Rulers

November 2023

1


Rigdzin
Bhutan: An interim government, headed by Chief Justice Lyonpo Chogyal Dago Rigdzin as chief advisor, is appointed to oversee elections. Dasho Chhewang Rinzin becomes foreign affairs advisor and Deki Pema finance advisor, while Rigdzin handles home affairs.
Indonesia: Ali Baham Temongmere is sworn in as acting governor of Papua Barat.
Serbia: President Aleksandar Vucic dissolves parliament, calling early elections for December 17.

Paganini
Uruguay: Foreign Minister Francisco Bustillo resigns. On November 2 Diego Escuder is named acting foreign minister. On November 4 Interior Minister Luis Alberto Heber also resigns; in a cabinet reshuffle (taking effect November 6) Omar Paganini is named foreign minister and Nicolás Martinelli interior minister.

2

Congo (Brazzaville): Former foreign minister (1971-73) and prime minister (1973-75) Henri Lopès dies.
United States: Former acting transportation secretary (2001) Mortimer L. Downey dies.

3


Dlamini
Shakantu
Eswatini: King Mswati III appoints Russell Dlamini as prime minister (sworn in November 6). On November 13 Pholile Shakantu is named foreign minister; other key ministers keep their posts.

4

France: The government of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne survives another no-confidence motion, which receives 89 votes (289 required), another around midnight November 9/10, which receives 167 votes, and further ones on November 15 (143 votes), November 26 (89 votes), and November 29 (149 votes).

5

Singapore: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announces he will resign by November 2024 to be replaced by Lawrence Wong.

6

Andorra: Former head of government (2011-15, 2015-19) Antoni Martí Petit dies.
The Netherlands: Former queen's commissioner of Limburg (1993-2005) Berend-Jan baron van Voorst tot Voorst dies.

González-O.
Szynkowski
Peru: Foreign Minister Ana Cecilia Gervasi resigns. On November 7 Javier González-Olaechea is sworn in as foreign minister.
Poland: President Andrzej Duda asks Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to try to form a new government (formally on November 13 when the old government resigns). On November 27 a new Morawiecki government, though without a majority in parliament, is sworn in with Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek as foreign minister, Pawel Szefernaker as interior minister, and Andrzej Kosztowniak as finance minister; Marius Blaszczak remains defense minister.

Colakovic
Serbia: Momo Colakovic is elected president of the Assembly of Vojvodina.

7

India: In state elections in Mizoram, the Zoram People's Movement wins 37.9% of the vote (27 of 40 seats), the Mizo National Front 35.1% (10), the Indian National Congress 20.8% (1), and the Bharatiya Janata Party 5.1% (2). Turnout is 80.4%.
Portugal: Prime Minister António Costa resigns. On November 9 President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa calls early elections for March 10.
United States: In gubernatorial elections in Kentucky, incumbent Andy Beshear (Democrat) defeats Daniel Cameron (Republican), 53%-47%. In Mississippi, incumbent Tate Reeves (Rep.) defeats Brandon Presley (Dem.), 52%-47%. Results of mayoral elections:

8

The Netherlands: Former queen's commissioner of Noord-Brabant (1987-2003) Frank Houben dies.

10

India: Former governor of Nagaland (2014-19), Tripura (2014-15), Assam (2014-16), and Arunachal Pradesh (2017) Padmanabha Balakrishna Acharya dies.
Pacific Islands Forum: Baron Waqa, former president of Nauru, is confirmed as the next secretary-general.
Vanuatu: Facing a no-confidence motion, the government of Prime Minister Charlot Salwai asks President Nikenike Vurobaravu to dissolve parliament. On November 15 the president rejects the dissolution request, the opposition group having agreed to withdraw the no-confidence motion. On November 21 the president gives an ultimatum of one day to the leaders of all parties to resolve their differences and indicates that he will dissolve parliament if they fail to do so. On November 22 the dissolution is avoided.

11


Larbaoui
Algeria: President Abdelmadjid Tebboune dismisses Prime Minister Ayman Benabderrahmane and appoints Nadir Larbaoui as prime minister. The cabinet is reshuffled on November 28, but with no change in key portfolios.
Congo (Kinshasa): The governor of Nord-Ubangi, Malo Mobutu Ndimba, loses a no-confidence vote, passed by 10 of the 18 members of the provincial assembly.
Congo (Kinshasa): Parliament approves a 60th 15-days extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu, followed by a 61st on November 28.
Croatia: Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic dismisses Defense Minister Mario Banozic and appoints Zdravko Jakop as acting minister. On November 16 parliament elects (77-55) Ivan Anusic as new defense minister.
Czech Republic: Former foreign minister (2007-09, 2010-13) Karel Schwarzenberg dies.

