March 2022

1

Bulgaria: Dragomir Zakov is nominated as defense minister (instead of the initially named Todor Tagarev), approved by parliament (184-0 with 33 abstentions), and sworn in.

Ouedraogo

Rouamba

Burkina Faso: A transition charter is adopted, allowing the military authorities to rule for three years and barring Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba, inaugurated on March 2 as transitional president, from being an electoral candidate after the transition. On March 3 Albert Ouedraogo is appointed prime minister. On March 5 his cabinet is appointed with Olivia Rouamba as foreign minister, Col.Maj. Omer Bationo as security minister, and Séglaro Abel Somé as finance minister; Gen. Aimé Barthélemy Simporé remains defense minister.

Bashagha

Kaddour

Libya: Parliament gives confidence (92 votes) to the government of Fathi Bashagha. It includes Hafez Kaddour as foreign minister, Ahmid Ali Houma as defense minister, Issam Mohamed Bouzreba as interior minister, and Osama Saad Hammad Saleh as finance minister. The government of Abdul Hamid Muhammad Dbeibah does not recognize the validity of the vote. Bashagha is sworn in on March 3.

2

Khachaturyan

Armenia: In a first round of voting in parliament to elect a president (boycotted by the opposition), Vahagn Khachaturyan receives 69 votes (81 required). In a second round of voting, on March 3, with only 64 votes required, he is elected with 71 votes. He is sworn in on March 13.
Benin: Former foreign minister (2007-08) Moussa Okanla dies.
Japan: Kengo Oishi takes office as governor of Nagasaki.
Mauritius: Johnson Roussety is designated to become chief commissioner of Rodrigues for two years (sworn in March 5), with Franceau Grandcourt to assume the post for three years thereafter. On March 21 Jean-Claude Pierre-Louis takes office as chief executive.

Maleiane

Mozambique: Six ministers including Finance Minister Adriano Maleiane are dismissed. On March 3 Prime Minister Carlos Agostinho do Rosário is also removed; Maleiane is then appointed prime minister and Ernesto Max Tonela finance minister.

3

Cyprus: The parliament of North Cyprus gives its confidence (29-20) to the government of Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoglu.
Estonia: Former chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Estonian S.S.R. (1984-88) Bruno Saul dies.
Montenegro: President Milo Djukanovic gives a mandate to form a government to Dritan Abazovic.

4

India: Former governor of Punjab (2004-10) S.F. Rodrigues dies.

5

India: In state elections in Manipur held February 28 and March 5, the Bharatiya Janata Party wins 37.8% of the vote (32 of 60 seats), the National People's Party 17.3% (7), the Indian National Congress 16.8% (5), the Janata Dal (United) 10.8% (6), and the Naga People's Front 8.1% (5). Turnout is 89.3%. On March 11 Chief Minister Nongthombam Biren Singh resigns; he is again sworn in as chief minister on March 21.
Italy: Former foreign minister (1994-95) Antonio Martino dies.

6

Brazil: Former governor of Rio Grande do Norte (1987-91) Geraldo José da Câmara Ferreira de Melo dies.

7

India: In state elections in Uttar Pradesh held February 10, 14, 20, 23, 27 and March 3 and 7, the Bharatiya Janata Party wins 41.3% of the vote (255 of 403 seats), the Samajwadi Party 32.1% (111), and the Bahujan Samaj Party 12.9% (1). Turnout is 60.8%. On March 11 Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath resigns; he is again sworn in as chief minister on March 25.
Montserrat: Governor Andrew Pearce departs. Deputy Governor Lyndell Simpson becomes acting governor.
Pakistan: Former president (1998-2001) Mohammad Rafiq Tarar dies.

