Rulers
December 2025
1
Congo (Kinshasa): Parliament approves a 110th extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu, and a 111th on December 14; the government adopts a 112th on December 26.
Haiti: The government adopts an electoral decree allowing for the first round of presidential and parliamentary elections to be held Aug. 30, 2026.
Nigeria: Defense Minister Mohammed Badaru Abubakar resigns. On December 2 President Bola Tinubu nominates Gen. Christopher Musa as defense minister; he is confirmed by the Senate on December 3 and sworn in on December 4.
Saint Lucia: In parliamentary elections, the Saint Lucia Labour Party wins 55.8% of the vote (14 of 17 seats), the United Workers Party 37.2% (1), and independents 7.0% (2). Turnout is 48.4%. Philip J. Pierre is again sworn in as prime minister on December 5. The cabinet is sworn in on December 12, Pierre keeping the finance and national security portfolios, Alva Baptiste remaining foreign minister, and Jeremiah Norbert becoming home affairs minister.
United States: Jared Littmann is sworn in as mayor of Annapolis.
2
Papua New Guinea: Former foreign minister (2019) Solan Mirisim dies.
Bramble |
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines: Prime Minister Godwin Friday's cabinet is sworn in with himself as finance minister, Dwight Fitzgerald Bramble as foreign minister, and St. Clair Leacock as national security minister.
Pérez |
Spain: Juanfran Pérez Llorca takes office as president of the Generalitat of Valencia.
United States: In the mayoral runoff in Jersey City, James Solomon wins 68.0% of the vote and Jim McGreevey 32.0%. Turnout is 20.9%.
4
Australia: Former administrator of the Northern Territory (2003-07) Ted Egan dies.
India: Former governor of Mizoram (1990-93) Swaraj Kaushal dies.
Italy: Former president of Molise (1985-88) Paolo Nuvoli dies.
Japan: The governor of Fukui, Tatsuji Sugimoto, resigns. Vice Governor Yasuhiro Nakamura becomes acting governor.
5
Stefani |
Italy: Alberto Stefani takes office as president of Veneto.
6
Venezuela: Former governor of Nueva Esparta (2017-21) Alfredo Díaz dies.
7
China: In parliamentary elections in Hong Kong, independents win 40 of 90 seats, the Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong 20, the Business and Professionals Alliance for Hong Kong 8, the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions 7, the Liberal Party 4, and the New People's Party 3. Turnout is 31.9%.
8
Cabo Verde: Former foreign minister (2024-25) José Filomeno Monteiro dies.
Kubis |
Czech Republic: The regional assembly of Karlovarský kraj elects Petr Kubis as governor (29 of 43 votes).
9
Czech Republic: Andrej Babis is appointed as prime minister. His government (see November 6) is appointed on December 15.
Fico |
Italy: Roberto Fico takes office as president of Campania.
United States: Former secretary of education (2001-05) Rod Paige dies.
United States: In the mayoral runoff in Albuquerque, Tim Keller wins 57.6% of the vote and Darren White 42.4%. In Miami, Eileen Higgins wins 59.5% of the vote and Emilio T. Gonzalez 40.5%; turnout is 21.3%. Higgins is sworn in on December 18.
10
Valdés | 
Suárez |
Argentina: Juan Pablo Valdés takes office as governor of Corrientes and Elías Suárez as governor of Santiago del Estero.
French Southern and Antarctic Lands: Mikael Quimbert is appointed as administrator-superior, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
The Netherlands: Rianne Letschert becomes informateur.
Switzerland: Guy Parmelin is elected president for 2026 (203 of 210 votes). Ignazio Cassis is elected vice president (144 of 190 votes).
11
Bangladesh: Parliamentary elections are announced for Feb. 12, 2026. President Mohammad Shahabuddin says he will step down after the elections.
Bulgaria: The government of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov resigns. Parliament approves the resignation (227-0) on December 12.
Thompson |
Canada: The premier of Prince Edward Island, Rob Lantz, announces his resignation. On December 12 Deputy Premier Bloyce Thompson is sworn in as premier.
Falkland Islands: In parliamentary elections, 8 nonpartisan members are elected. Turnout is 82.6%.
Thailand: Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul asks King Vajiralongkorn to dissolve parliament and order new elections. The king does so on December 12 (elections being subsequently set for Feb. 8, 2026).
12
Argentina: Carlos Alberto Presti is sworn in as defense minister.
India: Former governor of Punjab (2010-15) and Rajasthan (2010-12) Shivraj Patil dies.
