May 2025

1

South Korea: Prime Minister and Acting President Han Duck Soo resigns (effective at the end of the day) to run in the June 3 presidential election. Finance Minister Choi Sang Mok also resigns, ending an impeachment motion against him. Education Minister Lee Ju Ho becomes acting prime minister and acting president on May 2, while Kim Beom Seok becomes acting finance minister.
Switzerland: Mathias Reynard becomes president of the Council of State of Valais and Martin Neukom president of the government of Zürich.
Trinidad and Tobago: Kamla Persad-Bissessar is sworn in as prime minister. On May 3 a cabinet is sworn in with Sean Sobers as foreign minister, Wayne Sturge as defence minister, Roger Alexander as homeland security minister, and Davendranath Tancoo as finance minister.
United States: President Donald Trump nominates Michael Waltz as UN ambassador.

2

Congo (Kinshasa): Parliament approves a 96th extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu.
Mexico: Former governor of Veracruz (2004-10) Fidel Herrera Beltrán dies.
New Caledonia: High Commissioner Louis Le Franc departs. On May 3 Jacques Billant takes office as high commissioner.
Togo: The government of Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah Dogbé resigns. On May 3 Faure Gnassingbé is sworn in as prime minister. Jean-Lucien Savi de Tové is elected by parliament (150-0) and sworn in as president.
United States: Former governor of Illinois (1999-2003) George Ryan dies.

3

Australia: In parliamentary elections, the Australian Labor Party wins about 35% of the vote (at least 93 of 151 seats), the Liberal-National coalition about 32% (at least 43), the Greens about 12% (1), One Nation about 6% (0), and independents about 8% (at least 9). Turnout is over 90%. On May 13 Anthony Albanese is again sworn in as prime minister with a government unchanged in the foreign, defence, treasury, finance, and home affairs portfolios.
Gabon: Brice Oligui Nguema is sworn in as president. On May 4 he accepts the resignation of the government of Interim Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima; the prime minister's post is now abolished. On May 5 Oligui appoints Séraphin Moundounga as vice president, Alexandre Barro Chambrier as vice president of the government, and Henri-Claude Oyima as finance minister; Régis Onanga Ndiaye remains foreign minister, Brigitte Onkanowa defense minister, and Hermann Immongault interior minister.
Singapore: In parliamentary elections, the People's Action Party wins 65.6% of the vote (87 of 99 seats) and the Workers' Party 15.0% (12). Turnout is 92.5%.
United States: In the first round of mayoral elections in San Antonio, Gina Ortiz Jones (Democrat) wins 27.2% of the vote, Rolando Pablos (Republican) 16.6%, and Beto Altamirano (Dem.) 12.1%. A runoff will be held on June 7.
Yemen: The prime minister of the internationally recognized government, Ahmad Awad Bin Mubarak, resigns. Finance Minister Salem Bin Breik is appointed in his place.

4

Greece: Former foreign minister (2004-06, 2012, 2015) Petros Molyviatis dies.
Romania: In the first round of presidential elections, George Simion (Alliance for the Union of Romanians) wins 41.0% of the vote, Nicusor Dan (independent) 21.0%, Crin Antonescu (independent) 20.1%, Victor Ponta (independent) 13.0%, and Elena Lasconi (Save Romania Union) 2.7%; turnout is 53.2%. The runoff takes place on May 18, Dan winning 53.6% of the vote and Simion 46.4%; turnout is 64.7%.

5

Romania: Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu resigns. On May 6 Interior Minister Catalin Predoiu is appointed interim prime minister.
Solomon Islands: In a cabinet reshuffle, Harry Kuma is sworn in as finance minister.

6

Cayman Islands: André Ebanks is elected (defeating Joseph Hew 11-8) and sworn in as premier. On May 9 cabinet portfolios are assigned with Rolston Anglin becoming finance minister and Nickolas DaCosta home affairs minister.
Germany: In the election of a chancellor in the Bundestag, Friedrich Merz fails in the first round with 310 votes (316 needed), 307 voting against. In a second round, he is elected 325-289. He is then appointed by the president and sworn in. His cabinet is then appointed and sworn in, including Johann Wadephul as foreign minister, Alexander Dobrindt as interior minister, and Lars Klingbeil as finance minister; Boris Pistorius remains defense minister.
Kosovo: Former chairman of the Executive Council (1987-89) and secretary of the Central Committee of the League of Communists (1988) Kaqusha Jashari dies.
United States: In mayoral primary elections in Cincinnati, incumbent Aftab Pureval (Democrat) wins 82.5% of the vote and Cory Bowman (Republican) 12.9%. In Toledo, incumbent Wade Kapszukiewicz (Democrat) wins 53.1% of the vote, Roberto Torres (Independent) 24.4%, and Harold Harris (Independent) 21.6%; turnout is 9.4%. The main elections will take place on November 4.

