Castillo accepts the resignation on January 30.
30
Croatia: Former foreign minister (1991-92) Zvonimir Separovic dies.
Greece: Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (rejected 156-142).
Haiti: The Montana Agreement civil-society coalition elects Fritz Jean as president and Steven Benoît as prime minister for a two-year transitional period to begin February 7. The prime minister and acting president, Ariel Henry, however, has indicated his intention to stay in office beyond that date.
Portugal: In parliamentary elections (excluding results of overseas vote), the Socialist Party wins 42.6% of the vote (117 of 230 seats), the Social Democratic Party 28.4% (71), Enough 7.3% (12), the Liberal Initiative 5.1% (8), the Left Bloc 4.6% (5), and the Unitary Democratic Coalition 4.5% (6). Turnout is 58.0%.
31
Peru: Prime Minister Mirtha Vásquez resigns.