June 1997 Rulers

June 1997

1

Bolivia: Former president Hugo Banzer Suárez of the Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN) comes out first in presidential elections, with 22% of the vote, followed by Juan Carlos Durán of the Nationalist Revolutionary Movement (MNR) with 18%, former president Jaime Paz Zamora of the Revolutionary Leftist Movement (MIR) with 17%, and Ivo Kuljis of the Solidarity Civic Union (UCS) and Remedios Loza of Conscience of the Fatherland (Condepa) with 16% each. Congress will choose the winner between Banzer and Durán in August. The ADN wins 46 out of 157 seats in parliamentary elections, MIR 31, MNR 29, UCS 23, Condepa 20, others 8. Turnout is about 70%.

Jospin

Védrine

France: The second round of parliamentary elections results in a win for the left, winning a combined 319 seats (Socialists 241, Communists 38, Radical Socialists 12, Greens 7, others 21), against 256 for the right (RPR 134, UDF 108, others 14). The far-right National Front and an independent win 1 seat each. Turnout is 71%. Socialist leader Lionel Jospin is named prime minister on June 2 and takes office June 3. On June 4 he names a cabinet that includes Hubert Védrine as foreign minister, Alain Richard as defense minister, Dominique Strauss-Kahn as economics and finance minister, and Jean-Pierre Chevènement as interior minister.
Russia: Nikolay Tikhonov, premier of the Soviet Union from 1980 to 1985, dies.

2

Eggleton

Canada: Prime Minister Jean Chrétien's Liberal Party wins parliamentary elections, with 155 out of 301 seats (38% of the vote), followed by the Reform Party with 60 seats (19%), Bloc Québécois with 44 (11%), New Democratic Party with 21 (11%), the Progressive Conservatives with 20 (19%), and one independent. Turnout is 66.7%. Defense Minister Doug Young loses his seat, and on June 11 his post is filled by Art Eggleton.
Czech Republic: Ivan Pilip becomes finance minister.
Organization of African Unity: Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe assumes the chairmanship.
Papua New Guinea: Sir Julius Chan, who stood down as prime minister in March pending the outcome of an inquiry into the Sandline affair, says he has been exonerated and is resuming the office. However, acting prime minister John Giheno says he has no plan to leave office. In parliamentary elections held between June 14 and 28, both Chan and Giheno lose their seats. Chan's People's Progressive Party wins 16 out of 109 seats; the Pangu party 15, and independents 36.

4

Bermuda: Thorold Masefield is sworn in as governor.
Latvia: Parliament confirms Talavs Jundzis as defense minister. He takes office on June 5.

5

Algeria: In parliamentary elections, the National Democratic Rally wins 156 seats in the 380-seat assembly; the Movement of a Peaceful Society wins 69 seats, the National Liberation Front 62, Nahda 34, Socialist Forces Front 20, Rally for Culture and Democracy 19, other parties 9, and independents 11. Turnout is 65.6%.

6

Burkina Faso: Prime Minister Kadré Désiré Ouedraogo resigns. On June 10 Albert Millogo is named to replace Col. Badaye Fayama as defense minister; Tertius Zongo becomes finance minister.
Guinea-Bissau: President João Bernardo Vieira names Carlos Correia as new prime minister, having dissolved Prime Minister Manuel Saturnino da Costa's government on May 26.

Ahern

Ireland: In parliamentary elections, Fianna Fáil wins 77 seats, Fine Gael 54, Labour Party 17, Democratic Left 4, Progressive Democrats 4, Green Alliance 2, Sinn Féin 1, others 7. On June 26 Fianna Fáil leader Bertie Ahern is elected prime minister, heading a coalition with the Progressive Democrats. He appoints Ray Burke as foreign minister, David Andrews as defense minister, and Charlie McCreevy as finance minister.
Romania: Parliament votes 277-158 to defeat a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea's government.

9

Chile: Former foreign minister (1973-74) Ismael Huerta Díaz dies.
Haiti: Prime Minister Rosny Smarth resigns.

10

Chad: Abdramane Sallah replaces Youssouf Togoimi as interior minister.
Czech Republic: Prime Minister Václav Klaus survives a no-confidence vote (101-99).
Switzerland: Former president of the government of Thurgau (1951-52, 1955-56, 1959-60) Ernst Reiber dies.

11

Nepal: Foreign Minister Prakash Chandra Lohani resigns. He is replaced by Kamal Thapa.

Kramplová

Slovakia: President Michal Kovác appoints Zdenka Kramplová as foreign minister.

12

Mauritania: Sow Abou Demba replaces Abdallahi Ould Nem as foreign minister.

13

Afghanistan: The Taliban leadership names a new foreign minister, Mullah Abdul Jalil, to replace Mullah Mohammad Ghous, who was taken prisoner by opposition forces in late May.

15

Belgium: Former prime minister (1973-74) Edmond Leburton dies.
Croatia: Incumbent Franjo Tudjman of the Croatian Democratic Union wins presidential elections, getting 61.4% of the vote, followed by Zdravko Tomac (Social-Democratic Party) with 21% and Vlado Gotovac (Social Liberals) with 17.6%. Turnout is about 57%.

18

Israel: Finance Minister Dan Meridor resigns (effective June 20).

Cem

Turkey: Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan resigns. On June 30 Mesut Yilmaz of the Motherland Party becomes prime minister. Ismail Cem replaces Tansu Çiller as foreign minister. Other cabinet members include Ismet Sezgin (defense), Murat Basesgioglu (interior), and Zekeriya Temizel (finance).

19

Thailand: Finance Minister Amnuay Viravan resigns. On June 21 Thanong Bidaya is named as his successor.

20

Mauritius: The Mauritius Militant Movement quits the ruling coalition. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam takes over the post of foreign minister from MMM leader Paul Bérenger.

Bagabandi

Mongolia: Natsagiyn Bagabandi is sworn in as president.

24

Israel: The Knesset votes 55-50 to reject a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

25

Yugoslavia: Srdja Bozovic becomes acting president as Zoran Lilic's term expires.

26

Argentina: Justice Minister Elías Jassan resigns. He is to be replaced by Raúl Granillo Ocampo.

28

Mauritius: Parliament reelects President Cassam Uteem. Angidi Chettiar is elected vice-president, replacing Rabindranath Ghurburrun.

29

Albania: The Socialist Party wins parliamentary elections, with about 80 seats out of 155. President Sali Berisha's Democratic Party wins about 20 seats. Turnout is about 65%. 34 seats will be decided in runoffs on July 6.
Switzerland: Former Landammann of Sankt Gallen (1955-56) Walter Clavadetscher dies.

30

Latvia: Interior Minister Dainis Turlais resigns.