Rulers
April 2018
1
Masisi | 
Seretse |
Botswana: Mokgweetsi Masisi, hitherto vice president, is sworn in as president, Ian Khama having left office on March 31 (reaching the constitutional maximum of 10 years). On April 4 Slumber Tsogwane is endorsed by parliament (35-1) and sworn in as vice president and a new cabinet is announced including Vincent T. Seretse as international affairs minister while Shaw Kgathi remains as defense and security minister and Kenneth Matambo as finance minister.
Costa Rica: In the presidential runoff, Carlos Alvarado wins 60.6% of the vote and Fabricio Alvarado 39.4%. Turnout is 66.4%. Carlos Alvarado will take office May 8. On April 26 his cabinet is named with Epsy Campbell as foreign minister, Michael Soto as security minister, and Rocío Aguilar as finance minister.
Ciacci |
Guatemala: Former president (1982-83) Efraín Ríos Montt dies.
Tsivilyov |
Russia: The governor of Kemerovo oblast, Aman Tuleyev, resigns. President Vladimir Putin appoints Sergey Tsivilyov as acting governor until elections.
San Marino: Stefano Palmieri (Future Republic) and Matteo Ciacci (Civic10) take office as captains-regent.
United States: John Sullivan becomes acting secretary of state.
2
Abiy | 
Popolizio |
Ethiopia: Abiy Ahmed is appointed and sworn in as prime minister. On April 19 he names Motuma Mekassa as defense minister; Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu and Finance Minister Abraham Tekeste are retained. Parliament unanimously approves the new cabinet the same day.
Peru: César Villanueva is sworn in as prime minister with a government including Néstor Popolizio as foreign minister, José Huerta as defense minister, Mauro Medina as interior minister, and David Tuesta as finance minister.
3
Australia: Kim Beazley is appointed governor of Western Australia (to be sworn in May 1).
United States: In mayoral elections in Anchorage, incumbent Ethan Berkowitz wins 55.5% of the vote and Rebecca Logan 37.1%. Turnout is 35.6%.
4
Bio |
Sierra Leone: Julius Maada Bio is sworn in as president. On April 12 he names a first set of cabinet ministers including Edward A. Soluku for internal affairs and Jacob Jusu Saffa for finance.
Sri Lanka: Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe survives a no-confidence motion in parliament, which is rejected 122-76.
6
Brazil: Finance Minister Henrique Meirelles announces his resignation. He is to be replaced by Eduardo Guardia (who takes office April 10). Also on April 6 Cida Borghetti takes office as governor of Paraná, Daniel Pereira as governor of Rondônia, Eduardo Pinho Moreira as governor of Santa Catarina, and Márcio França as governor of São Paulo. On April 7 José Eliton de Figueiredo Júnior takes office as governor of Goiás and Belivaldo Chagas Silva as governor of Sergipe.
Rwanda: In a cabinet reshuffle, Uzziel Ndagijimana is appointed finance minister.
8
Guernsey: Former lieutenant governor (1980-85) Sir Peter Le Cheminant dies.
Hungary: In parliamentary elections, the Fidesz Hungarian Civic Union-Christian Democratic People's Party alliance wins 48.6% of the vote (133 of 199 seats), Jobbik 19.4% (26), the Hungarian Socialist Party-Dialogue for Hungary alliance 12.3% (20), Politics Can Be Different 6.9% (8), and the Democratic Coalition 5.6% (9). Turnout is 67.1%. On April 17 President János Áder asks Viktor Orbán to form a new government. The cabinet is announced on April 27, with Tibor Benkö to become defense minister, other key ministers being unchanged.
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Kyoto, Takatoshi Nishiwaki wins 55.9% of the vote and Kazuhito Fukuyama 44.1%. Turnout is 35.2%. Nishiwaki takes office April 16.
9
A. Sarkisyan |
Armenia: Armen Sarkisyan takes office as president. The government of Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan resigns. On April 17 Serzh Sarkisyan is elected prime minister (77-17). On April 18 Eduard Nalbandyan is reappointed as foreign minister and Vigen Sarkisyan as defense minister, and on April 19 Vardan Aramyan as finance minister. Following protests against his government, Serzh Sarkisyan resigns on April 23; Karapetyan, as first deputy prime minister, becomes acting prime minister.
