September 2023

1

Azerbaijan: The president of Artsakh, Araik Arutyunyan, submits his resignation. When accepted by parliament, its speaker, Davit Ishkhanyan, becomes acting president. On September 9 parliament elects Samvel Shahramanyan as president (22-1); he is inaugurated on September 10. On September 18 he appoints Artur Arutyunyan as minister of state. Following an Azerbaijani military offensive, on September 28 Shahramanyan signs a decree to dissolve the separatist state on Jan. 1, 2024.
The Bahamas: Cynthia Pratt is sworn in as governor-general.
Indonesia: Former governor of Sulawesi Selatan (2003-08) Amin Syam dies.
The Netherlands: Foreign Minister Wopke Hoekstra resigns. Liesje Schreinemacher becomes acting foreign minister. On September 4 Hanke Bruins Slot is designated as new foreign minister; she is appointed on September 5, with Hugo de Jonge replacing her as interior minister.
Singapore: In presidential elections, Tharman Shanmugaratnam wins 70.4% of the vote, Ng Kok Song 15.7%, and Tan Kin Lian 13.9%. Turnout is 93.4%. Shanmugaratnam takes office September 14.
Thailand: Prime minister-elect Srettha Thavisin submits a cabinet list for royal approval, which is given on September 2. It includes Srettha himself as finance minister, Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara as foreign minister, Sutin Klungsang as defense minister, and Anutin Charnvirakul as interior minister. The government is sworn in on September 5.
United States: Former UN ambassador (1997-98), energy secretary (1998-2001), and governor of New Mexico (2003-11) Bill Richardson dies.

2

Kazakhstan: Yerzhan Sadenov is appointed interior minister.

3

Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Iwate, incumbent Takuya Tasso wins 59.2% of the votes and Junko Chiba 40.8%. Turnout is 56.6%.
Kuwait: In a cabinet reshuffle, Fahad al-Jarallah is appointed finance minister.
Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky announces the dismissal of Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, nominating Rustem Umerov to succeed him. Reznikov formally resigns on September 4; parliament approves the resignation (327-4) on September 5 and elects Umerov (338-0) on September 6.

4

Albania: Prime Minister Edi Rama announces a cabinet reshuffle, with Igli Hasani to be foreign minister and Ervin Mete finance minister. President Bajram Begaj makes the appointments on September 9. Parliament endorses Hasani (74-33) on September 11 and he is sworn in on September 12. On September 14 Mete is endorsed by parliament (74-30) and sworn in.
Gabon: Gen. Brice Oligui Nguema is sworn in as transitional president. On September 7 Raymond Ndong Sima is named interim prime minister (taking office September 8). On September 9 a cabinet is announced with Régis Onanga Mamadou Ndiaye as foreign minister, Gen. Brigitte Onkanowa as minister-delegate for defense, Hermann Immongault as minister-delegate for interior and security, and Charles M'ba as public accounts minister.
Georgia: The foreign minister of Abkhazia, Inal Ardzinba, reportedly resigns, but this is denied on September 5.
South Sudan: James Pitia Morgan is sworn in as foreign minister.
Vanuatu: The Supreme Court dismisses the appeal against its August 25 decision that the August 16 no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Ishmael Kalsakau was successful. Parliament then elects Sato Kilman as prime minister with 27 votes, against 23 for Kalsakau. Kilman announces a cabinet with Marc Ati as foreign minister, Anthony Iauko as internal affairs minister, and Johnny Koanapo as finance minister.

5

Indonesia: As incumbents' terms end, acting governors are appointed as follows: Sang Made Mahendra Jaya (Bali), Bey Machmudin (Jawa Barat), Nana Sudjana (Jawa Tengah), Harrison Azroi (Kalimantan Barat), Ayodhia Kalake (Nusa Tenggara Timur), Muhammad Ridwan Rumasukun (Papua), Bahtiar Baharuddin (Sulawesi Selatan), Andap Budhi Revianto (Sulawesi Tenggara), Hasanuddin (Sumatera Utara). On September 19 Lalu Gita Ariadi becomes acting governor of Nusa Tenggara Barat.

