Rulers

October 2017

1

France: François Pinte becomes acting president of the Regional Council of Pays de la Loire. On October 19 Christelle Morançais, the only candidate, is elected president (53 of 92 votes).
Nigeria: Former governor of Kaduna (1977-78) Muktar Muhammed dies.

Carattoni
San Marino: Matteo Fiorini (Future Republic) and Enrico Carattoni (Democratic Socialist Left) take office as captains-regent.

2


Payette
Canada: Julie Payette is sworn in as governor general.
Guatemala: Luis Miguel Ralda Moreno is sworn in as defense minister.

3


Mishra
India: B.D. Mishra is sworn in as governor of Arunachal Pradesh.
Iraq: Former president of the Governing Council (2003) and president (2005-14) Jalal Talabani dies.
Italy: Former president of Sicilia (1993-95) Francesco Martino dies.
The Netherlands: Defense Minister Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert resigns. On October 4 Klaas Dijkhoff is appointed as defense minister.

Vasilyev
Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the head of the republic of Dagestan, Ramazan Abdulatipov, and appoints Vladimir Vasilyev as acting head of the republic.
United States: In mayoral elections in Albuquerque, Tim Keller wins 39.3% of the vote, Dan Lewis 22.9%, and Brian Colón 16.4%. A runoff will take place on November 14.

4


Malik
Brazil: Amazonino Armando Mendes takes office as governor of Amazonas.
Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Kasaï Central passes a no-confidence motion (17-4) against the governor, Alex Kande Mupompa. Justin Milonga Milonga becomes acting governor.
Dominican Republic: Former foreign minister (1991-94) Juan Arístides Taveras Guzmán dies.
India: Satya Pal Malik is sworn in as governor of Bihar.
Ireland: Former foreign minister (1954-57) and prime minister (1973-77) Liam Cosgrave dies.

Khürelsükh
Tsogtbaatar
Mongolia: Parliament approves Ukhnaa Khürelsükh as prime minister (47-0). On October 11 the ruling party nominates Damdin Tsogtbaatar as foreign minister, Nyamaa Enkhbold as defense minister, Tsendiyn Nyamdorj as home affairs minister, and Chimed Khürelbaatar as finance minister. On October 17 President Khaltmaa Battulga approves the nominations with the exception of Khürelbaatar. On October 18, however, parliament confirms all of the above. The ministers take office October 20.

Tarasenko
Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the governor of Primorsky kray, Vladimir Miklushevsky, and appoints Andrey Tarasenko as acting governor.

5

Congo (Kinshasa): Michel Balabala Kasongo takes office as governor of Kwilu.

Prasad
Klychkov
India: Ganga Prasad is sworn in as governor of Meghalaya.
Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the governor of Oryol oblast, Vadim Potomsky, and appoints Andrey Klychkov as acting governor.
Rwanda: Former foreign minister (1999) Amri Sued Ismail dies.
Turkmenistan: Batyr Bazarov becomes finance minister.

6

India: Banwarilal Purohit is sworn in as governor of Tamil Nadu.

Travnikov
Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the governor of Novosibirsk oblast, Vladimir Gorodetsky, and appoints Andrey Travnikov as acting governor.

8


Joshi
Argentina: In gubernatorial elections in Corrientes, Gustavo Valdés (Encuentro por Corrientes-Cambiemos, including Radical Civic Union) wins 54.1% of the vote and Carlos Espínola (Frente Corrientes Podemos Más, including Justicialist Party) 45.2%.
India: Devendra Kumar Joshi is sworn in as lieutenant governor of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

9

Congo (Kinshasa): Constant Lomata Kongoli takes office as governor of Tshopo.
El Salvador: Former president (1994-99) Armando Calderón Sol dies.

Burkov
Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the governor of Omsk oblast, Viktor Nazarov, and appoints Aleksandr Burkov as acting governor.

Mzembi
Zimbabwe: In a cabinet reshuffle, Walter Mzembi becomes foreign minister, Obert Mpofu home affairs minister, and Ignatius Chombo finance minister.

10

Canada: Danny Breen is sworn in as mayor of Saint John's.
Guadeloupe: Former prefect (1994-96) Michel Diefenbacher dies.
India: Jagdish Mukhi is sworn in as governor of Assam.

Viérin
Italy: The president of Valle d'Aosta, Pierluigi Marquis, resigns. On October 13 Laurent Viérin is elected to replace him (21 votes).
Liberia: In the first round of presidential elections, George Weah (Coalition for Democratic Change) wins 38.4% of the vote, Joseph Boakai (Unity Party) 28.8%, Charles Brumskine (Liberty Party) 9.6%, Prince Johnson (Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction) 8.2%, and Alexander Cummings (Alternative National Congress) 7.2%. Turnout is 75.2%. A runoff is to be held on November 7.

