May 2023

1

Colombia: Luis Fernando Velasco takes office as interior minister and Ricardo Bonilla as finance minister.
Kuwait: Parliament is formally dissolved. On May 3 new elections are set for June 6.

Darbellay

Switzerland: Christophe Darbellay becomes president of the Council of State of Valais.
Switzerland: Former Landammann of Aargau (1969-70, 1974-75, 1978-79, 1983-84, 1987-88, 1991-92) Arthur Schmid dies.

2

Kondov

Bulgaria: Ivan Kondov is appointed foreign minister.
Congo (Kinshasa): Parliament approves a 47th extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu, followed by a 48th on May 16.
United States: In the mayoral runoff in Lincoln, Leirion Gaylor Baird is reelected with 54.6% of the vote, against 45.2% for Suzanne Geist. Turnout is 45.7%.

3

Bosnia and Herzegovina: The Federation government of Prime Minister Nermin Niksic is sworn in.
Croatia: Former prime minister (1993-95) Nikica Valentic dies.
Indonesia: Former governor of Bengkulu (1989-94) A. Razie Yahya dies.
Sovereign Military Order of Malta: John T. Dunlap is elected and sworn in as grand master.
World Bank: Ajay Banga is chosen as next president, to take office June 2.

4

Montenegro: Former joint acting president (2003) Rifat Rastoder dies.

5

Ódor	Wlachovský

Slovakia: Foreign Minister Rastislav Kácer offers his resignation. On May 7 Prime Minister Eduard Heger resigns and President Zuzana Caputová announces she will later in the month appoint a new government under Ludovít Ódor. On May 12 she announces the members of that government (appointed on May 15) with Miroslav Wlachovský as foreign minister, Martin Sklenár as defense minister, Ivan Simko as interior minister, and Michal Horváth as finance minister.
Vanuatu: Internal Affairs Minister Christophe Emelee resigns. Rick Tchamako Mahe is appointed in his place.

6

China: Hu Yuting is elected governor of Jilin.
United States: In mayoral elections in Dallas, incumbent Eric Johnson wins 93.2% of the vote. In San Antonio, incumbent Ron Nirenberg wins 60.7% of the vote and Christopher T. Schuchardt 21.9%.

7

Argentina: In gubernatorial elections in Jujuy, Carlos Sadir (Change Front Jujuy) is elected with 49.5% of the vote, against 22.3% for Rubén Rivarola (Justicialist Front) and 12.8% for Alejandro Vilca (Left Front-Unity). In La Rioja, incumbent Ricardo Quintela (Frente de Todos) wins 50.8% of the vote, Felipe Álvarez (Juntos por el Cambio) 31.8%, and Martín Menem (La Libertad Avanza) 15.6%. In Misiones, Hugo Passalacqua (Frente Renovador de la Concordia) wins 64.2% of the vote and Martín Arjol (Juntos por el Cambio) 26.5%.

8

Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Tanganyika adopts (14-0) a no-confidence motion against Governor Julie Ngungwa Mwayuma. She rejects the motion, and on May 12 the central government suspends until further notice the activities of the assembly.
Niue: Dalton Tagelagi is reelected as premier, defeating O'Love Jacobsen (16-4). On May 11 Tagelagi announces his cabinet with himself remaining foreign minister and Crossley Tatui finance minister.

Fehr

Switzerland: Mario Fehr is elected president of the government of Zürich.
Uzbekistan: President Shavkat Mirziyayev announces early presidential elections to be held on July 9.

9

Ecuador: Parliament adopts (88-23) a motion to begin an impeachment trial against President Guillermo Lasso. On May 17 Lasso dissolves parliament, bringing forward parliamentary and presidential elections. On May 18 the Constitutional Court rejects a series of appeals against the dissolution. On May 23 the National Electoral Council announces the early elections will be held on August 20.

10

Anguilla: Julia Crouch is appointed governor.
Costa Rica: Mario Zamora is appointed security minister.
India: In state elections in Karnataka, the Indian National Congress wins 42.9% of the vote (135 of 224 seats), the Bharatiya Janata Party 36.0% (66), and Janata Dal (Secular) 13.3% (19). Turnout is 73.2%. On May 13 Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai resigns. On May 18 K. Siddaramaiah is chosen to become chief minister (sworn in May 20).

