March 2023

1

Cyprus: The new cabinet, including Konstantinos Kombos as foreign minister (see February 5), is sworn in.

2

Italy: Francesco Rocca takes office as president of Lazio.
Vietnam: Vo Van Thuong is elected by parliament (487 of 488 votes) and sworn in as president.

3

India: After the announcement of February state election results, Conrad Sangma and Manik Saha resign as chief ministers of Meghalaya and Tripura respectively, followed on March 4 by Neiphiu Rio of Nagaland. Sangma and Rio are sworn in again on March 7 and Saha on March 8.
Pakistan: Malik Abdul Wali Kakar is appointed as governor of Balochistan (sworn in March 5).
South Sudan: President Salva Kiir dismisses Defense Minister Angelina Teny and Interior Minister Mahmoud Solomon Agook. On March 8 Kiir dismisses Foreign Minister Mayiik Ayii Deng and appoints the deputy minister, Deng Dau Deng Malek, as acting foreign minister.

4

United States: Former governor of Idaho (1995-99) Phil Batt dies.

5

Austria: In state elections in Kärnten, the Social Democratic Party wins 38.9% of the vote (15 of 36 seats), the Freedom Party 24.6% (9), the Austrian People's Party 17.0% (7), Team Kärnten 10.1 (5), and the Greens 3.9% (0). Turnout is 71.6%.
Estonia: In parliamentary elections, the Reform Party wins 31.2% of the vote (37 of 101 seats), the Conservative People's Party 16.1% (17), the Centre Party 15.3% (16), Estonia 200 13.3% (14), the Social Democratic Party 9.3% (9), and Isamaa 8.2% (8). Turnout is 63.5%.
Indonesia: Former governor of Sumatera Barat (1977-87) Azwar Anas dies.
Kuwait: The emir reappoints Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al Ahmad Al Sabah as prime minister.

7

Federated States of Micronesia: In parliamentary elections, 14 nonpartisans are elected. President David Panuelo loses his seat.
Qatar: The emir accepts the resignation of the prime minister and interior minister, Sheikh Khalid ibn Khalifa ibn Abdul Aziz Al Thani. Foreign Minister Sheikh Muhammad ibn Abdul Rahman Al Thani is appointed and sworn in as prime minister. Sheikh Khalifa ibn Hamad ibn Khalifa Al Thani becomes interior minister.
United States: In mayoral elections in Tampa, incumbent Jane Castor wins 80.1% of the vote, with 19.9% write-in votes. Turnout is 13.6%.

8

Czech Republic: President Milos Zeman leaves office. On March 9 Petr Pavel is sworn in as president.

9

Guinea-Bissau: In a cabinet reshuffle, Soares Sambú is named interior minister.
Nepal: Ram Chandra Poudel is elected president by federal and provincial lawmakers, with a vote score of 33,802, against 15,518 for Subas Nembang. He is sworn in on March 13.

10

Chile: In a cabinet reshuffle, Alberto van Klaveren is appointed as foreign minister.
China: Parliament reelects Xi Jinping as president (2,952-0). Han Zheng is elected vice president. On March 11 Li Qiang is elected (2,936-3) and sworn in as premier. On March 12 the cabinet members are elected, with Gen. Li Shangfu as defense minister, other key portfolios being unchanged.

11

United States: Julie A. Su becomes acting labor secretary.

15

Bonaire: In elections to the Island Council, the Bonaire Democratic Party wins 38.9% of the vote (3 of 9 seats), the Bonaire Patriotic Union 28.4% (3), and the Movement of Bonaire People 19.9% (2).
Papua New Guinea: Sir Bob Dadae is sworn in for a second term as governor-general (Speaker Job Pomat was acting in the interim after his first term expired February 28).
Russia: President Vladimir Putin appoints Vladislav Kuznetsov acting governor of Chukotka autonomous okrug.
Saba: In elections to the Island Council, the Windward Islands People's Movement wins 59.3% of the vote (3 of 5 seats) and the Party for Progress, Equality and Prosperity 31.2% (2).
Sint Eustatius: In elections to the Island Council, the Progressive Labour Party wins 55.7% of the vote (3 of 5 seats) and the Democratic Party 37.7% (2).

16

Algeria: In a cabinet reshuffle, Ahmed Attaf is appointed as foreign minister and Abdelaziz Fayed as finance minister.
Montenegro: President Milo Djukanovic dissolves parliament. On March 17 he schedules new elections for June 11.
Saint Helena: The administrator of Tristan da Cunha, Sean Burns, dies.

17

Russia: Vasily Anokhin is appointed acting governor of Smolensk oblast.
Tunisia: Interior Minister Taoufik Charfeddine resigns. Kamal Feki is named in his place (sworn in March 18).

19

Kazakhstan: In parliamentary elections, Amanat wins 53.9% of the vote, the Auyl People's Democratic Patriotic Party 10.9%, Respublica 8.6%, the Ak Zhol Democratic Party 8.4%, the People's Party 6.8%, and the National Social Democratic Party 5.2%. Turnout is 52.9%.
Kuwait: The Constitutional Court voids the September 2022 parliamentary elections and reinstates the previous parliament.
Montenegro: In the first round of presidential elections, incumbent Milo Djukanovic wins 35.3% of the vote, Jakov Milatovic 29.2%, Andrija Mandic 19.3%, and Aleksa Becic 10.9%. Turnout is 64.1%. The runoff will be held April 2.
Tonga: Former prime minister and foreign minister (2019-21) Pohiva Tu'i'onetoa dies.

20

France: Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne's government survives two more no-confidence motions, which receive 278 and 94 votes respectively (287 needed).
Nepal: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal wins a confidence vote in parliament (172-89).
Trinidad and Tobago: Christine Kangaloo is sworn in as president.

21

United States: In mayoral elections in Jacksonville, Donna Deegan (Democrat) wins 39.4% of the vote, Daniel Davis (Republican) 24.7%, Al Ferraro (Rep.) 16.2%, Audrey Gibson (Dem.) 8.6%, and LeAnna Cumber (Rep.) 7.6%. Turnout is 25.7%. A runoff will be held May 16.

22

Afghanistan: Mullah Mohammad Nasser Akhund becomes acting finance minister.
Congo (Kinshasa): The Constitutional Court invalidates the Nov. 24, 2022, no-confidence vote against the governor of Sud-Kivu, Théo Ngwabidje Kasi, and reinstates him in office.
Spain: The government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez survives a no-confidence vote (rejected 201-53 with 91 abstentions).

23

Congo (Kinshasa): In a cabinet reshuffle, Jean-Pierre Bemba is appointed defense minister and Peter Kazadi interior minister.
Montserrat: Sir Howard A. Fergus, former acting governor (2001, 2004, 2007), dies.