Robertson
Luxon
New Zealand: The caretaker government of Prime Minister Chris Hipkins is reappointed pending the formation of the new government. Grant Robertson replaces Nanaia Mahuta (not reelected to parliament) as foreign minister. On November 24 the new government is announced (sworn in on November 27) with Christopher Luxon as prime minister, Winston Peters as foreign minister, Judith Collins as defence minister, Brooke van Velden as internal affairs minister, and Nicola Willis as finance minister.
Nigeria: In gubernatorial elections in Bayelsa, incumbent Douye Diri (People's Democratic Party) defeats Timipre Sylva (All Progressives Congress). In Imo, incumbent Hope Uzodinma (All Progressives Congress) defeats Samuel Anyanwu (People's Democratic Party). In Kogi, Ahmed Usman Ododo (All Progressives Congress) defeats Murtala Ajaka (Social Democratic Party).

Shah
Pakistan: The interim chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azam Khan, dies. On November 12 Syed Arshad Hussain Shah is appointed and sworn in as interim chief minister.

12

Azerbaijan: Former prime minister (1992-93) Rahim Huseynov dies.

13

Gabon: The Committee of Transition and Restoration of Institutions announces that the transitional regime will end in August 2025 with the organization of general elections.
Georgia: Former co-leader of the Military Council (1992) Tengiz Kitovani dies.
Indonesia: Safrizal Z.A. is inaugurated as acting governor of Bangka Belitung and Velix Vernando Wanggai as acting governor of Papua Pegunungan.
United Kingdom: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dismisses Home Secretary Suella Braverman. In a cabinet reshuffle, James Cleverly is named home secretary and former prime minister David Cameron to succeed him as foreign secretary. Cleverly takes office on November 15 and Cameron, meanwhile created Baron Cameron of Chipping Norton, on November 22.

14

Brazil: Former governor of Santa Catarina (1971-75) Colombo Machado Salles dies.

Aylward
Dumont
Canada: Joan Marie Aylward is sworn in as lieutenant governor of Newfoundland and Labrador and Edith Dumont as lieutenant governor of Ontario.
Canada: In parliamentary elections in the Northwest Territories, 19 nonpartisan members are elected (including 3 already acclaimed on October 20).
Cayman Islands: The government of Premier Wayne Panton survives a no-confidence motion, which receives 8 votes, with 7 against and 3 abstentions (two-thirds majority required). However, on November 15 Panton resigns and a new government is sworn in with Juliana O'Connor-Connolly as premier and finance minister and Sabrina Turner as minister of home affairs.
Liberia: In the presidential runoff, Joseph Boakai wins 50.6% of the vote and incumbent George Weah 49.4%. Turnout is 66.1%. Boakai will take office in January 2024.
Federated States of Micronesia: In gubernatorial elections in Pohnpei, Reed B. Oliver wins 44.2% of the vote, Stevenson A. Joseph 31.8%, and Welson Panuel 20.4%. A runoff will be held on December 12.

15

Luxembourg: The new government is announced with Luc Frieden to be prime minister, Xavier Bettel foreign minister, Yuriko Backes defense minister, Léon Gloden interior minister, and Gilles Roth finance minister. The government is sworn in November 17.

16

Madagascar: In presidential elections, Andry Rajoelina wins 59.5% of the vote, Siteny Randrianasoloniaiko 13.3%, and Marc Ravalomanana 12.6%. Turnout is 45.4%.
Spain: Pedro Sánchez is reelected as prime minister (179-171). He is sworn in on November 17 and announces his cabinet on November 20, with no change in the foreign, defense, interior, or finance ministries.

17

India: In state elections in Madhya Pradesh, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) wins 48.6% of the vote (163 of 230 seats) and the Indian National Congress (INC) 40.4% (66); turnout is about 77%. In Chhattisgarh (elections held November 7 and 17), the BJP wins 46.3% of the vote (54 of 90 seats) and the INC 42.2% (35); turnout is 76.3%.

Muizzu
Zameer
Maldives: Mohamed Muizzu is sworn in as president and appoints a cabinet including Moosa Zameer as foreign minister, Ghassan Maumoon as defense minister, Ali Ihusan as homeland security minister, and Mohamed Shafeeq as finance minister.
Nigeria: The Court of Appeal upholds the September 20 decision of the election petitions tribunal nullifying the March 18 election of Abba Kabir Yusuf as governor of Kano. On November 18 Yusuf announces that he will appeal to the Supreme Court.
Pakistan: Former foreign minister (1997-98) Gohar Ayub Khan dies.
Peru: Interior Minister Vicente Romero resigns. On November 21 Víctor Torres Falcón is sworn in as interior minister.