Tor

11

Andorra: Xavier Espot Zamora is again elected head of government, defeating Cerni Escalé Cabré 17-5. On May 15 he is sworn in and names a government including Imma Tor as foreign minister, Ester Molné as interior minister, and Ramón Lladós as finance minister.
Christmas Island/Cocos Islands: Farzian Zainal is appointed administrator. She is sworn in May 26, for a 3-year term beginning June 19.

Simina

Federated States of Micronesia: Wesley W. Simina is elected president.
Norfolk Island: George Plant is appointed administrator. He is sworn in May 26, for a 3-year term beginning June 1.

12

Brotherson

French Polynesia: The Assembly elects Moetai Brotherson as president. He receives 38 votes, against 16 for Édouard Fritch and 3 for Nicole Sanquer. On May 15 Brotherson announces his cabinet with himself in charge of international affairs and Tevaiti-Ariipaea Pomare as finance minister.
Indonesia: Ismail Pakaya is appointed acting governor of Gorontalo and Zudan Arif Fakrulloh acting governor of Sulawesi Barat.
Papua New Guinea: Foreign Minister Justin Tkatchenko stands aside. Prime Minister James Marape temporarily assumes the portfolio.
Tanzania: Former foreign minister (2007-15) Bernard Membe dies.

13

Mauritania: In the first round of parliamentary elections, El Insaf wins 80 of 176 seats, Tewassoul 9, and smaller parties 52; 35 seats will go to runoffs on May 27.

14

Argentina: In gubernatorial elections in La Pampa, Sergio Ziliotto (Frente Justicialista Pampeano) is reelected with 47.6% of the vote against 42.1% for Martín Berhongaray (Juntos por el Cambio). In Salta, Gustavo Sáenz (Alianza Gustavo Gobernador) is reelected with 47.5% of the vote, while Miguel Nanni (Juntos por el Cambio) wins 17.3% and Emiliano Estrada (Avancemos) 16.2%. In Tierra del Fuego, incumbent Gustavo Melella (Unidos Hacemos Futuro) wins 65.4% of the vote and Héctor Stefani (Propuesta Republicana) 14.1%. Elections were also scheduled for this day in San Juan and Tucumán but on May 9 the Supreme Court suspended them to take the time to determine the validity of certain candidacies.
Germany: In state elections in Bremen, the Social Democratic Party wins 29.8% of the vote (27 of 87 seats), the Christian Democratic Union 26.2% (24), the Greens 11.9% (11), the Left 10.9% (10), Citizens in Rage 9.4% (10), and the Free Democratic Party 5.1% (5). Turnout is 56.8%.
Moldova: In the gubernatorial runoff in Gagauzia, Evghenia Gutul wins 52.4% of the vote and Grigorii Uzun 47.6%.
Thailand: In parliamentary elections, the Move Forward Party wins 152 of 500 seats, the Pheu Thai Party 141, the Bhumjaithai Party 70, the Palang Pracharath Party 41, the United Thai Nation Party 36, and the Democrat Party 24.
Turkey: In the first round of presidential elections, incumbent Recep Tayyip Erdogan (Justice and Development Party) wins 49.5% of the vote, Kemal Kiliçdaroglu (Republican People's Party) 44.9%, and Sinan Ogan (independent) 5.2%; turnout is 87.0%. A runoff is held on May 28, Erdogan winning 52.2% of the vote and Kiliçdaroglu 47.8%; turnout is 84.2%.

15

Bulgaria: President Rumen Radev hands a mandate to form a government to Mariya Gabriel (GERB-SDS). She returns the mandate on May 22, when GERB-SDS and the coalition We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria (PP-DB) announce an agreement to form a government with a rotating prime minister, Nikolay Denkov to serve the first 9 months, then followed by Gabriel. On May 29 Radev hands a mandate to PP-DB.
United States: Brandon Johnson is sworn in as mayor of Chicago.

