July 2022

1

Bulgaria: President Rumen Radev gives Asen Vasilev a mandate to form a government after Kiril Petkov gave up his candidacy. On July 8 Vasilev returns the mandate. On July 14 Radev offers a mandate to the coalition Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria-Union of Democratic Forces, but it refuses. On July 18 Radev asks the Bulgarian Socialist Party to form a government; it returns the mandate on July 28.

Lee

China: John Lee takes office as chief executive of Hong Kong.
Congo (Kinshasa): The government adopts a 27th extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu (for 15 days beginning July 4), followed by a 28th on July 15 and a 29th on July 29.
Israel: Yair Lapid takes office as prime minister (also remaining foreign minister).
Pakistan: The Supreme Court sets July 22 for a new election of chief minister of Punjab; until then Hamza Shahbaz is to hold the position. In the event, the provincial assembly elects Shahbaz (Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz) with 179 votes, against 176 for Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi (Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf), after the deputy speaker controversially rejected 10 votes cast for Elahi. On July 23 Shahbaz is again sworn in as chief minister. The same day the Supreme Court accepts to hear a challenge to his election but allows him meanwhile to stay in office in a caretaker capacity. On July 26 the court declares Elahi the duly elected chief minister. Governor Baligh Ur Rehman refuses to administer the oath of office, but he is finally sworn in on July 27 by President Arif Alvi.

Manalo

Philippines: Enrique Manalo is sworn in as foreign secretary.

Schweizer

Graf

Christen

Amstad

Rüegsegger

Luisier

Switzerland: Kathrin Schweizer becomes president of the government of Basel-Land, Guido Graf president of the government of Luzern, Joe Christen Landammann of Nidwalden, Christoph Amstad Landammann of Obwalden, André Rüegsegger Landammann of Schwyz, and Christelle Luisier Brodard president of the Council of State of Vaud.

2

Argentina: Economy Minister Martín Guzmán resigns. On July 3 Silvina Batakis is appointed economy minister (sworn in July 4). Already on July 28, however, Sergio Massa is appointed to the post.
Cameroon: Former foreign minister (1983-84) Félix Tonye Mbog dies.

3

Virgin Islands (U.S.): Former governor (1999-2007) Charles Turnbull dies.

4

Drexler

Austria: Christopher Drexler is elected Landeshauptmann of Steiermark (32-14).
Ecuador: It is announced that Finance Minister Simón Cueva will leave the government. On July 5 Pablo Arosemena is appointed finance minister.
France: The new government is named with no change in key positions.
India: The chief minister of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde, wins a confidence vote in the state assembly (164-99).
Peru: Mariano González is sworn in as interior minister. He is replaced already on July 19 when Willy Huerta is sworn in.
The Sudan: The chairman of the Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah Burhan, announces that the civilian forces are invited to form a new civilian government and that the Sovereignty Council will then be dissolved and replaced by a Supreme Council of Armed Forces.

5

Indonesia: Nova Iriansyah's term as governor of Aceh ends. On July 6 Achmad Marzuki is inaugurated as acting governor.

Moore

Ozouf

Jersey: Kristina Moore (independent) is elected chief minister by the States Assembly, receiving 39 votes against 10 for Sam Mézec (Reform Jersey). On July 11 Philip Ozouf is appointed external relations minister, Ian Gorst treasury minister, and Helen Miles home affairs minister and the government takes office.
Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries: Secretary-General Mohammed S. Barkindo dies.
United Kingdom: Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak resigns. Nadhim Zahawi is appointed in his place (taking office July 8). On July 7 Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces his resignation, effective after the election of a new Conservative Party leader in September. On July 18 Johnson wins a confidence vote in the House of Commons (349-238).

6

Croatia: Finance Minister Zdravko Maric resigns. Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic nominates Marko Primorac to succeed him. On July 15 parliament confirms Primorac (77-55).
Federated States of Micronesia: Former president (1997-99) Jacob Nena dies.
Nepal: Finance Minister Janardan Sharma resigns. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba takes up the portfolio. Sharma is reinstated on July 31.
Turkey: Former foreign minister (1980-83) Ilter Türkmen dies.

