Rulers
May 2024
1
Haiti: A majority of the Transitional Presidential Council cancels its earlier designation of Fritz Bélizaire as prime minister.
Switzerland: Conradin Cramer becomes president of the government of Basel-Stadt, Franz Ruppen president of the Council of State of Valais, and Natalie Rickli president of the government of Zürich.
Maris | 
Swinney |
Thailand: King Vajiralongkorn ratifies the appointment of Maris Sangiampongsa as foreign minister.
United Kingdom: The Scottish government of First Minister Humza Yousaf survives a no-confidence vote in parliament (rejected 70-58). On May 7 Yousaf resigns and John Swinney (Scottish National Party) is elected first minister, receiving 64 votes against 31 for Douglas Ross (Conservative). Swinney is sworn in on May 8.
2
Congo (Kinshasa): In the second round of the gubernatorial election in Sud-Kivu, Jean-Jacques Purusi is elected with 27 votes, against 21 for Émile Sumaili Miseka.
Vucevic | 
Djuric |
Serbia: The government of Prime Minister Milos Vucevic (including Marko Djuric as foreign minister; see April 30) is confirmed by parliament (152-61) and sworn in.
Agovaka |
Solomon Islands: Jeremiah Manele is elected prime minister, winning 31 votes against 18 for Matthew Wale. On May 6 Jimson Fiau Tanangada is appointed and sworn in as national security minister, Isikeli Vave as home affairs minister, and Manasseh Sogavare as finance minister. On May 7 Peter Shanel Agovaka is appointed and sworn in as foreign minister.
Sri Lanka: Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena is sworn in as governor of Southern province and Nazeer Ahamed as governor of North Western province.
3
Congo (Kinshasa): The government adopts a 72nd extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu, followed by a 73rd on May 16 (for 15 days beginning May 27).
Kundi | 
Mandokhail | 
S.S.H. Khan |
Pakistan: Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail is nominated as governor of Balochistan, Faisal Karim Kundi as governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sardar Saleem Haider Khan as governor of Punjab. On May 4 President Arif Ali Zardari approves the appointments. Kundi is sworn in on May 4, Mandokhail on May 6, and Khan on May 10.
Mercelina |
Sint Maarten: The new government of Prime Minister Luc Mercelina (see April 24) is sworn in. However, it loses its majority on May 20. On May 21 Mercelina triggers new elections, to be held on July 18 (later changed to August 19).
5
Panama: In presidential elections, José Raúl Mulino is elected with 34.2% of the vote, while Ricardo Lombana wins 24.6%, former president Martín Torrijos 16.0%, and Rómulo Roux 11.4%; turnout is 77.6%. In parliamentary elections, Realizing Goals wins 14 of 71 seats, the Democratic Revolutionary Party 13, the Panameńista Party 8, Democratic Change 8, and independents 21; turnout is 75.7%. On May 15 Mulino (to take office July 1) names Javier Martínez-Acha as foreign minister and Felipe Chapman as finance minister; on May 28 he names Dinoska Montalvo as interior minister.
Becker |
Switzerland: Kaspar Becker is elected Landammann of Glarus.
6
Halina | 
Koulamallah |
Chad: In presidential elections, Transitional President Mahamat Idriss Déby wins 61.0% of the vote, Prime Minister Succčs Masra 18.5%, and former prime minister Albert Pahimi Padacké 16.9%. Turnout is 75.9%. Masra's government resigns on May 22. On May 23 Déby is sworn in and appoints Allamaye Halina as prime minister, who takes office May 24; his cabinet is announced on May 27, with Abderaman Koulamallah as foreign minister and Issakha Malloua Djamous as armies minister, while Mahamat Charfadine Margui remains public security minister and Tahir Hamid Nguilin finance minister.
7
Georgia: The president of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, dismisses Foreign Minister Inal Ardzinba and appoints the deputy minister Irakli Tuzhba as acting minister. On May 29, however, another deputy minister, Odissey Bigvava, is appointed acting minister.
Russia: As Vladimir Putin is sworn in for a new term as president, the government of Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin resigns. On May 10 Mishustin is renominated by Putin and approved by parliament (375-0 with 57 abstentions) as prime minister. On May 12 Putin nominates Andrey Belousov as defense minister, other key ministers to remain in place. The government is appointed on May 14.
8
Haiti: Commerce Minister Ricardin Saint-Jean is appointed acting interior minister.
Siljanovska |
North Macedonia: In the presidential runoff, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova wins 69.0% of the vote and Stevo Pendarovski 31.0%; turnout is 47.5%. In parliamentary elections, the coalition Your Macedonia (including VMRO-DPMNE) wins 44.5% of the vote (58 of 120 seats), the coalition For a European Future (including Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia) 15.8% (18), the coalition European Front 14.1% (19), the coalition VLEN 10.9% (13), the Left 7.0% (6), and For Our Macedonia 5.7% (6); turnout is 55.4%. On May 12 Siljanovska Davkova is sworn in as president.