Voskresensky
Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the governor of Ivanovo oblast, Pavel Konkov, and appoints Stanislav Voskresensky as acting governor.

11

Barbados: Former governor-general (1996-2011) Sir Clifford Husbands dies.
United States: President Donald Trump nominates Kirstjen Nielsen as homeland security secretary.

12

Aruba: Evelyn Wever-Croes is named formateur of a new government.

Zijlstra
The Netherlands: Prime Minister Mark Rutte is asked to form a new government. On October 20 the complete government is announced, including Halbe Zijlstra as foreign minister, Ank Bijleveld as defense minister, Kajsa Ollongren as interior minister, and Wopke Hoekstra as finance minister. The government is sworn in on October 26.

Vedernikov
Russia: President Vladimir Putin accepts the resignation of the governor of Pskov oblast, Andrey Turchak, and appoints Mikhail Vedernikov as acting governor.
Somalia: Defense Minister Abdirashid Abdullahi Mohamed resigns.

13

Madagascar: Former president (1993-96) Albert Zafy dies.
Peru: The government of Prime Minister Mercedes Aráoz wins a confidence vote in parliament (83-17).
Serbia: Former president of the Executive Council (1986-89) Desimir Jevtic dies.
Solomon Islands: In a cabinet reshuffle, John Maneniaru becomes finance minister. On October 28 several ministers, including Home Affairs Minister Manasseh Maelanga and National Security Minister Moses Garu, resign.

14

Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Mongala passes a no-confidence motion against the governor, Bienvenu Essimba Baluwa Bolea.
Russia: Andrey Nikitin is inaugurated as governor of Novgorod oblast.

15

Austria: In parliamentary elections, the Austrian People's Party wins 31.5% of the vote (62 of 183 seats), the Social Democratic Party 26.9% (52), the Freedom Party 26% (51), New Austria 5.3% (10), List Pilz 4.4% (8), and the Greens 3.8% (0). Turnout is 80%. On October 20 President Alexander Van der Bellen tasks People's Party leader Sebastian Kurz with forming a government.
Congo (Kinshasa): Jeannine Intombi Embele is named acting governor of Équateur.
Germany: In state elections in Niedersachsen, the Social Democratic Party wins 36.9% of the vote (55 of 137 seats), the Christian Democratic Union 33.6% (50), the Greens 8.7% (12), the Free Democratic Party 7.5% (11), the Alternative for Germany 6.2% (9), and the Left 4.6% (0). Turnout is 63.1%.
Kyrgyzstan: In presidential elections, Sooronbay Jeenbekov wins about 54% of the vote, Omurbek Babanov about 33%, and Adakhan Madumarov about 6%. Turnout is about 56%.
Mexico: Former interim governor of San Luis Potosí (1991-92) Gonzalo Martínez Corbalá dies.
Venezuela: Results of gubernatorial elections (GPP=Great Patriotic Pole, MUD=Democratic Unity Roundtable): On October 18 the 18 GPP governors take the oath before the National Constituent Assembly. On October 23, 4 of the 5 MUD governors do so. At various dates subsequent to these oaths, the governors are sworn in and take office in the Legislative Councils of their states. Guanipa (Zulia) refuses to take the oath in the National Constituent Assembly and is not allowed to take office; Magdely Valbuena is sworn in as acting governor on October 27, a new election to be held in December.

16

Canada: In mayoral elections in Calgary, incumbent Naheed Nenshi wins 51.4% of the vote and Bill Smith 43.7%; turnout is 58.1%. In Edmonton, incumbent Don Iveson wins 72.5% of the vote and his nearest opponent Don Koziak 6.8%; turnout is 31.5%.
Indonesia: Anies Baswedan is sworn in as governor of Jakarta.

17

Nepal: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba strips the ministers of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) of their portfolios and assumes responsibility of home and foreign affairs himself.
South Africa: In a cabinet reshuffle, Ayanda Dlodlo becomes home affairs minister.

18

Germany: The minister-president of Sachsen, Stanislaw Tillich, announces his resignation. He is to be replaced by Michael Kretschmer in December.
Portugal: Interior Minister Constança Urbano de Sousa resigns. Eduardo Cabrita is named as new interior minister, effective October 21. On October 24, the government of Prime Minister António Costa survives a no-confidence motion in parliament, which is rejected 122-105.

19

Timor-Leste: Parliament votes against the policy program of the government of Prime Minister Mari Alkatiri.

20


Perry
Canada: Antoinette Perry is sworn in as lieutenant governor of Prince Edward Island.
France: Jean Rottner is elected as president of the Regional Council of Grand Est, receiving 96 votes against 35 for Virginie Joron.

Søreide
Norway: In a cabinet reshuffle, Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide becomes foreign minister and Frank Bakke-Jensen defense minister.

