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LETTER N° 10

From 04 to 10 MARCH

04
Andorra

Consell General election. Results : In parliamentary elections, the Liberal Party wins 15 of 28 seats, the Social Democratic Party 6, the Democratic Party 5, and the Unió Laurediana 2. Turnout is 81.6%.

04
Switzerland

Referendum on whether to begin immediate talks on joining the EU. Results : 77% Not

Canton (regional) parliament elections in Aargau, Fribourg, Neuchatel, Solothurn and Valais. Results : See next week Vips-Feds

04
Benin

Presidential election. Results :

The Constitutional Court of Benin, which made a simultaneous countdown with the Autonomous National Election Board (CENA), and whose partial results have been published, announced that incumbent Mathieu Kérékou, was ahead of Sunday presidential election winning 48% of the votes. Candidate Nicéphore Soglo won 29%, Adrien Houngbédji 11% and Bruno Amoussou 5. 6%. Both Kérékou and Soglo were qualifiedto run on the second run scheduled on March 18.

04
Ethiopia

Staggered local administration elections continue in early March.

04
United States

Former Minnesota governor (1939-43) Harold E. Stassen and former Ohio governor (1963-71, 1975-83) James A. Rhodes die.

Born on a farm in Dakota County, Minnesota in 1907, Stassen worked his way through the University of Minnesota as a pullman train conductor. He earned a law degree in 1929 and after practicing law, served as a district attorney before being elected governor in 1938, at 31 being the youngest in the history of the state. He served as Assistant Chief of Staff to Admiral Halsey, in World War II. He was one of the authors and signers of the United Nations Charter in 1945, appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and reappointed by President Harry Truman. After serving in World War II, he became president of the University of Pennsylvania and later joined in persuading Dwight Eisenhower to run for the U.S. Presidency. He subsequently served in various capacities with cabinet rank during the Eisenhower administration. As Eisenhower's special assistant on disarmament, or "Secretary for Peace" as he was called, Stassen was an active participant in the 1955 Geneva Summit.

04
Djibouti

A decree signed, by President Ismail Omar Guelleh, stated briefly that "Mr Dileita Mohamed Dileita has been appointed prime minister of the Republic of Djibouti". Dileita is a diplomat and former civil servant. He is from the Afar community, which has traditionally complained of political marginalisation and has in the past waged war against the ethnic-Somali dominated government.

04
Samoa

The centrist Human Rights Protection Party of Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi wins the parliamentary elections.

05
Japan

Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori survives a no-confidence vote (274-192).

05
Portugal

70 Victims of Bridge Disaster. Infrastructure Minister Jorge Coelho, resigned, taking "full political responsibility for the tragedy".

06
Rwanda

Municipal elections. Results : not available

06
Ghana

Kwame Nkrumah
National holiday : Independence Day (6 March 1957).

In precolonial times the area of present-day Ghana comprised a number of independent kingdoms, including Gonja and Dagomba in the north, Ashanti in the interior, and the Fanti states along the coast. In 1482 the first European fort was established by the Portuguese at Elmina. The Danes (1850) and the Dutch (1872) withdrew in the face of expansionist activities by the Ashanti kingdom; the British, however, remained and allied themselves with the Fanti states against Ashanti. In 1874 the British defeated Ashanti and organized the coastal region as the colony of the Gold Coast. In the Gold Coast, nationalist activity, which began in the interwar period, intensified after World War II. Kwame Nkrumah of the Convention People's Party (CPP) emerged as the leading nationalist figure. In 1951, Britain granted a new constitution, which had been drawn up by Africans, and general elections were held. The CPP won overwhelmingly and Nkrumah became premier. On Mar. 6, 1957, the state of Ghana, named after the medieval W African empire, became an independent country within the Commonwealth of Nations. At the same time the people of British Togoland chose to become part of Ghana.

06
Portugal

Ferro Rodrigues is the new Minister for Social Equipment and State Secretary for Employment Paulo Pedroso becomes Minister of Employment and Solidarity. Such is the internal solution drawn by Premier António Guterres.

06
Brazil

Mário Covas Junior, the hot-tempered and blunt-speaking governor of Sao Paulo, died from multiple organ failure at the age of 70. President Fernando Henrique Cardoso has decreed seven days of national mourning. Covas entered politics in 1962 when he was elected to Congress for the Brazilian Democratic Party. As he began his second term in 1966, the military regime stripped him of his political rights after he defended a fellow congressman who had criticized the armed forces. In 1979, Covas returned to Congress. Four years later, he was appointed Sao Paulo mayor. Covas was elected to the Senate in 1986, and two years later, he and then Senator Cardoso founded the Brazilian Social Democracy Party. Covas was the party's candidate in the 1989 presidential elections, but came in fourth.

07
Uganda

Presidential election. Results :

Ther first round of the presidential election has been postponed.

07
Ukrainia

President Leonid Kuchma had signed orders dismissing Energy Minister Serhiy Yermilov and replacing him with Stanislav Stashevsky.

07
Israel

Ariel Sharon takes office as prime minister.

SEE NEW GOVERNMENT

08
Italy

Carlo Azeglio Ciampi Italy's president dissolved parliament on Thursday, paving the way for national elections by mid-May. The exact date of the election has not been set, but is widely expected to be May 6 or May 13.