8

Moussa

Gabon: In a cabinet reshuffle, Michaël Moussa Adamo is named foreign minister, Félicité Ongouori Ngoubili defense minister, and Édith Oyouomi budget minister.
Nigeria: The Federal High Court rules that the office of governor of Ebonyi is vacant; Governor Dave Umahi appeals the decision.
Pakistan: The chief minister of Punjab, Usman Buzdar, submits his resignation to Prime Minister Imran Khan, who rejects it. Buzdar resigns again on March 28 and Khan nominates Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi as chief minister.

9

South Korea: In presidential elections, Yoon Suk Yeol (People Power Party) is elected with 48.6% of the vote, against 47.8% for Lee Jae Myung (Democratic Party). Turnout is 77.1%. Yoon will take office May 10.
Kuwait: Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah is appointed as interior minister and Sheikh Talal Khaled Al Ahmad Al Sabah as defense minister.
Peru: The government of Prime Minister Aníbal Torres wins a confidence vote in parliament (64-58).

Berton

Saint-Barthélemy/Saint-Martin: Vincent Berton is appointed prefect. He takes office March 28.

10

Hungary: Parliament elects Katalin Novák as president, who wins 137 votes against 51 for Péter Róna. She will take office in May.
Indonesia: Andi Sudirman Sulaiman is inaugurated as governor of Sulawesi Selatan.

11

Brazil: The suspended governor of Tocantins, Mauro Carlesse, resigns. Acting Governor Wanderlei Barbosa Castro succeeds as governor.

Boric

Urrejola

Chile: Gabriel Boric is sworn in as president with his cabinet (including Antonia Urrejola as foreign minister; see January 21).

Mann

India: The chief minister of Punjab, Charanjit Singh Channi, resigns. Bhagwant Mann is designated as chief minister on March 12 and is sworn in on March 16.
India: The chief minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami, resigns. He is again sworn in as chief minister on March 23.
Zambia: Former foreign minister (1975-76) and president (2008-11) Rupiah Banda dies.

12

Congo (Kinshasa): The government adopts a 20th extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu (for 15 days beginning March 21), followed by a 21st on March 25 (beginning April 5).
Georgia: In the first round of parliamentary elections in Abkhazia (turnout 51.2%), 17 of the 35 seats are allocated (16 to independents and 1 to the Amtsakhara party). In the second round on March 26 (turnout 54.5%), 16 seats are allocated (12 to independents for a total of 28 seats and 4 to Amtsakhara for a total of 5). There will be repeat votes for the remaining two seats within two months.
India: The chief minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant, resigns; he is again sworn in as chief minister on March 28.

Onn Hafiz

Malaysia: In parliamentary elections in Johor, the Barisan Nasional wins 43.1% of the vote (40 of 56 seats), the Pakatan Harapan 26.4% (12), and the Perikatan Nasional 24.0% (3). Turnout is 54.9%. On March 15 Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi is sworn in as chief minister.
Mauritius: Former president (2002-03) Karl Offmann dies.

Berdymukhammedov

Turkmenistan: In presidential elections, Serdar Berdymukhammedov wins 73.0% of the vote, Khydyr Nunnayev 11.1%, and Agadzhan Bekmyradov 7.2%. Turnout is 97.2%. Berdymukhammedov takes office March 19 and accepts the resignation of the government.

13

Colombia: In parliamentary elections, the Historic Pact wins 15.6% of the vote (25 of 165 seats), the Liberal Party 14.3% (32), the Conservative Party 12.6% (25), the Democratic Centre 9.9% (16), the Party of the U 8.7% (15), Radical Change 8.5% (16), and the Green Alliance 6.7% (11). Turnout is about 47%.
Congo (Kinshasa): Former foreign minister of Zaire (1974-75, 1977-79, 1983-85) Umba di Lutete dies.
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Ishikawa, Hiroshi Hase is elected with 34.1% of the vote, defeating Yukiyoshi Yamano (32.7%) and Shuji Yamada (29.9%). Turnout is 61.8%. Hase takes office March 27.