21

Czech Republic: In parliamentary elections held October 20-21, Action of Dissatisfied Citizens 2011 wins 29.6% of the vote (78 of 200 seats), the Civic Democratic Party 11.3% (25), the Pirate Party 10.8% (22), Freedom and Direct Democracy 10.6% (22), the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia 7.8% (15), the Social Democratic Party 7.3% (15), the Christian and Democratic Union-Czechoslovak People's Party 5.8% (10), Tradition Responsibility Prosperity 09 5.3% (7), and Mayors and Independents 5.2% (6). Turnout is 60.8%.

22

Argentina: In elections to 127 of 257 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 24 of 72 in the Senate, Cambiemos wins about 42% of the vote and will have a total of 107 seats in the Chamber and 24 in the Senate, Unidad Ciudadana about 22% (67 and 10), the Justicialist Party about 20% (40 and 23), and 1País about 6% (21 and 0). In gubernatorial elections in Santiago del Estero, Gerardo Zamora (Frente Cívico) wins about 68% of the vote and Marcelo Lugones (Cambiemos) about 17%.
Japan: In parliamentary elections, the Liberal-Democratic Party wins 33.2% of the vote (284 of 465 seats), the Constitutional Democratic Party 19.8% (55), the Party of Hope 17.3% (50), Komeito 12.5% (29), the Communist Party 7.8% (12), and the Japan Innovation Party 6% (11). Turnout is 53.7%. In gubernatorial elections in Miyagi, incumbent Yoshihiro Murai wins 81.7% of the vote and Satoshi Tatara 18.3%; turnout is 53.3%.
Slovenia: In presidential elections, incumbent Borut Pahor wins 47.1% of the vote, Marjan Sarec 25%, Romana Tomc 13.7%, and Ljudmila Novak 7.2%. Turnout is 43.6%. A runoff will be held November 12.

24

Germany: Wolfgang Schäuble leaves office as finance minister and Peter Altmaier temporarily takes over the portfolio.
Malawi: In a cabinet reshuffle, Cecilia Chazama becomes minister of home affairs and internal security.
Moldova: Eugen Sturza is sworn in as defense minister by the chairman of parliament, Andrian Candu, acting as interim president while President Igor Dodon is briefly suspended for his refusal to approve the appointment.
New Caledonia: The government fails for the third time to elect a president, Philippe Germain receiving 5 votes and 6 members abstaining.

25

China: Xi Jinping is reelected as general secretary of the Communist Party.
Italy: The government of Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni wins five confidence votes in the Senate on the adoption of a new electoral law.
Latvia: Former chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Latvian S.S.R. (1988-90) Vilnis Edvins Bresis dies.

Ardern
New Zealand: The prime minister-designate, Jacinda Ardern, announces her cabinet (sworn in October 26) with herself as national security minister, Winston Peters as foreign minister, Ron Mark as defence minister, Tracey Martin as internal affairs minister, and Grant Robertson as finance minister.

26

Kenya: In presidential elections, incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta (Jubilee Party) wins 98.3% of the vote and Raila Odinga (National Super Alliance), who called for a boycott of the vote, 1%. Turnout is 38.8%.
Venezuela: Simón Zerpa is named economy and finance minister.

27

Benin: In a cabinet reshuffle, Fortunet Alain Nouatin is named minister-delegate in charge of defense.
Spain: The parliament of Catalonia votes 70-10 (135 members total) to declare an independent republic. The Senate of Spain approves (214-47) the application of Article 155 of the constitution, allowing for the suspension of a region's autonomy. Accordingly, the Spanish government dissolves the Catalan parliament and removes the government of Carles Puigdemont (effective October 28).

28

Iceland: In parliamentary elections, the Independence Party wins 25.2% of the vote (16 of 63 seats), the Left-Green Movement 16.9% (11), the Social Democratic Alliance 12.1% (7), the Centre Party 10.9% (7), the Progressive Party 10.7% (8), the Pirate Party 9.2% (6), the People's Party 6.9% (4), Restoration 6.7% (4), and Bright Future 1.2% (0). Turnout is 81.2%.

29

Australia: Former governor-general (1982-89) Sir Ninian Stephen dies.
Iraq: In the Kurdish parliament a letter from President Massoud Barzani is read stating that he refuses to continue in the position after November 1.

30

Canada: In parliamentary elections in Nunavut, 22 nonpartisan members are elected (including 1 who already won by acclamation on September 29).
China: Tang Yijun is appointed acting governor of Liaoning.
Kuwait: The cabinet of Prime Minister Sheikh Jabir Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah resigns.
United States: Former governor of Montana (2001-05) Judy Martz dies.

31

Argentina: The governor of Chubut, Mario Das Neves, dies. The vice governor, Mariano Arcioni (already acting for Das Neves from August 23), succeeds as governor.

O'Halloran
Australia: Vicki O'Halloran is sworn in as administrator of the Northern Territory.