August 2026

1

Malaysia: In parliamentary elections in Negeri Sembilan, Pakatan Harapan wins 40.2% of the vote (11 of 36 seats), Barisan Nasional 35.6% (18), and Perikatan Nasional 20.4% (7). Turnout is 72.6%. On August 2 Dato' Ismail Lasim is sworn in as chief minister.
Saint Lucia: Felix Finisterre takes office as acting governor-general.

2

Armenia: The government of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan resigns on the inaugural session of the newly elected parliament. President Vahagn Khachaturyan reappoints Pashinyan as prime minister. On August 3 an almost unchanged cabinet is appointed.

3

Bolivia: In a cabinet reshuffle, Héctor Huanca is appointed and sworn in as foreign minister.
India: Former governor of Tripura (2009-13), Bihar (2013-14), and West Bengal (2014) D.Y. Patil dies.
Russia: The prime minister of Udmurtia, Roman Yefimov, resigns and Tatyana Churakova is appointed acting prime minister.
United States: Jay Clayton is sworn in as director of national intelligence.
Vietnam: The National Assembly approves Nguyen Tien Hai as home affairs minister.

5

New Caledonia: The new government's portfolios are allocated with President Milakulo Tukumuli responsible for external relations and Philippe Blaise for finance.
Sri Lanka: Harsha Suranga Fernando is sworn in as governor of Central province.

7

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Colombia: Abelardo de la Espriella is sworn in as president and his government takes office including Omar Bula Escobar as foreign minister (see June 21, July 6).
Ghana: In a cabinet reshuffle, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei is named defense minister.

8

United States: The Senate confirms Todd Blanche as attorney general (50-49). He is sworn in on August 10.

9

Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Nagano, incumbent Shuichi Abe wins 86.1% of the vote and Ryosuke Takeda 13.9%. Turnout is 40.5%.

10

China: Former governor of Guangdong (1991-96) Zhu Senlin dies.
Pakistan: In parliamentary elections in Azad Kashmir held July 27 and August 2 and 10, the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) wins 31 of 53 seats and the Pakistan People's Party 14; for 7 seats the elections are postponed for security reasons. On August 25 Chaudhry Tariq Farooq is elected speaker of the Legislative Assembly, thus becoming acting president of the state during the vacancy in the presidency. On August 28 Syed Iftikhar Ali Gilani of the PML(N) is elected by the assembly - receiving 30 votes, against 14 for Sardar Mukhtar Ahmad Khan Abbasi (PPP) - and sworn in as prime minister.

11

Hungary: Parliament elects András Baka as president (140-6). He takes office August 19.
Sierra Leone: In a cabinet reshuffle, Mohamed Rahman Swaray is appointed foreign minister and Karefa Kargbo finance minister.

12

China: Former mayor of Shanghai (1988-91) and premier (1998-2003) Zhu Rongji dies.
Cook Islands: In parliamentary elections (on one island delayed to August 13), the Cook Islands Party wins 45.3% of the vote (13 of 24 seats), the Cook Islands United Party 31.1% (4), the Democratic Party 12.1% (0), independents 7.1% (4), Independent-Enuamanu 1.9% (2), and the Independence Party 1.9% (1).
New Zealand: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon dismisses Defence Minister Chris Penk. Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith additionally receives the defence portfolio.

13

Saudi Arabia: King Salman reappoints Crown Prince Muhammad ibn Salman as prime minister with an unchanged cabinet.
Zambia: In presidential elections, incumbent Hakainde Hichilema wins 60.5% of the vote and Brian Mundubile 37.9%.

14

Congo (Kinshasa): The government adopts a 127th extension of the state of siege in Ituri and Nord-Kivu, and a 128th on August 28.
Pitcairn Island: Louise Cantillon is appointed governor. She takes office August 26.

15

Nigeria: In gubernatorial elections in Osun, incumbent Ademola Adeleke (Accord Party) wins 50.8% of the vote and Bola Oyebamiji (All Progressives Congress) 44.2%. Turnout is about 43%.