Gojkovic |
Serbia: The Assembly of Vojvodina elects Maja Gojkovic as chairman of the government.
9
Haiti: The Transitional Presidential Council establishes the order of the rotation of its presidency: Edgard Leblanc Fils (for 5 months) followed by Smith Augustin (5 months), Leslie Voltaire (5 months), and Louis Gérald Gilles (6 months).
10
Croatia: Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic is given a mandate to form a new government. On May 17 the parliament approves his government (79-61); the foreign, defense, interior, and finance ministers are unchanged.
Iran: In the second round of parliamentary elections, 45 members are elected. Of the total 290 members, 233 are identified as hardliners.
Kuwait: The emir, Sheikh Mishal Al Ahmad Al Jabir Al Sabah, dissolves the parliament elected on April 4 and suspends some articles of the constitution for up to four years, during which period the powers of parliament will be assumed by the emir and government. On May 12 the emir approves a new cabinet (sworn in May 15) in which Abdullah Ali al-Yahya remains foreign minister, Fahad Yusuf Al Sabah defense and interior minister, and Anwar Ali al-Mudhaf finance minister.
Poland: In a cabinet reshuffle, Tomasz Siemoniak is named interior minister (sworn in May 13).
12
Lithuania: In presidential elections, incumbent Gitanas Nauseda wins 44.5% of the vote, Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte 20.0%, Ignas Vegele 12.5%, Remigijus Zemaitaitis 9.3%, and Eduardas Vaitkus 7.4%; turnout is 59.3%. A runoff is held May 26, Nauseda winning 75.6% of the vote and Simonyte 24.4%; turnout is 49.2%.
Spain: In parliamentary elections in Catalonia, the Party of Socialists of Catalonia wins 28.0% of the vote (42 of 135 seats), Together + Puigdemont for Catalonia 21.6% (35), the Republican Left of Catalonia 13.7% (20), the Popular Party 11.0% (15), Vox 8.0% (11), Comuns Sumar 5.8% (6), Popular Unity Candidacy-Let's Defend the Land 4.1% (4), and the Catalan Alliance 3.8% (2). Turnout is 57.9%.
13
India: In state elections in Andhra Pradesh, the Telugu Desam Party 45.6% of the vote (135 of 175 seats), the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party 39.4% (11), the Janasena Party 6.9% (21), and the Bharatiya Janata Party 2.8% (8). Turnout is 81.9%.
Wong |
Singapore: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong submits his resignation, effective May 15, to President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, who invites Lawrence Wong to form a new government. Wong announces his cabinet with no change in key portfolios. He is sworn in on May 15.
14
Kisoun |
Canada: Gerry Kisoun is sworn in as commissioner of the Northwest Territories.
United States: In the mayoral runoff in Anchorage, Suzanne LaFrance wins 53.5% of the vote and Dave Bronson 46.5%. Turnout is 33.0%.
15
India: Former governor of Tripura (2009), Gujarat (2009-14), and Mizoram (2014) Kamla Beniwal dies.
Demeshin | 
Besprozvannykh | 
Seredyuk | 
Smirnov | 
Milyayev |
Russia: President Vladimir Putin appoints Dmitry Demeshin as acting governor of Khabarovsk kray, Aleksey Besprozvannykh as acting governor of Kaliningrad oblast, Ilya Seredyuk as acting governor of Kemerovo oblast, Aleksey Smirnov as acting governor of Kursk oblast, and Dmitry Milyayev as acting governor of Tula oblast.
16
Peru: Interior Minister Walter Ortiz Acosta resigns and Juan José Santiváńez is appointed in his place.
17
Indonesia: The following acting governors take office: Mohammad Rudy Salahuddin (Gorontalo), Samsuddin Abdul Kadir (Maluku Utara), Bahtiar Baharuddin (Sulawesi Barat), and Zudan Arif Fakrulloh (Sulawesi Selatan). (On May 12-17 Muhammad Idris was acting governor of Sulawesi Barat.)
Japan: Former governor of Fukui (1987-2003) Yukio Kurita dies.
Peru: Parliament rejects (52-38 with 17 abstentions; 54-36 with 21 abstentions; 51-38 with 20 abstentions) three impeachment motions against President Dina Boluarte.
Nigeria: Former administrator of Bauchi (1978-79) and governor of Sokoto (1984-85) Garba Duba dies.
18
To Lam |
Vietnam: The Communist Party nominates To Lam as president. He is elected by parliament (472 of 473 votes) on May 22.
19
Dominican Republic: In presidential elections, incumbent Luis Abinader of the Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM) wins 57.4% of the vote, former president Leonel Fernández of People's Force (FP) 28.8%, and Abel Martínez of the Dominican Liberation Party (PLD) 10.4%. Turnout is 54.4%. In parliamentary elections, the PRM wins 142 of 190 seats, the FP 28, and the PLD 14.
