February 2024

1

Kobakhidze

Georgia: Irakli Kobakhidze is nominated as prime minister. He announces the only change in his cabinet will be Irakli Chikovani as defense minister. On February 8 the government is approved by a vote of 84-10 in the 150-seat parliament and Kobakhidze is appointed by the president.

Nyanti

Liberia: The Senate confirms (unanimously) Boima S. Kamara as finance minister. President Joseph Boakai nominates Maj.Gen. Prince Charles Johnson III as defense minister and Francis Sakala Nyumalin as internal affairs minister. On February 9 the Senate confirms Johnson as well as Sara Beysolow Nyanti as foreign minister. Following protests against Johnson, however, on February 12 Boakai accepts his resignation; on February 13 he appoints Geraldine George as acting defense minister.

2

Soren

India: Champai Soren is sworn in as chief minister of Jharkhand.
Sint Maarten: The informateurs submit their final report to the governor, Ajamu G. Baly, who on February 5 asks Luc Mercelina to form a government.
Spain: Former president of the government of Canarias (1988-91) Lorenzo Olarte Cullén dies.
Tonga: King Tupou VI strips Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni of his armed forces portfolio and Fekitamoeloa 'Utoikamanu of the foreign affairs portfolio. On February 5 the cabinet rejects the decision as unconstitutional.

3

Senegal: President Macky Sall announces the indefinite postponement of the presidential elections scheduled for February 25. On February 5 parliament adopts a law delaying the election until December 15 and extending Sall's tenure (which was due to expire on April 2) accordingly. On February 15, however, the Constitutional Council overturns the delay.

O'Neill

United Kingdom: Michelle O'Neill (Sinn Féin) is sworn in as first minister of Northern Ireland.

4

El Salvador: In presidential elections, incumbent Nayib Bukele (New Ideas) wins 84.7% of the vote, Manuel Flores (Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front) 6.4%, and Joel Sánchez (Nationalist Republican Alliance) 5.6%. Turnout is 52.3%.

Mbumba

Mushelenga

Namibia: President Hage Geingob dies. Vice President Nangolo Mbumba is sworn in as interim president. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah becomes vice president. On February 9 Peya Mushelenga is appointed foreign minister.
Nigeria: Former governor of Yobe (1992-93, 1999-2007) Bukar Abba Ibrahim dies.
Portugal: In parliamentary elections in the Azores, the Democratic Alliance (coalition of Social Democratic Party, CDS-People's Party, and People's Monarchist Party) wins 43.6% of the vote (26 of 57 seats), the Socialist Party 37.2% (23), and Chega 9.5% (5). Turnout is 50.3%.
Portugal: Former foreign minister (1970-74) Rui Manuel de Medeiros d'Espiney Patrício dies.

5

France: The government of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal survives a no-confidence motion, which receives 124 votes (289 required).

Bektenov

Kazakhstan: President Kasymzhomart Tokayev accepts the resignation of the government of Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov and appoints Roman Sklyar as acting prime minister. On February 6 the ruling Amanat party nominates Olzhas Bektenov as prime minister; parliament endorses him (69-0) and Tokayev formally appoints him the same day. Madi Takiyev becomes finance minister, other key posts being unchanged.
Mexico: Former governor of San Luis Potosí (1993-97) Horacio Sánchez Unzueta dies.
The Netherlands: Former prime minister (1977-82), foreign minister (1982), and queen's commissioner of Noord-Brabant (1983-87) Andreas van Agt dies.
Yemen: The Presidential Leadership Council appoints Foreign Minister Ahmad Awad Bin Mubarak as prime minister (sworn in February 8).

6

Chile: Former president (2010-14, 2018-22) Sebastián Piñera dies in a helicopter crash.
Ireland: Former prime minister (1994-97) John Bruton dies.
United States: The House of Representatives rejects an impeachment resolution against Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas (216-214). In a second attempt on February 13, the resolution is adopted (214-213).