6

Germany: Former first mayor of Hamburg (1974-81) Hans-Ulrich Klose dies.
Tonga: The government of Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (rejected 14-11).

7

Spain: In a third round of voting (see July 7), the assembly of Murcia reelects (30-15) Fernando López Miras as president.

8

Finland: The government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (rejected 106-65 with 21 abstentions). A separate no-confidence vote against Finance Minister Riikka Purra is also rejected (104-65 with 23 abstentions).
Togo: In a cabinet reshuffle, Calixte Madjoulba is named security minister.

9

Congo (Kinshasa): Former governor of Sud-Kivu (2008-10) Louis Léonce Muderhwa dies.
Madagascar: President Andry Rajoelina resigns to be able to contest the November presidential elections. The president of the Senate, Herimanana Razafimahefa, declines to assume presidential powers, so these will be exercised by the government, headed by Prime Minister Christian Ntsay.
Maldives: In the first round of presidential elections, Mohamed Muizzu wins 46.0% of the vote, incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih 39.1%, and Ilyas Labeeb 7.1%; turnout is 79.4%. A runoff is held September 30, Muizzu winning 54.0% and Solih 46.0%; turnout is 87.3%.
South Africa: Former chief minister of KwaZulu (1970-94) Mangosuthu Buthelezi dies.

10

Argentina: In gubernatorial elections in Santa Fe, Maximiliano Pullaro (Unidos para Cambiar Santa Fe) wins 58.4% of the vote and Marcelo Lewandowski (Juntos Avancemos) 30.9%.
Russia: The local parliament reelects Dmitry Artyukhov as governor of Yamalo-Nenets autonomous okrug. He receives 17 votes, against 2 for Aleksandr Golubenko and 1 for Maksim Lazarev. Results of popular elections of regional heads held September 8-10 (CPRF=Communist Party of the Russian Federation; JR-FT=A Just Russia-For Truth; LDPR=Liberal-Democratic Party of Russia; NP=New People; UR=United Russia):