13
Pakistan: Former governor of North-West Frontier Province (1999-2000) Mohammad Shafiq dies.
14
Chile: In the presidential runoff, José Antonio Kast wins 58.2% of the vote and Jeannette Jara 41.8%. Turnout is 85.1%.
15
Djibouti: Ali Aref Bourhan, former vice president of the Government Council of French Somaliland (1960-66) and president of the Government Council of the French Territory of the Afars and Issas (1967-76), dies.
Romania: The government of Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan survives a no-confidence motion, which receives 139 votes (232 needed).
South Africa: The premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Thami Ntuli, survives a no-confidence vote in the provincial assembly (rejected 40-39).
Spain: The president of the Diputación General of Aragón, Jorge Azcón, unable to find agreement for the vote of the 2026 budget, announces the dissolution of the regional parliament (effective December 16) and new elections to be held on Feb. 8, 2026.
Togo: Former foreign minister (2005-07) Zarifou Ayéva dies.
Fakafanua |
Tonga: Parliament elects Fatafehi Fakafanua as prime minister. He receives 16 votes, against 10 for incumbent 'Aisake Eke. On December 18 Fakafanua is appointed by the king and takes office. On December 22 he renominates Crown Prince Tupouto'a 'Ulukalala as foreign and defense minister. On December 26 he submits to the king his full list of cabinet nominations (names not announced yet).
16
Fiji: In a cabinet reshuffle (effective Jan. 19, 2026), Sakiasi Ditoka is appointed foreign minister.
Pakistan: Former chief minister of Punjab (1993, 1993-95, 1996) Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo dies.
17
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon: Marc Didio is appointed prefect.
18
Angola: Former prime minister (2002-08) Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos dies.
Ecuador: Former president (1988-92) Rodrigo Borja Cevallos dies.
Honduras: Roosevelt Hernández is named defense minister (sworn in December 19).
United States: Former governor of North Carolina (1977-85, 1993-2001) James B. Hunt, Jr., dies.
19
Vanuatu: Prime Minister Jotham Napat survives a no-confidence motion (rejected 36-12).
21
Spain: In parliamentary elections in Extremadura, the Popular Party wins 43.7% of the vote (29 of 65 seats), the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party 26.0% (18), Vox 17.1% (11), and United for Extremadura (Podemos, United Left, Green Alliance) 10.4% (7). Turnout is 62.7%.
23
Austria: Former Landeshauptmann of Oberösterreich (1977-95) Josef Ratzenböck dies.
Romania: Radu Miruta is sworn in as defense minister.
26
Congo (Kinshasa): The Constitutional Court nullifies the proceedings that led to the removal on October 27 of the governor of Tshopo, Paulin Lendongolia Lebabonga, and reinstates him as governor.
Sharma |
Nepal: Bala Nanda Sharma is appointed and sworn in as foreign minister.
Taiwan: Parliament approves (60-51) a motion to start impeachment proceedings against President Lai Ching-te. The vote on the impeachment will take place on May 19, 2026 (with 76 votes required to approve the impeachment).
United States: Former governor of North Dakota (1981-85) Allen I. Olson dies.
27
Côte d'Ivoire: In parliamentary elections, the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace wins 197 of 255 seats and the Democratic Party of Côte d'Ivoire-African Democratic Rally 32. Turnout is 35.0%.
28
Central African Republic: In presidential elections, incumbent Faustin Archange Touadéra wins 77.9% of the vote and former prime minister Anicet Georges Dologuélé 13.5%. Turnout is 64.4%. In the first round of parliamentary elections, 74 of 140 seats are decided, the United Hearts Movement winning 50 and independents 15.
Egypt: First-round re-run and runoff parliamentary elections are held December 3-4, 10-11, 17-18, and 27-28.
Guinea: In presidential elections, Transitional President Mamadi Doumbouya wins 86.7% of the vote and Yéro Baldé 6.5%. Turnout is about 81%.
Kosovo: In parliamentary elections, Vetëvendosje wins 49.3% of the vote (56 of 120 seats), the Democratic Party of Kosovo 21.0% (23), the Democratic League of Kosovo 13.6% (15), the Alliance for the Future of Kosovo 5.7% (6), and the Serb List 4.8% (9). Turnout is 45.4%.
29
Mexico: Former governor of Chihuahua (1992-98) Francisco Barrio Terrazas dies.
30
Bangladesh: Former prime minister (1991-96, 2001-06) Khaleda Zia dies.