Indonesia: Soni Sumarsono becomes acting governor of Sulawesi Selatan after the expiration of the term of Governor Syahrul Yasin Limpo on April 8.
10
Switzerland: Claudio Zali becomes president of the Council of State of Ticino.
United States: David Holt is sworn in as mayor of Oklahoma City.
11
Azerbaijan: In presidential elections, incumbent Ilham Aliyev wins about 86% of the vote. Turnout is about 74%.
Macedonia: The government of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev survives a no-confidence motion in parliament, which is rejected 62-40.
Ankourao |
Niger: Foreign Minister Ibrahim Yacouba resigns. He is replaced by Kalla Ankourao.
Tonga: Internal Affairs Minister 'Akosita Lavulavu is dismissed. Deputy Prime Minister Semisi Sika takes on the portfolio until a successor is named.
12
Argentina: Former governor of San Juan (1971-73, 1987-91) Carlos Enrique Gómez Centurión dies.
Sri Lanka: The following new governors are sworn in: Reginald Cooray (Central), M.P. Jayasinghe (North Central), K.C. Logeswaran (North Western), Niluka Ekanayake (Sabaragamuwa), Marshal Perera (Southern), P.B. Dissanayake (Uva), and Hemakumara Nanayakkara (Western). However, on April 13 Cooray is again sworn in to his previous position as governor of Northern province, and Dissanayake as governor of Central province (but to remain acting governor of Uva).
13
Kosovo: Bejtush Gashi is appointed as interior minister.
14
Gomes | 
Có |
Guinea-Bissau: President José Mário Vaz announces that he will, on April 17, appoint Aristides Gomes as prime minister. He actually does so on April 16. On April 25 the full government is named, with Gomes also as economy and finance minister, João Ribeiro Butiam Có as foreign minister, and Brig.Gen. Mutaro Djaló as interior minister; Eduardo Costa Sanhá remains defense minister.
15
Montenegro: In presidential elections, Milo Djukanovic (Democratic Party of Socialists) wins about 54% of the vote, Mladen Bojanic (independent) about 33%, and Draginja Vuksanovic (Social Democratic Party) about 8%. Turnout is about 64%.
16
Argentina: Former governor of Córdoba (1976-79) Carlos Bernardo Chasseing dies.
Slovakia: Interior Minister Tomás Drucker resigns. Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini becomes acting interior minister on April 17. On April 24 Denisa Saková is nominated as interior minister (sworn in April 26).
18
Japan: The governor of Niigata, Ryuichi Yoneyama, announces his resignation. It takes effect April 27, Deputy Governor Morio Takai becoming acting governor.
19
Nibigira | 
Díaz-Canel |
Burundi: In a cabinet reshuffle, Ezéchiel Nibigira is named foreign minister.
Cuba: The National Assembly approves Miguel Díaz-Canel as president of the Council of State and of the Council of Ministers.
Abulgaziyev | 
Mashat |
Kyrgyzstan: Prime Minister Sapar Isakov loses a no-confidence vote in parliament (101-5) and resigns. The ruling coalition nominates Mukhammetkaly Abulgaziyev for prime minister. The new government is appointed on April 20 and includes Erlis Terdikbayev as chairman of the State Committee for Defense Affairs and Kashkar Dzhunushaliyev as interior minister, while the foreign and finance ministers remain in place.
The Sudan: Foreign Minister Ibrahim Ghandour is dismissed. Mohamed Abdalla Idris becomes acting foreign minister.
Yemen: The president of the Supreme Political Council, Saleh al-Sammad, is killed in an airstrike; this is announced on April 23, with Mahdi al-Mashat named as successor (sworn in April 25).
20
China: Former mayor of Tianjin (1989-93) Nie Bichu dies.
Congo (Kinshasa): The March 28 election of Prosper Tunda Kasongo as governor of Maniema is invalidated by the Supreme Court.
Sweden: Former governor of Västernorrland (1989-95) Ingemar Öhrn dies.
21
Mammadov |
Azerbaijan: Parliament approves Novruz Mammadov as prime minister. The new cabinet is announced with no change in key portfolios.
