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11 June 2017 Puerto Rico
In a referendum on Puerto Rico’s constitutional status, nearly 97% of participating voters were in favour of the island becoming a state of the USA. However, turnout was just 23% and the results were non-binding. Any change in Puerto Rico’s status would have to be approved by the US Congress. The plebiscite had been called in early 2017 by the incoming Governor, Ricardo Rosselló, who declared the attainment of statehood to be a priority for his administration, particularly in light of the ongoing fiscal crisis on the island. Opposition parties had urged supporters to boycott the vote.
8 June 2017 United Kingdom
An early general election was held, called at the request of the Conservative Prime Minister, Theresa May, with the stated aim of confirming the Government’s mandate prior to the start of negotiations with the European Union on the terms of the United Kingdom’s exit. While the Conservative Party, with 318 seats and 42.4% of the votes cast, remained the largest party in the House of Commons, it failed to secure an overall majority, suffering a loss of 13 seats. The Labour Party increased its representation by 30 seats to 262 seats with 40.0% of votes. The Liberal Democrats secured 12 seats (an increase of four seats) and the Green Party held its one seat. Notably, the UK Independence Party secured 1.8% of votes (having garnered 12.6% at the 2015 general election) and no representation. In Scotland, the Scottish National Party lost 21 seats to secure 35, while in Northern Ireland, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) won 10 seats and Sinn Fein seven; the Social Democratic and Labour Party and the Ulster Unionist Party both lost their representation. May announced her intention to pursue discussions with the DUP in order to form a minority Conservative Government that would rely on DUP support in the House of Commons. Voter participation was registered at 68.7%.
07 June 2017 Nepal
The leader of the Nepali Congress Party (NCP), Sher Bahadur Deuba, was sworn into office as Prime Minister by President Bidhya Devi Bandari. Deuba had previously served as premier on three separate occasions, most recently in 2004–05. Seven ministers from three parties were sworn in at the same ceremony. From the NCP, Gopal Man Shrestha became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki Minister of Finance and Farmullah Mansoor Minister of Labour and Employment. From the Communist Party of Nepal—Maoist Centre (CPN—MC), Krishna Bahadur Mahara was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, party leader Janardan Sharma as Minister of Home Affairs and Prabhu Sah as Minister without Portfolio. The leader of the Madhesi Jana Adhikar Forum Nepal—Loktantrik, Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar, was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development. The appointment of a new government followed the resignation as Prime Minister of Pushpa Kamal Dahal (better known as ‘Prachanda’), in accordance with the coalition agreement reached in August 2016 between the CPN—MC and the NCP.
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03 June 2017 Lesotho
Legislative elections were held, following the collapse of the governing coalition led by the Democratic Congress (DC) and the dissolution of Parliament in March. According to results released by the Independent Elections Commission, the All Basotho Convention (ABC, led by former Prime Minister Thomas Thabane, who had returned from exile in South Africa in February) secured the largest number of seats, taking 48 out of the 117 declared, while the DC was placed second with 30 seats. Thabane announced on 9 June that he had secured agreement with three other parties (the Alliance of Democrats, the Basotho National Party and the Reformed Congress of Lesotho) that would enable the formation of a new coalition Government.
26 May 2017 Algeria
A new Council of Ministers took office. Abdelmadjid Tebboune (formerly the Minister of Housing, Urban Planning and Towns) was promoted to Prime Minister, in place of Abdelmalek Sellal. Among the other most notable appointees were Abdelkader Messahel, who became Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Abderrahmane Raouia, who joined the Government as Minister of Finance. Mustapha Guitouni assumed responsibility as Minister of Energy, while Mahdjoub Sedda took the post of Minister of Industry and Mining. A further 11 portfolios were reallocated. On 28 May the newly appointed Minister of Tourism and Handicrafts, Messaoud Benagoun, left the Government; no replacement was announced. The reorganization followed elections to the National People’s Assembly held on 4 May.
10 May 2017 Bahamas
The Free National Movement, led by Hubert Minnis, decisively won the general election of 10 May, winning 35 of the 39 parliamentary seats. The incumbent Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), in power since 2012, retained only four seats. Outgoing Prime Minister and PLP leader Perry Christie conceded defeat immediately following the ballot. His party’s defeat was attributed to voter concerns about government corruption and poor economic performance. Minnis was sworn in as Prime Minister on 11 May.
09 May 2017 Republic of Korea
Moon Jae-In of the Minjoo Party won the presidential election with 41.1% of the votes cast; Hong Joon-Pyo of the Liberty Korea Party was his nearest rival with 24.0% and Ahn Cheol-Soo of the People’s Party was in third place with 21.4%. The election followed the impeachment in a corruption scandal of former President Park Geun-Hye. Moon, who had narrowly lost the 2012 presidential election to Park, was regarded as a liberal and, in contrast to his predecessor, favoured engagement with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. Moon was sworn in as President on 10 May.
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