Vurobaravu

Vanuatu: The term of President Tallis Obed Moses ends. The parliament speaker, Seoule Simeon, becomes acting president. In the first round of voting in the Electoral College (52 members of parliament and 6 provincial presidents) to elect a new president, on July 21, Nikenike Vurobaravu receives 26 votes, Willie Jimmy 6, Jacob Bani 6, and Sela Molisa 5; 39 votes are required to be elected. A second round on the same day is also inconclusive (Vurobaravu 34, George Wells 8), as are, on July 22, a third (Vurobaravu 35, Wells 7, Serge Vohor 5), fourth (Vurobaravu 35, Jimmy 5), fifth (Vurobaravu 35, Jimmy 5), and sixth (Vurobaravu 36, Wells 6, Edwin Amblus 5). On July 23, after a seventh inconclusive round (Vurobaravu 37, Molisa 10), Vurobaravu is elected in the eighth round with 48 votes and sworn in.

7

Italy: The government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi wins a confidence vote in the lower house (410-49). On July 14 it wins another in the Senate (172-39) but, due to the Five Star Movement not participating in the vote, Draghi announces his resignation, which is rejected by President Sergio Mattarella. On July 20 the government wins another confidence vote in the Senate (95-38), but three coalition parties do not take part. Draghi resigns on July 21; Mattarella asks him to stay in office in a caretaker capacity until new parliamentary elections to be held on September 25.

Bashir

Malaysia: Datuk Bashir Alias is appointed chairman of Labuan Corporation.
Mexico: Former governor of Durango (1986-92) José Ramírez Gamero dies.

8

Angola: Former foreign minister (1975-76, 1984-85) and president (1979-2017) José Eduardo dos Santos dies.
Cayman Islands: Former governor (1992-95) Michael Gore dies.
Japan: Former prime minister (2006-07, 2012-20) Shinzo Abe is assassinated.
Mexico: Former president (1970-76) Luis Echeverría Álvarez dies.

9

Brazil: Former governor of Distrito Federal (1990-91) Wanderley Vallim da Silva dies.

Sabry

Sri Lanka: After mass protests it is announced that President Gotabaya Rajapakse will resign on July 13. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe also says he is willing to resign to make way for an all-party government. On July 13 Rajapakse flees the country without resigning, Wickremesinghe becoming acting president in his absence. On July 14 Rajapakse submits his resignation, which is formally accepted by the speaker of parliament on July 15, Wickremesinghe then being sworn in as acting president. On July 20 Wickremesinghe is elected as president, defeating Dullas Alahapperuma 134-82 in a parliamentary vote; he is sworn in on July 21. On July 22 Dinesh Gunawardene is appointed and sworn in as prime minister, with a cabinet including Ali Sabry as foreign minister; Gunawardene also remains home affairs minister and Wickremesinghe finance minister.

10

Congo (Brazzaville): In the first round of parliamentary elections, 126 of 151 seats are decided, the Congolese Labour Party (PCT) winning 102, the Pan-African Union for Social Democracy (UPADS) 4, and the Union of Humanist Democrats (UDH)-Yuki 3; turnout is 59.8%. In the second round on July 31, the PCT wins 9 more seats for a total of 111, UDH-Yuki 4 for a total of 7, and UPADS 3 for a total of 7.
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Shiga, incumbent Taizo Mikazuki wins 86.9% of the vote and Kiyoji Konishi 13.1%. Turnout is 55.3%.

11

France: Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne's government survives a no-confidence motion, which receives 146 votes (289 needed).

12

Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Nord-Ubangi elects Malo Mobutu Ndimba as governor (11 of 18 votes).
Ireland: The government survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (rejected 85-66).

14

Algeria: Brahim Djamel Kessali is named finance minister.