16

Libya: The eastern-based parliament votes to suspend Prime Minister Fathi Bashagha and assign his duties to Finance Minister Osama Saad Hammad Saleh.
Russia: Former governor of Kirov oblast (2004-09) Nikolay Shaklein dies.
United States: In the mayoral runoff in Jacksonville, Donna Deegan wins 52.1% of the vote and Daniel Davis 47.9%. Deegan will take office July 1.

17

Saint Helena: Philip Kendall is appointed administrator of Tristan da Cunha, to take office in September.
Sri Lanka: Senthil Thondaman is appointed and sworn in as governor of Eastern province, P.S.M. Charles as governor of Northern province, and Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena as governor of North Western province.

20

Milatovic

Montenegro: Jakov Milatovic is sworn in as president.

21

Sarmas

Kaskarelis

Greece: In parliamentary elections, New Democracy wins 40.8% of the vote (146 of 300 seats), the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) 20.1% (71), the Panhellenic Socialist Party (PASOK) 11.5% (41), the Communist Party 7.2% (26), and Greek Solution 4.5% (16). Turnout is 60.9%. On May 22 President Ekaterini Sakellaropoulou offers Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis the opportunity to form a new government, but he declines, seeking new elections (which will give the leading party bonus seats). On May 23 Alexis Tsipras (SYRIZA) and Nikos Androulakis (PASOK) also turn down exploratory mandates. On May 24 Sakellaropoulou appoints Ioannis Sarmas as caretaker prime minister, with new elections set for June 25. On May 25 Sarmas is sworn in and his cabinet is announced (sworn in May 26) with Vasilis Kaskarelis as foreign minister, Alkiviadis Stefanis as defense minister, Theodoros Pelagidis as finance minister, and Kalliopi Spanou remaining interior minister.
Timor-Leste: In parliamentary elections, the National Congress for Timorese Reconstruction wins 41.5% of the vote (31 of 65 seats), Fretilin 25.8% (19), the Democratic Party 9.3% (6), Enriching the National Unity of the Sons of Timor 7.5% (5), and the People's Liberation Party 6.0% (4). Turnout is 77.1%.

22

Suriname: Former prime minister (1984-86) and foreign minister (1984-85) Wim Udenhout dies.

23

Benin: Foreign Minister Aurélien Agbénonci is dismissed. He is to be replaced by Paulette Marcelline Adjovi.

25

San Marino: Interior Minister Elena Tonnini resigns.

27

Paraguay: Former foreign minister (2009-11) Héctor Lacognata dies.
The Sudan: The acting foreign minister, Ali al-Sadiq Ali, is suspended and replaced by Mohamed Osman al-Hadi.
United States: Former secretary of the interior (1981-83) James G. Watt dies.

29

Australia: The premier of Western Australia, Mark McGowan, resigns.

Tinubu	Otti	Eno	Alia	Otu	Oborevwori	Nwifuru	Mbah	Namadi
Sani	Yusuf	Radda	Idris	Bago	Mutfwang	Fubara	Aliyu	Kefas	Lawal

Canada: In parliamentary elections in Alberta, the United Conservative Party of Alberta wins 52.6% of the vote (49 of 87 seats) and the New Democratic Party 44.0% (38). Turnout is 62.4%.
Nigeria: Bola Tinubu is sworn in as president. The following new governors take office: Alex Otti (Abia), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Hyacinth Alia (Benue), Bassey Otu (Cross River), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano), Dikko Umaru Radda (Katsina), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), Mohammed Umar Bago (Niger), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), Ahmad Aliyu (Sokoto), Agbu Kefas (Taraba), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara). Until a new cabinet is in place, ministries are in charge of their permanent secretaries, including from May 30 Adamu Ibrahim Lamuwa in foreign affairs.

31

Webber

Canada: Adeline Webber is appointed commissioner of Yukon, to succeed Angélique Bernard whose term ends this day.
Greece: Former foreign minister (1996-99) Theodoros Pangalos dies.
Latvia: Parliament fails in the first round to elect a president, Edgars Rinkevics winning 42 votes (51 needed), Uldis Pilens 25, and Elina Pinto 10. A second round yields the same result, and Pinto is eliminated. In the third round Rinkevics is elected with 52 votes against 25 for Pilens.