7

Canada: The premier of Yukon, Ranj Pillai, announces his resignation.
Congo (Kinshasa): The governors-elect of Kwilu (Philippe Akamituna Ndolo) and Nord-Ubangi (Jean-Bosco Kotongo Anfio Bato) are appointed by the president. Akamituna takes office May 15.
Germany: The Bürgerschaft of Hamburg reelects Peter Tschentscher as first mayor (71-47).
Tanzania: Former prime minister (1980-83, 1994-95) Cleopa David Msuya dies.
Vatican City: The conclave to elect a new pope begins. On May 8, on the fourth ballot, Robert Francis Cardinal Prevost is elected, taking the name Leo XIV. On May 9 he provisionally confirms officials including Secretary of State Pietro Cardinal Parolin in their posts.

9

Canada: John Hogan is sworn in as premier of Newfoundland and Labrador.

10

Congo (Kinshasa): The provincial assembly of Kasaï Oriental impeaches Governor Jean-Paul Mbwebwa Kapo (14-9). This would force him to resign, but he indicates an appeal to the courts. However, on May 19 the central interior minister, Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo, names Vice Governor Augustin Kayemba Mulemena acting governor and he takes over from Mbwebwa the same day.

11

Albania: In parliamentary elections, the Socialist Party wins 53.3% of the vote (83 of 140 seats) and the coalition of Democratic Party and Alliance for a Great Albania 32.9% (50). Turnout is 44.8%.
Nigeria: Former administrator of Bayelsa (1997-98) Omoniyi Caleb Olubolade dies.

12

Philippines: In elections to the House of Representatives, Lakas-CMD wins 104 of 317 seats, the National Unity Party 30, the Nationalist People's Coalition 30, the Partido Federal ng Pilipinas 27, the Nacionalista Party 22, and the Liberal Party 6. Turnout is 82.2%. In elections to 12 of 24 seats in the Senate, the Nacionalista Party wins 3, PDP-Laban 2, the Nationalist People's Coalition 2, and independents 2.

13

Canada: Prime Minister Mark Carney's new cabinet is sworn in, with Anita Anand as foreign minister and David McGuinty as defence minister; François-Philippe Champagne remains finance minister.
China: Former governor of Guangdong (1996-2003) Lu Ruihua dies.
Peru: Raúl Pérez-Reyes is appointed economy and finance minister and Carlos Malaver interior minister. Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén resigns ahead of a censure vote. On May 14 Eduardo Arana is appointed and sworn in as prime minister with a cabinet unchanged in the foreign, defense, interior, or finance portfolios.
United States: In the mayoral runoff in Omaha, John Ewing, Jr. (Democrat), wins 56.2% of the vote and incumbent Jean Stothert (Republican) 43.6%.
United States: Former commerce secretary (2011-12) John Bryson and former governor of Missouri (1973-77, 1981-85) Christopher S. Bond die.
Uruguay: Former president (2010-15) José Mujica dies.

15

Kyrgyzstan: Ruslan Mukambetov is appointed acting defense minister.

16

The Netherlands: Former queen's commissioner of Gelderland (1991-96) Jan Terlouw dies.

18

Poland: In the first round of presidential elections, Rafal Trzaskowski wins 31.4% of the vote, Karol Nawrocki 29.5%, Slawomir Mentzen 14.8%, Grzegorz Braun 6.3%, and Szymon Holownia 5.0%. Turnout is 67.3%. The runoff will be held on June 1.

19

The Netherlands: Former queen's commissioner of Friesland (1982-94) Hans Wiegel dies.
Nigeria: Former administrator of Katsina (1998-99) Joseph Akaagerger dies.
The Sudan: The chairman of the Transitional Sovereignty Council, Abdel Fattah Burhan, appoints Kamil Idris as prime minister.

20

Germany: The Landtag of Niedersachsen elects Olaf Lies as minister-president (80-63).
Malaysia: Former yang di-pertua negeri of Sabah (2003-10) Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah dies.
Vietnam: Former president (1997-2006) Tran Duc Luong dies.

21

Singapore: A new cabinet is named (effective May 23) with Chan Chun Sing as defense minister.