April 2024

1

Congo (Kinshasa): Judith Suminwa Tuluka is appointed prime minister.
Peru: Six ministers including Interior Minister Víctor Torres Falcón resign. Walter Ortiz Acosta is appointed and sworn in as interior minister. On April 3 the government of Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén wins a confidence vote in parliament (70-38 with 17 abstentions). On April 4 parliament rejects (49-33 and 59-32) two motions to start impeachment proceedings against President Dina Boluarte.

Gasperoni

San Marino: Alessandro Rossi (Demos) and Milena Gasperoni (We for the Republic) take office as captains-regent.

2

Portugal: The government of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro (see March 10) takes office.
Senegal: Bassirou Diomaye Faye is sworn in as president. He appoints Ousmane Sonko as prime minister. On April 5 the cabinet is announced with Yassine Fall as foreign minister, Gen. Birame Soulèye Diop as armed forces minister, Gen. Jean-Baptiste Tine as interior and public security minister, and Cheikh Diba as finance minister. Sonko takes office April 8.
United States: In mayoral elections in Anchorage (turnout 25.6%), Suzanne LaFrance wins 36.4% of the vote, incumbent David Bronson 35.3%, and Bill Popp 17.0%; a runoff will take place on May 14. In Milwaukee, incumbent Cavalier Johnson wins 81.0% of the vote and David King 18.4%.

3

Australia: Sam Mostyn is announced as next governor-general, to take office in July.
Czech Republic: The Regional Council of Moravskoslezský kraj elects (36-16) Josef Belica as governor.
Latvia: Prime Minister Evika Silina accepts the resignation of Foreign Minister Krisjanis Karins effective April 10, taking up his duties herself from April 11. On April 15 Baiba Braze is nominated as foreign minister; she is confirmed by parliament (66-11) on April 19.
Togo: President Faure Gnassingbé announces the postponement of parliamentary elections, which were due to be held on April 20, to an unspecified later date. On April 9 it is announced they will be held on April 29. On April 19 parliament adopts (87-0) constitutional amendments providing, among other things, for the election of the president by parliament. In the elections on April 29, the Union for the Republic wins 108 of 113 seats; turnout is 61%.

4

Canada: Former lieutenant governor of British Columbia (2001-07) Iona Campagnolo dies.
Kuwait: In parliamentary elections, 50 nonpartisan members are elected (including 29 opposition candidates). Turnout is 62.1%. On April 6 the government of Prime Minister Sheikh Muhammad Sabah Al Salim Al Sabah resigns. On April 7 the emir accepts the resignation. On April 15 he appoints Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al Ahmad Al Sabah as prime minister.
Malta: Myriam Spiteri Debono is sworn in as president.
Tonga: Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni confirms that on March 28 he resigned as defense minister and Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu resigned as foreign minister.

5

Bulgaria: Dimitur Glavchev, the designated interim prime minister, proposes a cabinet including Ivaylo Tsenov as foreign minister, Atanas Zapryanov as defense minister, and Lyudmila Petkova as finance minister, with Kalin Stoyanov remaining interior minister. President Rumen Radev says that new parliamentary elections will be held on June 9. He appoints the caretaker government on April 9, but with Stefan Dimitrov as foreign minister, Tsenov having declined the appointment. In a reshuffle on April 22, Glavchev himself assumes the foreign affairs portfolio.
Iceland: Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir announces her resignation in order to be a candidate in the June 1 presidential election. On April 9 Bjarni Benediktsson is designated as new prime minister. He names a cabinet with Thórdís Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir as foreign minister, Svandís Svavarsdóttir as interior minister, and Sigurdur Ingi Jóhannsson as finance minister. The government is appointed the same day.
Senegal: Former prime minister (2014-19) Mohamed Dionne dies.
United States: Former governor of Maine (1979-87) Joseph E. Brennan dies.

6

Slovakia: In the presidential runoff, Peter Pellegrini wins 53.1% of the vote and Ivan Korcok 46.9%. Turnout is 61.1%. Pellegrini will take office June 15.

7

Haiti: A political agreement is signed concerning the establishment of the Transitional Presidential Council, to be in place until Feb. 7, 2026, and comprised of 7 voting members - Smith Augustin, Fritz Jean, Louis Gérald Gilles, Edgard Leblanc Fils, Laurent Saint-Cyr, Emmanuel Vertilaire, Leslie Voltaire - and 2 non-voting members - Frinel Joseph and Régine Abraham. The council is established on April 12. On April 25 it is sworn in and the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry (dated April 24) is announced. Finance Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert, already in charge since February when Henry left the country and was unable to return, remains acting prime minister. On April 30 the council elects Leblanc Fils as its president (4 of 7 votes) and Fritz Bélizaire as prime minister (4 of 7 votes).
Russia: Former head of the administration of Voronezh oblast (1992-96) Aleksandr Kovalev dies.
Somalia: In a cabinet reshuffle, Ahmed Moalim Fiqi is named foreign minister and Ali Yusuf Ali to replace him as interior minister.

8

Ireland: Prime Minister Leo Varadkar submits his resignation. On April 9 Simon Harris is elected by parliament (88-69) and appointed by the president as prime minister. He names a cabinet with no change in key portfolios.
Spain: Former president of the government of País Vasco/Euskadi (1985-99) José Antonio Ardanza dies.

9

Venezuela: Former governor of Barinas (1998-2008) Hugo de los Reyes Chávez dies.

