Rulers

September 2008

1

Indonesia: Following the expiration of Lalu Serinata's term as governor of Nusa Tenggara Barat, the provincial administration secretary, Abdul Malik, becomes acting governor. On September 17 Zainul Majdi is sworn in as governor.

Nakasone
Japan: Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda announces his resignation. He formally resigns on September 24, and on the same date the House of Representatives elects Taro Aso (Liberal-Democratic Party) as prime minister with 337 votes against 117 for Ichiro Ozawa (Democratic Party of Japan). The House of Councillors gives 125 votes to Ozawa and 108 to Aso but the decision of the House of Representatives prevails. The new cabinet is announced the same day, with Hirofumi Nakasone as foreign minister, Shoichi Nakagawa as finance minister, Yasukazu Hamada as defense minister, and Kunio Hatoyama as internal affairs minister.
Somalia: Prime Minister Nur Hassan Hussein survives a no-confidence vote in parliament when only 7 of the 200 MPs present vote against him.

2

Norway: Former foreign minister (1971-72) Andreas Cappelen dies.
Vanuatu: In parliamentary elections, the Vanua'aku Pati wins 11 of 52 seats, the National United Party 8, the Union of Moderate Parties 7, the Vanuatu Republican Party 7, independents 4, the People Progressive Party 4, the Green Confederation 2, and 9 other parties 1 each. On September 22 Edward Natapei (Vanua'aku Pati) is elected prime minister, winning 28 votes, against 24 for Maxime Carlot Korman (Vanuatu Republican Party). Bakoa Kaltongga becomes foreign minister, Sela Molisa finance minister, and Patrick Crowby internal affairs minister.

3

French Southern and Antarctic Lands: Rollon Mouchel-Blaisot is appointed administrator-superior.
Indonesia: In the first direct election for governor of Lampung, former governor Sjachroedin wins 43.3% of the vote, defeating M. Alzier Dianis Thabranie (20.6%), Zulkifli Anwar (15.5%), Andy Achmad Sampurna Jaya (9.8%), former governor Oemarsono (5.2%), Muhajir Utomo (3.4%), and Sofjan Jacoeb (2.2%).
Thailand: Foreign Minister Tej Bunnag resigns. On September 5 Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej nominates Saroj Chavanaviraj for the post. Saroj is endorsed by the king on September 8.

4


Yoda

Vaithilingam

Ebzeyev

Kaishev
Burkina Faso: In a cabinet reshuffle, Alain Bédouma Yoda becomes foreign minister and Lucien Marie Noël Bembamba finance minister.
India: V. Vaithilingam is sworn in as chief minister of Puducherry.
Indonesia: In the first direct election for governor of Sumatera Selatan, Alex Noerdin gets 51.4% of the vote and former governor Syahrial Oesman 48.6%.
Russia: Boris Ebzeyev is inaugurated as president of Karachayevo-Cherkessia. On September 17 Vladimir Kaishev is approved as new prime minister by the local legislature.

5

Australia: Quentin Bryce is sworn in as governor-general.

Rees
Australia: Morris Iemma resigns as premier of New South Wales and Nathan Rees is sworn in as premier.

Pierre-Louis

Houngbo

Esaw
Haiti: The Senate approves (16-0) the program of the new government, as did the lower house on August 29, thus finally authorizing Prime Minister Michčle Pierre-Louis to take office; she is installed the same day.
Togo: Prime Minister Komlan Mally resigns. Gilbert Houngbo is appointed as prime minister on September 7 and takes office September 8. His cabinet, announced on September 15, includes Koffi Esaw as foreign minister, while Col. Atcha Titikpina remains security minister and Adji Otčth Ayassor finance minister.

6

Algeria: Former delegate-general (1960-62) Jean Morin dies.