Khakassia: incumbent Valentin Konovalov (CPRF) 70.6% of the vote, Mikhail Molchanov (LDPR) 16.0%, Vladimir Grudinin (Communists of Russia) 13.4%; turnout 39.5%
Sakha: incumbent Aysen Nikolayev (UR) 78.1%, Viktor Gubarev (CPRF) 10.7%, Gavril Parakhin (LDPR) 5.9%, Igor Borisov (Communists of Russia) 5.4%; turnout 48.4%
Altay kray: incumbent Viktor Tomenko (UR) 77.9%, Yevgeniya Borovikova (JR-FT) 9.7%, Sergey Bulayev (LDPR) 8.1%; turnout 31.0%
Krasnoyarsk kray: acting incumbent Mikhail Kotyukov (UR) 72.0%, Aleksandr Gliskov (LDPR) 11.6%, Irina Ivanova (Greens) 8.5%, Andrey Novak (CPRF) 6.1%; turnout about 36%
Primorsky kray: incumbent Oleg Kozhemyako (UR) 74.9%, Inna Kosheleva (LDPR) 10.1%, Aleksandr Andoni (Communists of Russia) 6.1%, Kirill Rudyuk (JR-FT) 4.9%; turnout 45.6%
Amur oblast: incumbent Vasily Orlov (UR) 83.9%, Boris Beloborodov (CPRF) 8.0%; turnout 38.7%
Ivanovo oblast: incumbent Stanislav Voskresensky (UR) 84.0%, Aleksandr Boykov (CPRF) 6.5%, Dmitry Shelyakin (LDPR) 4.6%; turnout 33.9%
Kemerovo oblast: incumbent Sergey Tsivilyov (UR) 86.6%, Yekaterina Gruntovaya (CPRF) 5.2%, Stanislav Karpov (LDPR) 4.6%; turnout 85.0%
Magadan oblast: incumbent Sergey Nosov (UR) 74.2%, Sergey Goncharenko (CPRF) 10.9%, Roman Isayev (LDPR) 9.0%, Oleg Prikoki (JR-FT) 5.9%; turnout 35.1%
Moscow oblast: incumbent Andrey Vorobyov (UR) 84.6%, Aleksandr Naumov (CPRF) 6.4%, Kirill Zhigarev (LDPR) 4.9%, Anatoly Nikitin (JR-FT) 4.1%; turnout about 55%
Nizhny Novgorod oblast: incumbent Gleb Nikitin (UR) 83.4%, Vladislav Yegorov (CPRF) 9.7%; turnout 56.0%
Novosibirsk oblast: incumbent Andrey Travnikov (UR) 77.3%, Roman Yakovlev (CPRF) 10.9%, Yevgeny Lebedev (LDPR) 7.3%, Vladislav Plotnikov (JR-FT) 4.4%; turnout 31.9%
Omsk oblast: acting incumbent Vitaly Khotsenko (UR) 78.0%, Andrey Alekhin (CPRF) 11.0%, Vladimir Kazanin (Communists of Russia) 6.2%, Maksim Makalenko (LDPR) 4.8%; turnout 31.7%
Oryol oblast: incumbent Andrey Klychkov (CPRF) 84.1%, Vladislav Chislov (LDPR) 8.6%, Svetlana Kovaleva (NP) 7.3%; turnout about 54%
Pskov oblast: incumbent Mikhail Vedernikov (UR) 87.3%, Pyotr Alekseyenko (CPRF) 6.3%, Anton Minakov (LDPR) 4.0%; turnout 37.8%
Samara oblast: incumbent Dmitry Azarov (UR) 85.3%, Aleksey Leskin (CPRF) 6.8%, Aleksandr Stepanov (LDPR) 4.4%; turnout 50.1%
Smolensk oblast: acting incumbent Vasily Anokhin (UR) 88.6%, Andrey Maksimov (CPRF) 5.9%, Mikhail Kovalev (LDPR) 4.1%; turnout 33.9%
Tyumen oblast: incumbent Aleksandr Moor (UR) 79.9%, Denis Sadovnikov (LDPR) 8.4%, Ivan Levchenko (CPRF) 8.0%; turnout 50.8%
Voronezh oblast: incumbent Aleksandr Gusev (UR) 77.8%, Andrey Rogatnev (CPRF) 8.6%, Pavel Bolshov (LDPR) 5.7%, Yaroslav Tarasov (JR-FT) 4.6%; turnout 51.1%
Moscow city: incumbent Sergey Sobyanin (UR) 76.9%, Leonid Zyuganov (CPRF) 8.2%, Boris Chernyshev (LDPR) 5.6%, Vladislav Davankov (NP) 5.4%; turnout about 43%
Chukotka autonomous okrug: acting incumbent Vladislav Kuznetsov (UR) 74.2%, Yuliya Butakova (LDPR) 16.2%, Vladimir Galtsov (CPRF) 5.4%, Aleksandr Semerikov (JR-FT) 4.2%; turnout 53.4%

Kotyukov is sworn in on September 19, Anokhin on September 20, Khotsenko on September 22, Kuznetsov on September 27. On September 23 the local parliaments elect acting incumbents Vladimir Saldo (UR) as governor of Kherson oblast, against Ivan Shumakov (LDPR) and Igor Shchepelin (JR-FT), and Yevgeny Balitsky (UR) as governor of Zaporozhye oblast; both are immediately sworn in.

11

Anguilla: Julia Crouch is sworn in as governor.
Congo (Kinshasa): The government (during parliamentary recess) adopts a 56th extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu. On September 28 parliament approves a 57th.
Zimbabwe: President Emmerson Mnangagwa (sworn in for his new term on September 4) names a new cabinet, with no change in key portfolios.

12

South Korea: Defense Minister Lee Jong Sup announces his resignation. On September 13 President Yoon Suk Yeol nominates Shin Won Sik to replace him.

13

Japan: In a cabinet reshuffle, Yoko Kamikawa is appointed as foreign minister, Minoru Kihara as defense minister, and Junji Suzuki as internal affairs minister.
Latvia: The prime minister-designate, Evika Silina, announces her proposed cabinet with Krisjanis Karins as foreign minister, Andris Spruds as defense minister, Rihards Kozlovskis as interior minister, and Arvils Aseradens to remain finance minister. Parliament approves the government (53-39) on September 15.
Moldova: Former president (1990-97) Mircea Snegur (also chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet [1989-90] and chairman of the Supreme Soviet [1990] of the Moldavian S.S.R.) dies.