Mokhber | 
Bagheri |
Iran: President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian are killed in a helicopter crash. On May 20 First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber becomes acting president and Ali Bagheri Kani is appointed acting foreign minister.
Togo: Former prime minister (1996-99) Kwassi Klutse dies.
20
Congo (Kinshasa): The Council of State, an administrative tribunal, invalidates the April 29 election of Grâce Nkuanga Masuangi Bilolo as governor of Kongo Central. On May 31 the Constitutional Court nullifies the decision of the Council of State and confirms his election.
Ethiopia: Aisha Mohammed is appointed defense minister.
France: Former president of the Regional Council of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (1986-98) Jean-Claude Gaudin dies.
Nepal: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal wins a confidence vote in parliament with 157 votes (138 required).
Cho | 
Lin |
Taiwan: Lai Ching-te takes office as president and Cho Jung-tai as premier, with his government (including Lin Chia-lung as foreign minister; see April 10).
21
Murillo | 
Daudov |
Colombia: Luis Gilberto Murillo is sworn in as foreign minister.
Russia: The prime minister of Chechnya, Muslim Khuchiyev, resigns. Isa Tumkhadzhiyev is appointed acting prime minister. On May 25 Magomed Daudov is approved by parliament and sworn in as prime minister.
Russia: Former acting prime minister of Kalmykia (1992-93) Maksim Mukubenov dies.
Togo: The government of Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah Dogbé resigns.
22
The Netherlands: Richard van Zwol is approved by parliament as formateur. On May 28 Dick Schoof is designated to become prime minister.
23
Comoros: Ibrahim Mze Mohamed is sworn in as governor of Ngazidja.
Gibraltar: Governor Sir David Steel departs. On May 24 Deputy Governor Marc Holland is sworn in as acting governor.
24
Comoros: Chamina Ben Mohamed is sworn in as governor of Mwali and Zaidou Youssouf as governor of Ndzuwani.
Congo (Kinshasa): The governor of Équateur, Bobo Boloko Bolumbu, is reelected with 14 of 21 votes.
25
Burkina Faso: The transitional period of military rule is extended until July 2, 2029.
Tunisia: In a cabinet reshuffle, Khaled Nouri is appointed interior minister.
26
Congo (Kinshasa): In the gubernatorial election in the provincial assembly of Mai-Ndombe, Aimé Pascal Mongo Lokonda and Lebon Nkoso Kevani receive 9 votes each. In a second round on May 29, Nkoso defeats Mongo 10-8.
Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Shizuoka, Yasutomo Suzuki is elected with 47.4% of the vote, against 42.4% for Shinichi Omura. Turnout is 52.5%. Suzuki takes office on May 28.
Federated States of Micronesia: Former governor of Pohnpei (1996-2000) Del S. Pangelinan dies.
Papua New Guinea: Prime Minister James Marape dismisses Finance Minister Rainbo Paita.
Portugal: In parliamentary elections in Madeira, the Social Democratic Party wins 36.9% of the vote (19 of 47 seats), the Socialist Party 21.8% (11), Together for the People 17.2% (9), Chega 9.4% (4), and the CDS-People's Party 4.0% (2). Turnout is 53.4%.
27
Francos |
Argentina: President Javier Milei accepts the resignation of Cabinet Chief Nicolás Posse, who is replaced (effective May 28) by Guillermo Francos, who retains the interior portfolio.
28
Haiti: The Transitional Presidential Council designates Garry Conille as prime minister (6 votes).
29
Congo (Kinshasa): The cabinet of prime minister-designate Judith Suminwa Tuluka is announced with Thérčse Kayikwamba Wagner as foreign minister, Guy Kabombo Muadiamvita as defense minister, Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo as interior and security minister, and Doudou Fwamba Likunde as finance minister.
Madagascar: In parliamentary elections, All of Us Together with Andry Rajoelina wins 84 of 163 seats, independents 50, and Firaisankina 22. Turnout is 48.0%.
South Africa: In parliamentary elections, the African National Congress wins 40.2% of the vote (159 of 400 seats), the Democratic Alliance 21.8% (87), the uMkhonto weSizwe Party 14.6% (58), the Economic Freedom Fighters 9.5% (39), and the Inkatha Freedom Party 3.8% (17). Turnout is 58.6%.
30
Kukharuk |
Russia: The governor of Khanty-Mansi autonomous okrug, Natalya Komarova, resigns. President Vladimir Putin appoints Ruslan Kukharuk as acting governor.
31
Fedorishchev |
Russia: The governor of Samara oblast, Dmitry Azarov, resigns. President Vladimir Putin appoints Vyacheslav Fedorishchev as acting governor.