Kassoma

Barnett
Angola: In parliamentary elections held September 5-6, the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) wins 81.6% of the vote (191 of 220 seats), the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) 10.4% (16), the Social Renewal Party (PRS) 3.2% (8), the New Democracy Electoral Union (ND) 1.2% (2), and the National Front for the Liberation of Angola (FNLA) 1.1% (3). Turnout is 87.4%. On September 26 the MPLA names Paulo Kassoma as new prime minister; on September 30 he is appointed by the president and takes office.
Australia: In parliamentary elections in Western Australia, the Liberal Party wins 38.5% of the vote (24 of 59 seats), the Australian Labor Party 35.8% (28), the Greens 11.9% (0), the National Party 4.9% (4), and independents 4.4% (3). Turnout is 86.5%. Colin Barnett (Liberal) is sworn in as premier on September 23.

Zardari
Pakistan: Asif Ali Zardari is elected president by national and provincial legislators, winning 481 votes of a possible 699, against 153 for Saeed-uz-Zaman Siddiqui and 44 for Mushahid Hussain. Zardari is sworn in on September 9.

8

Venezuela: Interior Minister Ramón Rodríguez Chacín resigns and Tareck El Aissami becomes acting interior minister.

9

Laos: Former president (1992-98) Nouhak Phoumsavan dies.
Spain: Former president of the General Council of Castilla-León (1978-80) Juan Manuel Reol Tejada dies.

Somchai

Sompong
Thailand: The Constitutional Court orders Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej to resign. Somchai Wongsawat, the first deputy prime minister, becomes acting prime minister. On September 17 the House of Representatives elects Somchai (People Power Party) as prime minister; he receives 298 votes and Abhisit Vejjajiva (Democrat Party) 163. The king endorses Somchai on September 18. On September 24, Somchai's cabinet is announced, after having been endorsed by the king; sworn in on September 25, it includes Somchai himself as defense minister, Sompong Amornwiwat as foreign minister, and Suchart Thadathamrongvech as finance minister, while Kowit Wattana remains interior minister.
Venezuela: Former foreign minister (1975-77) Ramón Escovar Salom dies.

11

Canada: Former premier of Prince Edward Island (1978-79) W. Bennett Campbell dies.
Papua New Guinea: The Court of Disputed Returns declares void the 2007 election of the governor of Madang, Sir Arnold Amet. The deputy governor, Buka Goli Malai, subsequently becomes acting governor.

13


Boolell
Mauritius: Arvin Boolell is named foreign minister.
Pakistan: President Asif Ali Zardari accepts the resignations (tendered in May) of 9 ministers including Finance Minister Ishaq Dar.

14

Chad: Ngata Ngoulou is appointed finance minister in a cabinet reshuffle.
China: The governor of Shanxi, Meng Xuenong, resigns and Wang Jun is appointed as acting governor.

15

Rwanda: In parliamentary elections, the coalition led by the Rwandan Patriotic Front wins 78.8% of the vote (42 of 53 directly elected seats), the Social Democratic Party 13.1% (7), and the Liberal Party 7.5% (4). Turnout is 98.5%. 24 women's representatives, 2 youth representatives, and 1 disabled representative are indirectly elected September 16-18, making a total of 80 seats.

16

Ecuador: María Elsa Viteri takes office as finance minister, replacing Wilma Salgado.

17

Malaysia: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi passes the finance portfolio to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in exchange for the latter's defense portfolio.
Uzbekistan: Gen. Qobil Berdiyev is appointed defense minister.

18

Swaziland: The cabinet is dissolved and Bheki Dlamini becomes acting prime minister.
United States: The mayor of Detroit, Kwame Kilpatrick, resigns. Ken Cockrel, Jr., is sworn in as mayor on September 19.
Uruguay: Álvaro García takes office as economy and finance minister.

19

Mauritius: The National Assembly unanimously reelects Sir Anerood Jugnauth as president.

Batbold
Mongolia: Parliament appoints a new government led by Prime Minister Sanj Bayar, with Sükhbaataryn Batbold as foreign minister, Luvsanvandan Bold as defense minister, Sangajav Bayartsogt as finance minister, and Tsendiyn Nyamdorj as interior minister. The government takes office September 20.
Swaziland: In parliamentary elections, 55 independents are elected to the 55 seats; 10 additional members will be appointed by the king.