7

Azerbaijan: In presidential elections, incumbent Ilham Aliyev wins 92.1% of the vote. Turnout is about 76%. On February 14 Aliyev begins his new term and the government resigns as prescribed in the constitution. On February 16 parliament approves (105-1) the reappointment of Ali Asadov as prime minister and Aliyev forms a government in which the foreign, defense, interior, and finance ministers keep their portfolios.
Congo (Kinshasa): President Félix Tshisekedi appoints Augustin Kabuya as informateur to identify a majority coalition in parliament.

8

Colombia: Luis Gilberto Murillo is named acting foreign minister for the period of suspension of Álvaro Leyva.

Elikana

Taye

Cook Islands: Tingika Elikana is sworn in as foreign minister.
Ethiopia: Parliament accepts the nomination of Taye Atske Selassie as foreign minister.
Pakistan: In parliamentary elections, independents backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf win 31.6% of the vote (93 of 266 elected seats), the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) 23.1% (75), the Pakistan People's Party 13.6% (54), other independents 9.3% (8), Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan 4.7% (0), Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam 3.8% (6), Jamaat-e-Islami 2.2% (0), and the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan 1.9% (17); turnout is 47.2%. (With 60 reserved seats for women and 10 for non-Muslims, the total is 336 seats.) On February 13 the PML(N) and PPP announce the formation of a parliamentary coalition and the proposed nomination of Shahbaz Sharif as prime minister. Results of provincial elections on February 8:

Balochistan: JUI wins 17.1% of the vote (11 of 51 elected seats), the PPP 16.0% (11), independents 15.6% (6), and the PML(N) 12.1% (10); turnout is 42.9%. (With 11 reserved seats for women and 3 for non-Muslims, the total is 65.)
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: PTI-backed independents win 38.1% of the vote (87 of 115 elected seats), JUI 14.8% (7), other independents 11.7% (7), the Awami National Party 8.3% (0), the PML(N) 7.4% (5), and the PPP 6.0% (4); turnout is 37.3%. (With 26 reserved seats for women and 4 for non-Muslims, the total is 145.)

Nawaz
Shah
Punjab: PTI-backed independents win 31.5% of the vote (114 of 297 elected seats), the PML(N) 30.8% (138), other independents 16.8% (23), the TLP 6.8% (1), and the PPP 5.4% (10); turnout is 50.9%. (With 66 reserved seats for women and 8 for non-Muslims, the total is 371.) On February 26 Maryam Nawaz of PML(N) is elected (220-0, main opposition boycotting) and sworn in as chief minister.
Sindh: The PPP wins 45.9% of the vote (84 of 130 elected seats), PTI-backed independents 9.3% (11), other independents 8.9% (3), and the MQM-P 8.0% (28); turnout is 42.0%. (With 29 reserved seats for women and 9 for non-Muslims, the total is 168.) On February 26 Syed Murad Ali Shah (PPP) is elected chief minister; he receives 112 votes, against 36 for Ali Khursheedi (MQM-P), and is sworn in on February 27.

9

Congo (Kinshasa): The government approves a 66th extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu, and a 67th on February 23.
Niue: Mark Gibb is appointed as high commissioner.
Uruguay: Armando Castaingdebat is named defense minister, to take office March 4.

10

Hungary: President Katalin Novák announces her resignation (officially on February 11). On February 26 parliament accepts the resignation and its president, László Kövér, becomes acting president of the republic; the same day Tamás Sulyok is elected (134-5) as new president, who is expected to take office on March 5.
Tanzania: Former prime minister (2005-08) Edward Lowassa dies.

11

Finland: In the presidential runoff, Alexander Stubb wins 51.6% of the vote and Pekka Haavisto 48.4%. Turnout is 67.6%.

13

Indonesia: Adhy Karyono becomes acting governor of Jawa Timur (officially inaugurated as such February 16).
Peru: In a cabinet reshuffle, Walter Astudillo is named defense minister and José Arista economy and finance minister.

