March 2015

1

Andorra: In parliamentary elections, the Democrats for Andorra win 37% of the vote (15 of 28 seats), the Liberals of Andorra 27.7% (8), the alliance of the Social Democratic Party of Andorra, Greens, and Citizens' Initiative 23.5% (3), and Social Democracy and Progress 11.7% (2). Turnout is 65.6%. On March 23 Gilbert Saboya Sunyé becomes acting head of government and Albert Esteve García acting finance minister. On March 31 parliament reelects the previous incumbent, Antoni Martí Petit, as head of government with 15 votes, against 7 for Josep Pintat.
El Salvador: In parliamentary elections, the Nationalist Republican Alliance wins 40.4% of the vote (35 of 84 seats), the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front 37.3% (31), the Grand National Alliance 9.3% (11), and the Party of National Consultation 7.2% (6). Turnout is 47.8%.
Estonia: In parliamentary elections, the Reform Party wins 27.7% of the vote (30 of 101 seats), the Centre Party 24.8% (27), the Social Democratic Party 15.2% (15), the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union 13.7% (14), the Free Party 8.7% (8), and the Conservative People's Party 8.1% (7). Turnout is 64.2%. On March 31 President Toomas Hendrik Ilves asks Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas to form the new government.
India: Mufti Mohammad Sayeed is sworn in as chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir.
Tajikistan: In parliamentary elections, the People's Democratic Party wins 65.4% of the vote (51 of 63 seats), the Agrarian Party 11.7% (5), the Party of Economic Reforms 7.5% (3), and the Socialist Party 5.5% (1). Turnout is 87.7%.
Uganda: In a government reshuffle, Matia Kasaija becomes finance minister.

Nin

Uruguay: Tabaré Vázquez is sworn in as president with his cabinet including Rodolfo Nin Novoa as foreign minister (see Dec. 2, 2014).

3

European Free Trade Association: Former secretary-general (1976-81) Charles Müller dies.
Federated States of Micronesia: In parliamentary elections, 14 nonpartisans are elected.
United States: In mayoral elections in Tampa, Bob Buckhorn is reelected with 95.9% of the vote.

4

Bulgaria: Interior Minister Veselin Vuchkov resigns. On March 11 parliament approves Rumyana Bachvarova as interior minister.

Kozlov

Russia: The governor of Sakhalin oblast, Aleksandr Khoroshavin, is arrested. Deputy Governor Sergey Karaganov will "coordinate the work of the executive authorities." On March 25 President Vladimir Putin dismisses Khoroshavin and appoints Oleg Kozhemyako acting governor. To replace Kozhemyako as governor of Amur oblast, Aleksandr Kozlov is appointed acting governor.

5

Egypt: In a cabinet reshuffle, Magdi Abdel Ghaffar becomes interior minister.
Norway: Former governor of Møre og Romsdal (1966-72) Erling Sandene dies.
Sierra Leone: Former foreign minister (1965-67, 1996) Maigore Kallon dies.

6

Guinea-Bissau: Octávio Alves is named minister of internal administration.
India: Former chief minister of Bihar (1979-80) Ram Sundar Das dies.

7

Russia: Former head of the administration of Amur oblast (1996-97) Yury Lyashko dies.
Turkey: Sebahattin Öztürk becomes interior minister as Efkan Ala resigns.
United States: Former governor of Vermont (1961-63) F. Ray Keyser, Jr., dies.

8

Mauritania: Former foreign minister (1996-97) Lemrabott Sidi Mahmoud Ould Cheikh Ahmed dies.

9

Czech Republic: Martin Havel is elected governor of Karlovarský kraj.
Russia: Former prime minister of Tatarstan (1989-95) Mukhammat Sabirov dies.
Venezuela: Gustavo González is named interior minister.

11

Lebanon: The 20th attempt of the parliament to elect a president fails due to lack of a quorum. The next attempt is set for April 2.

Geingob

Iyambo

Kuugongelwa-A.

Namibia: President-elect Hage Geingob nominates Nickey Iyambo as vice president and Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila as prime minister. On March 19 Geingob announces his cabinet with Penda ya Ndakolo as defense minister and Calle Schlettwein as finance minister, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah to remain foreign (now called international relations) minister and Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana home affairs minister. Geingob and the government are sworn in on March 21.
Nigeria: Former governor of Bauchi (1976-78) Mohammed Kaliel dies.

12

Russia: President Vladimir Putin appoints Dmitry Kobylkin, whose regular term would have expired March 16, as acting governor of Yamalo-Nenets autonomous okrug.

13

Pavlopoulos

Greece: Prokopis Pavlopoulos is sworn in as president.

15

Indonesia: Former acting governor of Banten (2000-02) Hakamuddin Djamal dies.
Romania: Finance Minister Darius Vâlcov resigns. On March 20 Prime Minister Victor Ponta nominates himself as interim finance minister and is appointed as such by President Klaus Johannis. On March 30 Ponta nominates and Johannis appoints Eugen Teodorovici as finance minister.

16

Adzynba

Mikvabia

Georgia: The prime minister of Abkhazia, Beslan Butba, resigns and Shamil Adzynba is named acting prime minister. On March 20 Artur Mikvabia is appointed prime minister.