18

Nigeria: Former governor of Ondo (1986-87) Ekundayo Opaleye dies.

19

Argentina: In the presidential runoff, Javier Milei wins 55.7% of the vote and Sergio Massa 44.3%. Turnout is 76.3%. Milei will take office December 10.
Nigeria: The Court of Appeal invalidates the March 18 election of Caleb Mutfwang (People's Democratic Party) as governor of Plateau and declares Nentawe Yilwada (All Progressives Congress) as governor-elect. Mutfwang says he will appeal to the Supreme Court.
Nigeria: Chris Alli, former governor (1985-86) and administrator (2004) of Plateau, dies.
San Marino: Former captain-regent (1986-87, 1999-2000, 2004-05) Giuseppe Arzilli dies.

20

Brazil: Former governor of Minas Gerais (2014-15) Alberto Pinto Coelho Júnior dies.
Marshall Islands: In parliamentary elections, 33 nonpartisan members are elected.
Russia: Former head of the administration of Kemerovo oblast (1997-2001, 2001-18) Aman Tuleyev dies.

21

Slovakia: The government of Prime Minister Robert Fico wins a mandatory confidence vote (78-65).
Spain: Former president of the government of Canarias (1982-87, 1991-93) Jerónimo Saavedra Acevedo dies.
United States: In mayoral elections in Salt Lake City, incumbent Erin Mendenhall (Democrat) wins 58.5% of the vote and Rocky Anderson (Democrat) 34.5%.

22

The Netherlands: In parliamentary elections, the Party for Freedom wins 23.6% of the vote (37 of 150 seats), the Green Left-Labour Party alliance 15.5% (25), the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy 15.2% (24), New Social Contract 12.8% (20), Democrats 66 6.2% (9), the Farmer-Citizen Movement 4.7% (7), the Christian Democratic Appeal 3.3% (5), and the Socialist Party 3.1% (5). Turnout is 77.8%.
The Sudan: In a cabinet reshuffle, Khalil Pasha Sayrin is appointed as interior minister.

23

Australia: Former administrator of the Northern Territory (2007-11) Tom Pauling dies.

Noboa
Sommerfeld
Ecuador: Daniel Noboa is sworn in as president. The new government includes Gabriela Sommerfeld as foreign minister, Giancarlo Loffredo Rendón as defense minister, Mónica Palencia Núñez as interior minister, and Juan Carlos Vega Malo as finance minister.
India: Former governor of Tamil Nadu (1997-2001) Fathima Beevi dies.
Mexico: Former governor of Yucatán (1976-82) Francisco Luna Kan dies.

25

India: In state elections in Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Janata Party wins 41.7% of the vote (115 of 199 seats) and the Indian National Congress 39.5% (69). Turnout is about 75%.

26

Guyana: Former foreign minister (2001-08) Samuel R. Insanally dies.
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Kochi, incumbent Seiji Hamada wins 81.5% of the vote. Turnout is 42.5%.

27


Sosa
Bolivia: Celinda Sosa is sworn in as foreign minister.
Indonesia: Edy Natar Nasution is inaugurated as governor of Riau, to complete the term of Governor Syamsuar (resigned).

29

Slovakia: Interior Minister Matús Sutaj Estok survives a no-confidence motion, which receives 61 votes (76 needed).
United States: Former national security advisor (1969-75) and secretary of state (1973-77) Henry Kissinger dies.

30

Bhutan: In the first round of parliamentary elections (turnout 63.0%), the People's Democratic Party wins 42.5% of the vote, the Bhutan Tendrel Party 19.6%, Druk Phuensum Tshogpa 14.9%, Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa 13.1%, and Druk Thuendrel Tshogpa 9.8%. The top two parties qualify for the second round on Jan. 9, 2024.

Rodríguez
El Salvador: Parliament grants a six-month leave of absence to President Nayib Bukele (to allow him to participate in the Feb. 4, 2024, presidential election) and approves the appointment of Claudia Juana Rodríguez de Guevara as acting president from Dec. 1, 2023, to June 1, 2024.
India: In state elections in Telangana, the Indian National Congress wins 39.4% of the vote (64 of 119 seats), the Bharat Rashtra Samithi 37.4% (39), and the Bharatiya Janata Party 13.9% (8). Turnout is 71.3%.
Russia: Former head of the administration of Magadan oblast (1991-96) Viktor Mikhailov dies.