14

Ghana: In a cabinet reshuffle, Henry Quartey is appointed interior minister and Mohammed Amin Adam finance minister.
Indonesia: In presidential elections, Prabowo Subianto (Gerindra) wins 58.6% of the vote, Anies Baswedan (independent) 24.9%, and Ganjar Pranowo (Indonesian Democratic Party-Struggle) 16.5%. Turnout is 82.4%.

Bieuville

Mayotte: François-Xavier Bieuville is appointed as prefect (effective February 24).
The Netherlands: Kim Putters is appointed as new informateur.

15

Argentina: Former governor of Salta (1987-91) Hernán Cornejo dies.
Kuwait: The emir dissolves the parliament elected in June 2023. On February 27 it is decided to hold new elections on April 4.
Papua New Guinea: The government of Prime Minister James Marape wins a confidence vote in parliament (84-0, opposition absent).

17

African Union: Mauritanian president Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani is elected chairman.
Sri Lanka: Former chief minister of North Western province (1988-93) Gamini Jayawickrama Perera dies.

18

Spain: In parliamentary elections in Galicia, the Popular Party wins 47.4% of the vote (40 of 75 seats), the Galician Nationalist Bloc 31.6% (25), and the Socialist Party 14.0% (9). Turnout is 67.3%.

19

Colombia: Former foreign minister (1994-96) Rodrigo Pardo García-Peña dies.

Oury

Guinea: The transitional president, Mamadi Doumbouya, dissolves the government of Prime Minister Bernard Goumou. On February 27 Bah Oury is appointed prime minister; he takes office February 29.

20

Congo (Kinshasa): Prime Minister Sama Lukonde Kyenge resigns.
Faeroe Islands: Former prime minister (1998-2004) Anfinn Kallsberg dies.
United States: In mayoral open primary elections in Milwaukee, incumbent Cavalier Johnson (Democrat) wins 85.8% of the vote and David King (Republican) 9.7%. These two qualify for the main election on April 2.

21

Malaysia: Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, former chief minister (1981-2014) and head of state (2014-24) of Sarawak, dies.

22

Canada: The mayor of Gatineau, France Bélisle, resigns. Daniel Champagne becomes acting mayor.
Spain: Former president of the General Inter-Island Council of Baleares (1978-82) Jeroni Albertí Picornell dies.

23

Argentina: Former governor of Santa Fe (1983-87) and foreign minister (2001-02) José María Vernet dies.
India: Former chief minister of Maharashtra (1995-99) Manohar Joshi dies.

25

Belarus: In parliamentary elections, Belaya Rus wins 51 of 110 seats, independents 40, the Republican Party of Labour and Justice 8, the Communist Party of Belarus 7, and the Liberal Democratic Party of Belarus 4. Turnout is 73.1%.
Belize: Sir James Hennessy, former governor (1980-81), dies.
Italy: In presidential elections in Sardegna, Alessandra Todde (centre-left) is elected with 45.4% of the vote, while Paolo Truzzu (centre-right) wins 45.0% and Renato Soru (Sardinian Coalition) 8.6%. Turnout is 52.3%.

26

Palestine: The government of Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh resigns.

Teo

Panapa

Tuvalu: Parliament elects (unopposed) Feleti Teo as prime minister. On February 28 his cabinet is sworn in, including Paulson Panapa as foreign minister, Maina Vakafua Talia as home affairs minister, and Panapasi Nelesone as finance minister.

27

France: Former president of the Regional Council of Bourgogne (1992-93, 1998-2004) Jean-Pierre Soisson dies.

28

Russia: Former premier of the Soviet Union (1985-91) Nikolay Ryzhkov dies.

29

Canada: Former prime minister (1984-93) Brian Mulroney dies.
Indonesia: S.F. Hariyanto is inaugurated as acting governor of Riau.
Tanzania: Former president (1985-95) Ali Hassan Mwinyi (also president of Zanzibar 1984-85) dies.