14

United States: In the mayoral runoff in Nashville, Freddie O'Connell wins 63.8% of the vote and Alice Rolli 36.0%. O'Connell is sworn in on September 25.

15

The Netherlands: Former queen's commissioner of Flevoland (1996-2008) Michel Jager dies.
United Kingdom: Grant Shapps takes office as defence secretary.

16

Libya: Former secretary of the General People's Committee (1977-79) and of the General People's Congress (1979-81) and foreign minister (1982-84, 2011) Abdul Ati al-Obeidi dies.
Mexico: Delfina Gómez takes office as governor of México.
Mexico: Former governor of Tlaxcala (1981-87) Tulio Hernández Gómez dies.

17

Argentina: In gubernatorial elections in Chaco, Leandro Zdero (Juntos por el Cambio) is elected with 46.1% of the vote, while incumbent Jorge Capitanich (Frente Chaqueño) wins 41.7%. Turnout is 72.7%.

18

Congo (Kinshasa): Maj.Gen. Peter Cirimwami Nkuba is appointed as acting governor of Nord-Kivu. He takes office September 19.
Georgia: The Constitutional Court announces that it has accepted for consideration a petition for the impeachment of President Salome Zurabishvili, submitted by 80 members of parliament on September 12.

20

Nigeria: An election petition tribunal invalidates the March 18 election of Abba Kabir Yusuf as governor of Kano and declares Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna (All Progressives Congress) to be the elected governor. Yusuf says he will appeal the decision.

21

South Korea: Parliament passes (175-116) a non-binding motion asking for the dismissal of Prime Minister Han Duck Soo.

22

Italy: Former president (2006-15) Giorgio Napolitano dies.

23

Mexico: Former governor of Baja California (2001-07) Eugenio Elorduy Walther dies.

24

Argentina: In gubernatorial elections in Mendoza, Alfredo Cornejo (Cambia Mendoza) is elected with 39.5% of the votes, while Omar De Marchi (La Unión Mendocina) wins 29.7%, Omar Parisi (Elegí Mendoza) 14.7%, and Mario Vadillo (Partido Verde) 11.9%. Turnout is 68.2%.
Portugal: In parliamentary elections in Madeira, We Are Madeira (coalition of the Social Democratic Party and the CDS-People's Party) wins 43.1% of the vote (23 of 47 seats), the Socialist Party 21.3% (11), Together for the People 11.0% (5), and Chega 8.9% (4). Turnout is 53.3%.

25

Mali: The presidential elections scheduled for February 2024 are postponed.

26

Australia: The premier of Victoria, Daniel Andrews, announces his resignation, effective September 27, when Jacinta Allan is elected and sworn in as premier.
South Sudan: President Salva Kiir appoints Angelina Teny as interior minister.

27

Dominica: Parliament elects Sylvanie Burton, nominee of the Dominica Labour Party, as president. She receives 20 votes, against 5 for Anette Sanford (United Workers' Party), and will be sworn in on October 2.
Spain: The prime minister-designate, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, fails to be elected in a first round of voting in parliament. He receives 172 votes, with 178 against. A second round takes place on September 29, Núñez failing again (173 for, 177 against).

28

Eswatini: King Mswati III appoints Mgwagwa Gamedze as acting prime minister.

29

Eswatini: In the parliamentary secondary elections, 59 independent members are elected. King Mswati III will appoint 10 additional members.

30

Côte d'Ivoire: Former foreign minister (2006-10) Youssouf Bakayoko dies.
France: The government of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne survives another no-confidence motion, which receives 193 votes (289 required).
Slovakia: In parliamentary elections, Direction-Social Democracy wins 22.9% of the vote (42 of 150 seats), Progressive Slovakia 18.0% (32), Voice-Social Democracy 14.7% (27), OLaNO and Friends 8.9% (16), the Christian Democratic Movement 6.8% (12), Freedom and Solidarity 6.3% (11), and the Slovak National Party 5.6% (10). Turnout is 68.5%.