Lahbib

Belgium: Foreign Minister Sophie Wilmès resigns. On July 15 Hadja Lahbib is sworn in as foreign minister.
Estonia: Prime Minister Kaja Kallas resigns. President Alar Karis asks her to form a new government. The new coalition puts forward its nominees, with Urmas Reinsalu to become foreign minister, Hanno Pevkur defense minister, and Lauri Läänemets interior minister, Keit Pentus-Rosimannus to remain finance minister. The new government is sworn in on July 18.
Mexico: Former governor of Tlaxcala (1992-93) Samuel Quiroz dies.
Peru: Former prime minister (1975) and president (1975-80) Francisco Morales Bermúdez dies.

15

Dawson

Australia: Chris Dawson is sworn in as governor of Western Australia.
Norway: Former governor of Oppland (1981-2001) Knut Korsæth dies.

16

Latvia: Former foreign minister (1992-94) Georgs Andrejevs dies.
Nigeria: In gubernatorial elections in Osun, Ademola Adeleke (People's Democratic Party) wins 50.1% of the vote and Gboyega Oyetola (All Progressives Congress) 46.6%. Turnout is 42.4%. Adeleke will take office in November.

17

India: Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns as governor of West Bengal. President Ram Nath Kovind gives the governor of Manipur, La. Ganesan, additional charge of West Bengal (sworn in July 18).

18

India: National and state legislators cast votes to elect a president. Votes are counted on July 21, and Draupadi Murmu is elected with 2,824 votes of a value of 676,803, while Yashwant Sinha receives 1,877 votes valued 380,177. Murmu takes office July 25.

20

Réunion: Jérôme Filippini is appointed as prefect (effective August 23).

21

Samoa: The five-year term of the head of state, Tuimaleali'ifano Va'aletoa Sualauvi II, expires. It is reported on July 26 that the cabinet has extended his appointment until the next sitting of parliament (August 23).

22

Colombia: President-elect Gustavo Petro names Iván Velásquez as defense minister.
Congo (Kinshasa): The Constitutional Court, invalidating previous decisions of the Council of State, confirms the May 6 elections of Hubert Kindanda Kishabongo Radjabu as governor of Maniema and César Limbaya Mbangisa as governor of Mongala. The court confirms the May 27 decision of the Council of State declaring Madeleine Nikomba Sabangu as governor-elect of Tshopo.
Finland: Former foreign minister (1993-95) Heikki Haavisto dies.
Libya: Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Muhammad Dbeibah dismisses Interior Minister Khaled Mazen. The minister of local government, Badr al-Din al-Toumi, is appointed as acting interior minister.
Papua New Guinea: In parliamentary elections held July 4-22, the Pangu Pati wins at least 36 of 118 seats, the People's National Congress at least 14, and the United Resources Party at least 10.

23

Blake

Falkland Islands: Alison Blake is sworn in as governor.
Thailand: Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha survives a no-confidence vote (rejected 256-206), as do 10 other cabinet members including Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda (245-212).

24

Begaj

Ahmad

Albania: Bajram Begaj is sworn in as president.
Kuwait: The crown prince appoints Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah as prime minister.

25

Somalia: Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, having failed to form a new government in the allowed 30 days, asks parliament for an extension of 10 days to do so, which is agreed to.
United Kingdom: David Trimble, Baron Trimble, former first minister of Northern Ireland (1998-2001, 2001-02), dies.

27

French Polynesia: High Commissioner Dominique Sorain departs. Éric Requet becomes acting high commissioner.

28

India: A no-confidence motion against the government of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is defeated (by voice vote) in the Chhattisgarh state assembly.
Yemen: The Aden-based government appoints Lt.Gen. Mohsen al-Daeri as defense minister.

29

Martinique: Jean-Christophe Bouvier is appointed as prefect (effective August 23).

31

Congo (Kinshasa): President Félix Tshisekedi appoints the governor-elect of Mai-Ndombe, Rita Bola Dula.
Malaysia: Former chief minister of Selangor (2008-14) Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim dies.
Philippines: Former president (1992-98) Fidel V. Ramos dies.
Senegal: In parliamentary elections, the Benno Bokk Yaakaar coalition wins 46.6% of the vote (82 of 165 seats), the Yewwi Askane Wi coalition 32.8% (56), and the Wallu Senegal coalition 14.5% (24). Turnout is 46.6%.