22
Austria: In state elections in Salzburg, the Austrian People's Party wins 37.8% of the vote (15 of 36 seats), the Social Democratic Party 20.0% (8), the Freedom Party 18.8% (7), the Greens 9.3% (3), New Austria-Liberal Forum 7.3% (3), and the Free Party Salzburg 4.5% (0). Turnout is 64.9%.
French Polynesia: In parliamentary elections, Tapura Huiraatira wins 43.0% of the vote, Tahoeraa Huiraatira 29.4%, and Tavini Huiraatira 20.7%. Turnout is 61.5%. The allocation of the 57 seats will take place in the second round scheduled for May 6, with only the parties receiving more than 12.5% of the vote in the first round (i.e., the three mentioned above) allowed to participate.
Italy: In regional elections in Molise, Donato Toma (centre-right) is elected as president with 43.5% of the vote, defeating Andrea Greco (Five Star Movement) with 38.5% and Carlo Veneziale (centre-left) with 17.1%. Turnout is 52.2%.
Paraguay: Presidential elections are won by Mario Abdo Benítez (Colorado Party) with 49.0% of the vote against 45.1% for Efraín Alegre (Authentic Radical Liberal Party). Turnout is 61.3%.
23
Haiti: In a cabinet reshuffle, Jean-Marie Reynaldo Brunet is named interior minister.
Japan: Former governor of Saga (1991-2003) Isamu Imoto dies.
Lomuro |
South Sudan: Foreign Minister Deng Alor is removed from office and Martin Elia Lomuro named acting foreign minister.
24
Austin | 
Gagulia |
Canada: Janet Austin is sworn in as lieutenant governor of British Columbia.
Georgia: The president of Abkhazia, Raul Khadjimba, appoints Gennady Gagulia as prime minister, replacing Beslan Bartsits. Dzhansukh Nanba is appointed finance minister in the new government on April 30, other key ministers being reappointed.
Greenland: In parliamentary elections, Siumut wins 27.2% of the vote (9 of 31 seats), Inuit Ataqatigiit 25.5% (8), Demokraterne 19.5% (6), Partii Naleraq 13.4% (4), and Atassut 5.9% (2). Turnout is 71.9%.
Somalia: Defense Minister Mohamed Mursal Sheikh Abdirahman resigns.
25
Garrido |
Spain: The president of the government of Madrid, Cristina Cifuentes, resigns. Ángel Garrido becomes acting president.
26
Pakistan: Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif is disqualified from parliament; this makes him also vacate his government position, leaving Foreign Secretary Tehmina Janjua in charge. On April 27 Miftah Ismail is appointed finance minister.
Seychelles: A cabinet reshuffle is announced (effective April 27) with Macsuzy Mondon becoming home affairs minister and Maurice Loustau-Lalanne finance minister.
Pompeo |
United States: Ronny L. Jackson withdraws as nominee for secretary of veterans affairs. Mike Pompeo is confirmed by the Senate (57-42) and sworn in as secretary of state; Gina Haspel becomes acting CIA director.
United States: Former governor of Vermont (1963-69) Philip H. Hoff dies.
27
Ecuador: President Lenín Moreno accepts the resignation of Defense Minister Patricio Zambrano and Interior Minister César Navas and names Oswaldo Jarrín and Mauro Toscanini as their respective successors.
Guatemala: Former foreign minister (1991) and president (1996-2000) Álvaro Arzú Irigoyen dies.
29
Bolivia: Former president (1980-81) Luis García Meza Tejada dies.
Italy: In regional elections in Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Massimiliano Fedriga (centre-right) is elected as president with 57.1% of the vote, defeating Sergio Bolzonello (centre-left) with 26.8% and Alessandro Fraleoni Morgera (Five Star Movement) with 11.7%. Turnout is 49.7%.
Réunion: Former prefect (1981-84) Michel Levallois dies.
United Kingdom: Home Secretary Amber Rudd resigns. On April 30 Sajid Javid is appointed home secretary.
30
Gabon: The Constitutional Court orders Prime Minister Emmanuel Issoze-Ngondet to resign because the government failed to hold elections on time.
India: Former governor of Maharashtra (1982-85) Idris Hasan Latif dies.