16

Dominican Republic: In a cabinet reshuffle, Victor Bisonó Haza is named foreign minister.

17

Moldova: The People's Assembly of Gagauzia declares the position of governor vacant (Governor Evghenia Gutul was sentenced to a 7-year prison term in 2025).
Tonga: In a cabinet reshuffle, Vika Sivoki Lavemaau is appointed as finance minister (sworn in August 18).

18

Bolivia: Parliament votes (91-34) to censure Economy Minister José Gabriel Espinoza, apparently forcing his removal. On August 19, however, the government decides that he stays in office, saying the motion did not reach the required two-thirds majority (111) of all legislators (not only of those present). Nevertheless, on August 21 President Rodrigo Paz dismisses Espinoza and names Óscar Mario Justiniano Pinto as interim minister pending the outcome of an appeal to the Constitutional Court. On August 24, just before the court was to examine the matter, Espinoza drops his appeal. On August 25 Christian Morales is sworn in as economy minister.
Georgia: Former foreign minister of Abkhazia (2004) Igor Akhba dies.
Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky nominates Andriy Sybiha as foreign minister and Yevheniy Khmara as defense minister (both currently acting). On August 19 parliament confirms Sybiha (266-0 with 14 abstentions) and Khmara (312-2).

19

China: Chen Xinwu is elected mayor of Chongqing.
France: Former president of the Regional Council of Bourgogne (2004-15) and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (acting, 2016) François Patriat dies.

20

Bangladesh: Parliament elects Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir (Bangladesh Nationalist Party) as president. He receives 255 votes and Oli Ahmed (Jamaat-e-Islami-led alliance) 88. He is sworn in on August 21.

21

Mexico: Former governor of Oaxaca (1985-86) Jesús Martínez Álvarez dies.
San Marino: Former captain-regent (2011-12, 2017-18) Matteo Fiorini dies.

22

Estonia: Former foreign minister (1995-96) and prime minister (2002-03) Siim Kallas dies (night of August 21/22).

23

Kazakhstan: In parliamentary elections, Adilet wins 71.2% of the vote (110 of 145 seats), Auyl 6.3% (10), Respublica 5.6% (9), the Ak Zhol Democratic Party 5.2% (8), and the Nationwide Social Democratic Party 5.1% (8). Turnout is 74.1%. On August 28 President Kasymzhomart Tokayev dismisses the government of Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov. On August 31 Yerlan Karin is elected as vice president (141 votes) and Bektenov again as prime minister (137 votes).
Pakistan: Former governor of Balochistan (1994-97) Imranullah Khan dies.
Russia: Former president of Karachayevo-Cherkessia (2008-11) Boris Ebzeyev dies.

24

China: Former chairman of the government of Guangxi (2013-20) Chen Wu dies.

25

Tanzania: Vice President Emmanuel Nchimbi announces his resignation, effective September 4. On August 26 the ruling party designates Deogratius Ndejembi as vice president; he is approved by parliament (324-0) on August 28 and sworn in on August 29.

27

Organization of Islamic Cooperation: Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed (Mauritania) is elected secretary-general, to take office in November.

28

Germany: The minister-president of Thüringen, Mario Voigt, survives a no-confidence vote (rejected 49-33).
Norway: King Harald V dies. Crown Prince Haakon becomes King Haakon VIII.

29

North Korea: Defense Minister No Kwang Chol is dismissed and replaced by Kim Song Gi.
Tokelau: Former administrator (1988-90, 2003-06) Neil Walter dies.

30

Japan: In gubernatorial elections in Kagawa, incumbent Toyohito Ikeda wins 71.1% of the vote and Fumihiko Senoo 18.1%. Turnout is 35.7%.
South Korea: In a cabinet reshuffle, Kang Shin Chul is named defense minister and Lee Hyoung Il finance minister.

31

France: Former prime minister (1993-95) Édouard Balladur dies.
Solomon Islands: Home Affairs Minister Manasseh Maelanga resigns.