17

Canada: Governor General David Johnston's term is extended to September 2017.
The Gambia: Abdou Kolley is appointed finance minister.
Israel: In parliamentary elections, Likud wins 23.4% of the vote (30 of 120 seats), the Zionist Camp 18.7% (24), the Joint List 10.5% (13), Yesh Atid 8.8% (11), Kulanu 7.5% (10), Bayit Yehudi 6.7% (8), Shas 5.7% (6), Yisrael Beiteinu 5.1% (6), United Torah Judaism 5% (6), Meretz 3.9% (5), and Yachad 3% (0). Turnout is 72.4%. On March 25 President Reuven Rivlin tasks Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with forming the new government.

Sekhamane

Lesotho: Pakalitha Mosisili is sworn in as prime minister. On March 30 the cabinet is sworn in including Tlohang Sekhamane as foreign minister, Tseliso Mokhosi as defense minister, Lekhetho Rakuoane as home affairs minister, and 'Mamphono Khaketla as finance minister.

18

Organization of American States: Luis Almagro (Uruguay) is elected secretary-general, to take office May 26.
Switzerland: Former Landammann of Nidwalden (1978-79, 1980-81, 1982-83, 1984-85) Paul Niederberger dies.

20

Australia: Former prime minister (1975-83) Malcolm Fraser dies.

21

Brazil: Former governor of Alagoas (1975-78, 1983-86, 1995-97) Divaldo Suruagy dies.
Nigeria: Former governor of Benue (1986-87) Ishaya Bakut dies.

Yassin

Yemen: Aden-based President Abdu Rabu Mansour Hadi names Riyadh Yassin as foreign minister. On March 22 the Revolutionary Committee announces Hussein Nagi Khairan as acting defense minister, following the March 7 defection of Mahmoud al-Subaihi to the Aden side. On March 25 Subaihi is captured by the rebels and Hadi leaves Aden as the rebels close in on the city.

22

Moldova: In gubernatorial elections in Gagauzia, Irina Vlah wins 51% of the vote, defeating Nicolae Dudoglo (19.1%), Valeri Ianioglo (8%), and Dumitru Croitor (6.2%). Turnout is 58.1%.
Spain: In parliamentary elections in Andalucía, the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party of Andalucía wins 35.9% of the vote (47 of 109 seats), the People's Party 27.1% (33), Podemos 15% (15), Citizens 9.4% (9), and United Left-The Greens-Assembly for Andalucía 7% (5). Turnout is 63.9%.

23

Canada: Janice Filmon is appointed as the next lieutenant governor of Manitoba.
Singapore: Former prime minister (1959-90) Lee Kuan Yew dies.

24

Cook Islands: Albert Nicholas is named internal affairs minister.
Monaco: Patrice Cellario is named to replace Paul Masseron as interior minister on April 4.
Russia: President Vladimir Putin appoints Rustam Minnikhanov, whose regular term would have expired March 25, as acting president of Tatarstan.
South Sudan: Parliament passes (264-6) a constitutional amendment extending for three years (to July 9, 2018) the mandate of the president, Salva Kiir.
United States: In mayoral elections in Jacksonville, incumbent Alvin Brown (Dem.) wins 42.6% of the vote, Lenny Curry (Rep.) 38.4%, and Bill Bishop (Rep.) 16.8%. Turnout is 33.6%. A runoff will be held on May 19.

26

India: Former governor of Mizoram (1993-98) Paty Ripple Kyndiah dies.
Switzerland: Former Landammann of Uri (1964-66, 1968-70) Alfred Weber dies.

27

India: Former chief minister of Mizoram (1978, 1979-84) Thenphunga Sailo dies.

28

Australia: In parliamentary elections in New South Wales, the Liberal Party wins 35.1% of the vote (37 of 93 seats), the Labor Party 34.1% (34), the National Party 10.6% (17), and the Greens 10.3% (3). Turnout is 90.4%.
India: The governor of Mizoram, Aziz Qureshi, is dismissed and the governor of West Bengal, Keshari Nath Tripathi, given additional charge of Mizoram.

29

Nigeria: In presidential elections held March 28-29, Muhammadu Buhari (All Progressives Congress) wins 54% of the vote and incumbent Goodluck Jonathan (People's Democratic Party) 45%.
Portugal: In parliamentary elections in Madeira, the Social Democratic Party wins 46.3% of the vote (24 of 47 seats), the People's Party 14.3% (7), the Change Coalition 11.9% (6), Together for the People 10.8% (5), the United Democratic Coalition 5.8% (2), and the Left Bloc 4% (2). Turnout is 49.7%.
Uzbekistan: In presidential elections, incumbent Islam Karimov wins 90.4% of the vote. Turnout is 91%.

30

Montserrat: Elizabeth Carriere is appointed governor, to take office in July.
Peru: Congress votes (72-42) to remove Prime Minister Ana Jara.

31

Bolivia: Defense Minister Jorge Ledezma is dismissed and replaced by Reymi Ferreira.

Crnadak

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Parliament approves the new government of Prime Minister Denis Zvizdic (26-7). Igor Crnadak becomes foreign minister, Marina Pendes defense minister, Dragan Mektic security minister, and Vjekoslav Bevanda finance minister.
Indonesia: Former governor of Jawa Tengah (1992-98) Suwardi dies.
Libya: The Tripoli parliament dismisses Prime Minister Omar al-Hassi.
Tuvalu: In parliamentary elections, only nonpartisans (including Prime Minister Enele Sopoaga, who was unopposed) are elected to the 15 seats.