21

Israel: Prime Minister Ehud Olmert resigns. On September 22 Tzipi Livni is asked to form a new government.
Slovenia: In parliamentary elections, the Social Democrats win 30.5% of the vote (29 of 90 seats) and Prime Minister Janez Jansa's Slovenian Democratic Party 29.3% (28), Zares-New Politics 9.4% (9), the Democratic Party of Pensioners of Slovenia 7.5% (7), the Slovenian National Party 5.5% (5), the Slovenian People's Party and Youth Party of Slovenia 5.2% (5), and the Liberal Democracy of Slovenia 5.2% (5). Turnout is 62.3%.

Motlanthe

Mbete
South Africa: President Thabo Mbeki resigns, effective at a date to be chosen by parliament. On September 23 parliament decides that the resignation will be effective September 25. Also on September 23, several cabinet members including Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, Defense Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, and Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka resign, effective at Mbeki's departure. Mbeki leaves office midnight September 24-25, when Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri becomes acting president. Later on September 25 Kgalema Motlanthe (African National Congress) is elected president with 269 of 360 votes, against 50 for Joe Seremane (Democratic Alliance), and sworn in the same day, to serve until the end of Mbeki's regular term in 2009. Baleka Mbete becomes deputy president and Charles Nqakula defense minister, while Trevor Manuel is reappointed as finance minister.
Sri Lanka: Former prime minister (1989-93) and president (1993-94) Dingiri Banda Wijetunga dies.

22


Berthelsen
Greenland: Foreign and Finance Minister Aleqa Hammond resigns. On September 26 Per Berthelsen is appointed to the post.
Indonesia: In the first direct election for governor of Riau, former governor Rusli Zainal wins 57.5% of the vote, H. Raja Thamsir Rachman 21.5%, and H. Chaidir 21%.

23

Fiji: A cabinet reshuffle is announced, according to which Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will take over the foreign affairs portfolio from Ratu Epeli Nailatikau on October 5.
Palau: In presidential "primary" elections, Vice President Elias Camsek Chin wins 32.9% of the vote, Johnson Toribiong 27.5%, Surangel Whipps 24.5%, and Joshua Koshiba 15.1%. Chin and Toribiong will contest the general election in November.

24

Ghana: Finance Minister Kwadwo Baah Wiredu dies.

25

Cambodia: The National Assembly approves (by a unanimous show of hands of those present, the opposition boycotting the session) Hun Sen for a new term as prime minister, and an unchanged cabinet.
Congo (Kinshasa): Prime Minister Antoine Gizenga resigns.
Cook Islands: Former high commissioner (2008) Brian Donnelly dies.
Nauru: Former president (2003) Derog Gioura dies.

26

Austria: Former Landeshauptmann of Kärnten (1974-88) Leopold Wagner dies.

Johannesen

Niclasen
Faeroe Islands: A new government takes office with Kaj Leo Johannesen as premier, Jřrgen Niclasen as foreign minister, Annika Olsen as interior minister, and Jóannes Eidesgaard as finance minister.

27

Samoa: Former foreign minister (1982-84) Lauofo Meti dies.

28

Austria: In parliamentary elections, the Social Democratic Party of Austria wins 29.3% of the vote (57 of 183 seats), the Austrian People's Party 26% (51), the Freedom Party of Austria 17.5% (34), the Alliance for the Future of Austria 10.7% (21), the Greens 10.4% (20), and the Liberal Forum 2.1% (0). Turnout is 78.8%.
Belarus: In parliamentary elections, all 110 seats are won by supporters of President Alyaksandr Lukashenka. Turnout is 75.3%.
Germany: In state elections in Bayern, the Christian Social Union wins 43.4% of the vote (92 of 187 seats), the Social Democratic Party 18.6% (39), the Free Voters 10.2% (21), the Greens 9.4% (19), the Free Democratic Party 8% (16), and the Left 4.3% (0). Turnout is 58.1%.

29

Brazil: Former governor of Rondônia (1969-72, 1974-75) Joăo Carlos Marques Henrique Neto dies.
Indonesia: Thaib Armaiyn is sworn in as governor of Maluku Utara.
The Netherlands: The queen's commissioner of Drenthe, Relus ter Beek, dies.

30

Switzerland: Former Landammann of Obwalden (1981-82, 1983-84, 1985-86) Beat Amgarten dies.