10

Congo (Kinshasa): The government adopts a 70th extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu, followed by a 71st on April 19.
South Korea: In parliamentary elections, the People Power Party/People Future Party wins 36.8% of the vote (108 of 300 seats), the Democratic Party/Democratic Alliance 26.7% (176), and the Rebuilding Korea Party 24.3% (12). Turnout is 67.0%. On April 11 Prime Minister Han Duck Soo offers his resignation.
Taiwan: President-elect Lai Ching-te (to take office May 20) appoints Cho Jung-tai as premier. On April 12 Cho designates Liu Shyh-fang as interior minister. On April 16 President Tsai Ing-wen announces that Lin Chia-lung will be foreign minister. On April 23 Cho says he will keep Chuang Tsui-yun as finance minister. On April 25 Lai announces that Koo Li-hsiung will be defense minister.

11

Nigeria: Former governor of Abia (1992-93) Ogbonnaya Onu dies.

12

International Monetary Fund: Kristalina Georgieva is reappointed as managing director.

15

Croatia: Former prime minister (1990-91) Josip Manolic dies.
Russia: Former head of the administration of Arkhangelsk oblast (1991-96) Pavel Balakshin dies.
Singapore: It is announced that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will leave office on May 15, to be succeeded by Lawrence Wong.

16

United States: Former governor of Florida (1979-87) Bob Graham dies.
United States: The House of Representatives transmits to the Senate two articles of impeachment against Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas. On April 17 the Senate votes (51-48 with 1 abstention concerning the first article; 51-49 concerning the second) to kill the two articles.

17

Congo (Kinshasa): The governor of Tshopo, Madeleine Nikomba Sabangu, resigns. The deputy governor, Paulin Lendongolia Lebabonga, becomes acting governor.
Croatia: In parliamentary elections, the Croatian Democratic Union coalition wins 61 of 151 seats, Rivers of Justice 42, the Homeland Movement coalition 14, The Bridge-Croatian Sovereigntists 11, and We Can! 10. Turnout is about 62%.
Iceland: The government of Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson survives a no-confidence vote (rejected 35-25).
Madagascar: Seven acting ministers are appointed in place of ministers (including Interior Minister Justin Tokely) who resigned to be candidates in May parliamentary elections. The decentralization minister, Naina Andriantsitohaina, is appointed as acting interior minister.
Solomon Islands: In parliamentary elections, the Ownership, Unity and Responsibility Party wins 24.1% of the vote (15 of 50 seats), independents 21.9% (11), the Solomon Islands Democratic Party 19.3% (11), the Solomon Islands United Party 13.5% (6), the Solomon Islands Kadere Party 4.9% (1), the Solomon Islands Party for Rural Advancement 4.5% (1), and the Solomon People First Party 3.2% (3).
The Sudan: The acting foreign minister, Ali al-Sadiq Ali, is removed from office and replaced by Hussein Awad Ali Mohamed.

19

Canada: Gerry Kisoun is appointed as commissioner of the Northwest Territories.

20

Lithuania: Former prime minister (2006-08) Gediminas Kirkilas dies (night of April 19/20).
United States: Former governor of Arkansas (1975-79) David Pryor dies.

21

Maldives: In parliamentary elections, the People's National Congress wins 66 of 93 seats, the Maldivian Democratic Party 12, and independents 11. Turnout is 75.8%.
Spain: In parliamentary elections in País Vasco/Euskadi, the Basque Nationalist Party wins 35.2% of the vote (27 of 75 seats), Euskal Herria Bildu 32.5% (27), the Socialist Party of the Basque Country-Basque Country Left 14.2% (12), the Popular Party 9.2% (7), Sumar 3.3% (1), and Vox 2.0% (1). Turnout is 62.5%.

22

Cook Islands: Catherine Graham is appointed high commissioner.
Italy: In presidential elections in Basilicata held April 21-22, incumbent Vito Bardi (centre-right) wins 56.6% of the vote and Piero Marrese (centre-left) 42.2%. Turnout is 49.8%.

23

South Korea: Former prime minister (1990-91) Ro Jai Bong dies.

24

North Macedonia: In presidential elections, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova (VMRO-DPMNE) wins 41.2% of the vote, incumbent Stevo Pendarovski (Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia) 20.5%, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani (Democratic Union of Integration) 13.7%, Maksim Dimitrievski (For Our Macedonia) 9.5%, Arben Taravari (Alliance for the Albanians) 9.5%, and Biljana Vankovska (Left) 4.7%. Turnout is 49.9%. The runoff will be held on May 8.
Sint Maarten: The government nominated by the prime minister-designate, Luc Mercelina, is announced, with Marinka J. Gumbs as finance minister.
Switzerland: Christian Vitta becomes president of the Council of State of Ticino.

25

Serbia: Balint Juhas is elected president of the Assembly of Vojvodina (81-28). On April 30 Maja Gojkovic receives the mandate to form a government in the province.
South Sudan: President Salva Kiir dismisses Foreign Minister James Pitia Morgan and appoints Ramadan Abdallah Goc as foreign minister.

28

Thailand: In a cabinet reshuffle, Pichai Chunhavajira is appointed as finance minister (succeeding Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin in that portfolio). Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara resigns. On April 30 Maris Sangiampongsa is nominated as foreign minister.

29

United Kingdom: The first minister of Scotland, Humza Yousaf, announces his resignation, effective upon the election of a new leader of the Scottish National Party.

30

China: Former chairwoman of the government of Nei Mongol (2000-03) Uyunqimg dies.
Serbia: Prime minister-designate Milos Vucevic announces his proposed cabinet with Marko Djuric as foreign minister, Bratislav Gasic as defense minister, Ivica Dacic as interior minister, and Sinisa Mali to remain finance minister.