14

Falkland Islands: Alison Blake is appointed governor, to take office in July.
India: Former governor of Andhra Pradesh (1985-90) Kumudben Joshi dies.
Peru: Congress approves (76-41) the start of impeachment proceedings against President Pedro Castillo. On March 28, 55 members vote for the impeachment, 54 against, with 19 abstentions (87 votes in favour required).

15

United States: Former education secretary (1988-90) Lauro F. Cavazos dies.

16

Randriamandrato

Madagascar: In a cabinet reshuffle, Richard Randriamandrato is appointed foreign minister and Justin Tokely interior minister.

17

The Netherlands: Former queen's/king's commissioner of Gelderland (2005-19) Clemens Cornielje dies.

Soludo

Nigeria: Chukwuma Soludo takes office as governor of Anambra.

19

Malinauskas

Australia: In parliamentary elections in South Australia, Labor wins about 28 of 47 seats, the Liberals about 14, and independents about 5. On March 21 Peter Malinauskas is sworn in as premier.
Bangladesh: Former president (1990-91, 1996-2001) Shahabuddin Ahmed dies.
Timor-Leste: In the first round of presidential elections, former president José Ramos-Horta wins 46.6% of the vote, incumbent Francisco Guterres 22.2%, and Armanda Berta dos Santos 8.7%. Turnout is 77.3%. The runoff will be held April 19.

20

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Sefik Dzaferovic takes office as chairman of the Presidency.
Saint-Barthélemy: In the first round of elections to the Territorial Council, Saint-Barth d'abord wins 46.2% of the vote, Saint-Barth Action-Equilibre 27.1%, and Unis pour Saint-Barthélemy 26.8%; turnout is 67.5%. The 19 seats are allocated in a second round on March 27, when Saint-Barth Union-Equilibre (a merger of Saint-Barth Action-Equilibre and Unis pour Saint-Barthélemy) wins 50.8% of the vote (13 seats) and Saint-Barth d'abord 49.2% (6); turnout is 73.8%.
Saint-Martin: In the first round of elections to the Territorial Council, Rassemblement Saint-Martinois wins 25.4% of the vote, Team Gibbs 2022 24.7%, Generation Hope 2022 17.5%, Saint-Martin avec vous 13.8%, Alternative 11.2%, and Avenir Saint-Martin 7.5%; turnout is 46.6%. The 23 seats are allocated in a second round on March 27, when the alliance of Rassemblement Saint-Martinois and Alternative wins 49.1% of the vote (16 seats), Team Gibbs 2022 33.3% (5), and the alliance of Generation Hope 2022, Saint-Martin avec vous, and Avenir Saint-Martin 17.6% (2); turnout is 52.2%.
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon: In territorial elections, Archipel Demain wins 45.9% of the vote, Cap sur l'Avenir 37.0%, and Ensemble pour construire 17.1%; turnout is 68.6%. The 19 seats are allocated in a second round on March 27, when Archipel Demain wins 51.8% of the vote (15 seats), Cap sur l'Avenir 38.1% (4), and Ensemble pour construire 10.1% (0); turnout is 78.1%.

Muli'aka'aka

Wallis and Futuna: In territorial elections, the lists Ofa mo'oni ki tou fenua and Mauli fetokoniaki win 2 seats each and 16 other lists one each (20 total). Turnout is 84.1%. On March 25 Munipoese Muli'aka'aka is elected president of the Territorial Assembly (20-0).

21

Mali: Former foreign minister (2011-12) and prime minister (2017-19) Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga dies.

22

Niue: The government of Premier Dalton Tagelagi survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (rejected 11-5).

23

Cravinho

Portugal: Prime Minister António Costa's new government is named with João Gomes Cravinho as foreign minister, Helena Carreiras as defense minister, José Luís Carneiro as interior minister, and Fernando Medina as finance minister. The final result of the parliamentary elections of January 30, with the repeated expatriate vote on March 12 and 13, gave the Socialist Party 42.5% of the vote (120 of 230 seats), the Social Democratic Party 28.4% (72), Enough 7.4% (12), the Liberal Initiative 5.0% (8), the Left Bloc 4.5% (5), and the Unitary Democratic Coalition 4.4% (6); turnout was 51.4%. Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva leaves office on March 28 and is temporarily replaced by Prime Minister Costa, until the new government is sworn in on March 30.
United States: Former secretary of state (1997-2001) Madeleine Albright dies.

24

European Union: Charles Michel (Belgium) is unanimously reelected as president of the European Council for a 2½-year term (June 1, 2022-Nov. 30, 2024).
North Atlantic Treaty Organization: The mandate of Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is extended by a further year, until Sept. 30, 2023.

25

Gibraltar: Former governor (1993-95) Sir John Chapple dies.
International Labour Organization: Gilbert Houngbo (Togo) is elected director-general, to take office October 1.

26

Iraq: Parliament again postpones the election of a president due to the lack of a quorum. The election fails likewise on March 30.

Borg

Malta: In parliamentary elections, the Labour Party wins 55.1% of the vote (38 of 67 seats) and the Nationalist Party 41.7% (29). Turnout is 85.5%. Robert Abela is again sworn in as prime minister on March 28. His cabinet is sworn in on March 30, with Ian Borg as foreign minister; Byron Camilleri remains home affairs minister and Clyde Caruana finance minister.

27

Azerbaijan: Former chairman of the Council of Ministers (1989-90), first secretary of the Communist Party (1990-91), and president (1990-92, 1992) Ayaz Mutalibov dies.
Germany: In state elections in Saarland, the Social Democratic Party wins 43.5% of the vote (29 of 51 seats), the Christian Democratic Union 28.5% (19), the Alternative for Germany 5.7% (3), the Greens 4.995% (0), the Free Democratic Party 4.8% (0), and the Left 2.6% (0). Turnout is 61.4%.

28

Vieira

Brazil: Eduardo Figueiredo Cavalheiro Leite resigns as governor of Rio Grande do Sul, effective March 31, when Vice-Governor Ranolfo Vieira Júnior succeeds as governor.
India: Former chief minister of Sikkim (1984) B.B. Gurung dies.

29

Ecuador: The minister of interior (gobierno), Alexandra Vela Puga, resigns. On March 30 the ministry is divided in two, Francisco Jiménez being named minister of gobierno and Patricio Carrillo minister of interior.

Merzoug

Mauritania: The government of Prime Minister Mohamed Ould Bilal resigns. On March 30 he is asked to form a new government. Announced on March 31, it includes Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug as foreign minister, Mohamed Ahmed Ould Mohamed Lamine as interior minister, and Isselmou Ould Mohamed M'Bady as finance minister; Hanena Ould Sidi remains defense minister.

30

Honduras: Former foreign minister (2009) Enrique Ortez Colindres dies.
Slovakia: Another no-confidence motion against Interior Minister Roman Mikulec is defeated (51-46).
South Africa: A no-confidence vote against the cabinet is rejected 231-131.
Tunisia: President Kaïs Saïed dissolves the parliament (already suspended since July 2021).

31

Garcia

Sousa

Brazil: The governor of São Paulo, João Agripino da Costa Doria Júnior, resigns and is replaced by the vice-governor, Rodrigo Garcia. The governor of Piauí, José Wellington Barroso de Araújo Dias, resigns and is replaced by the vice-governor, Maria Regina Sousa. The governor of Maranhão, Flávio Dino de Castro e Costa, resigns and the president of the Legislative Assembly, Othelino Nova Alves Neto, becomes acting governor.
Bulgaria: Former chairman of the Council of Ministers (1986-90) Georgi Atanasov dies.
Congo (Kinshasa): President Félix Tshisekedi accepts the resignation (submitted Dec. 7, 2021) of the governor of Nord-Ubangi, Izato Nzege Koloke.
Sri Lanka: Former chief minister of Sabaragamuwa (1999-2000) Athauda Seneviratne dies.