08
Canada

Bernard Landry takes office as premier of Quebec.

Born in Saint-Jacques (Joliette) on March 9, 1937. Studied at Saint-Louis, Saint-Jacques' Academies. Studies at Joliette Seminary .B.LL from Montreal University -Québec's Bar (1965). Degree in Economy and finance, Montreal University. Degree in Economy and finance from the Institut d'études politiques, Paris, France. Main political, parliamentary eand ministerial posts : elected MP for Fabre constituency in General Elections on November 15, 1976 , reelected on Septembee 12, 1994 and November 30,1998. Was also Minister of International Affairs from November 3 1995 to January 28 1996. Minister entrusted with FrenchSpeaking from 3 of November 1995 to 28 of January 1996. Minister responsible with the Secretary for Youth from 3 of Novembee 1995 to 28 of January 1996. Minister responsible with the Office for international humanitarian action from 3 of November 1995 to 28 of January 1996. Minister of Industry, Trade, Science and Technology from 29of January 1996 to 23 of September 1998 and from 15 of December 1998 to 8 of March 2001.State Minister for the Economy and Finance from 29 of January 1996 to 15 of December 1998 and from 15 of December 1998 to 8 of March 2001. Minister of Finance and minister of Budget from January 29, 1996 to December 15, 1998. Minister responsible with the Estrie region from 15 of December 1998 to 8 of March 2001.

08
Germany

(Greens)

Germany's junior coalition partners, the Greens, have elected an outspoken left-winger as joint leader at their party conference in Stuttgart. Claudia Roth, a gay rights campaigner, was chosen unopposed to replace Renate Kuenast, recently appointed Minister of Consumer Affairs and Farming.

Claudia Roth is born on 15 May 1955 in Ulm. 1974 Abitur at the Simpert shopkeeper High School Krumbach. Dramaturgin, urban stages Dortmund, " Hoffmans Comic Teater ", Managerin " tone of stones pieces of broken glass ". Memberships into Humanisti union, pro asylum, research association escape migration FFM, ImmiGruen, gay association in Germany (SVD) and international association for the human rights of the Kurds (IMK). 1985 to 1989 press spokeswoman that Becoming Green in the Bundestag, 1989 to 1998 member of the European parliament, starting from 1994 leader of the parliamentary group that Becoming Green. Member of the federal daily since 1998 ; Chairman of the committee for human rights and humanitarian assistance ; Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany in the parliamentary meeting of the Council of Europe at the same time representative in the meeting of the Western European union.

This week on VIPS-GOV. and regarding the continuation of EU governments, you'll find :

DENMARK

THIS WEEK'S STORY

March 2th
1807

President Thomas Jefferson signed it into law Congress Banned Importation of Slaves.
In the thick of party conflict in 1800, Thomas Jefferson wrote in a private letter, "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." This powerful advocate of liberty was born in 1743 in Albermarle County, Virginia, inheriting from his father, a planter and surveyor, some 5,000 acres of land, and from his mother, a Randolph, high social standing. He studied at the College of William and Mary, then read law. In 1772 he married Martha Wayles Skelton, a widow, and took her to live in his partly constructed mountaintop home, Monticello. Freckled and sandy-haired, rather tall and awkward, Jefferson was eloquent as a correspondent, but he was no public speaker. In the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress, he contributed his pen rather than his voice to the patriot cause. As the "silent member" of the Congress, Jefferson, at 33, drafted the Declaration of Independence. In years following he labored to make its words a reality in Virginia. Most notably, he wrote a bill establishing religious freedom, enacted in 1786. Jefferson succeeded Benjamin Franklin as minister to France in 1785. His sympathy for the French Revolution led him into conflict with Alexander Hamilton when Jefferson was Secretary of State in President Washington's Cabinet. He resigned in 1793. Sharp political conflict developed, and two separate parties, the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, began to form. Jefferson gradually assumed leadership of the Republicans, who sympathized with the revolutionary cause in France. Attacking Federalist policies, he opposed a strong centralized Government and championed the rights of states. As a reluctant candidate for President in 1796, Jefferson came within three votes of election. Through a flaw in the Constitution, he became Vice President, although an opponent of President Adams. In 1800 the defect caused a more serious problem. Republican electors, attempting to name both a President and a Vice President from their own party, cast a tie vote between Jefferson and Aaron Burr. The House of Representatives settled the tie. Hamilton, disliking both Jefferson and Burr, nevertheless urged Jefferson's election. When Jefferson assumed the Presidency, the crisis in France had passed. He slashed Army and Navy expenditures, cut the budget, eliminated the tax on whiskey so unpopular in the West, yet reduced the national debt by a third. He also sent a naval squadron to fight the Barbary pirates, who were harassing American commerce in the Mediterranean. Further, although the Constitution made no provision for the acquisition of new land, Jefferson suppressed his qualms over constitutionality when he had the opportunity to acquire the Louisiana Territory from Napoleon in 1803. During Jefferson's second term, he was increasingly preoccupied with keeping the Nation from involvement in the Napoleonic wars, though both England and France interfered with the neutral rights of American merchantmen. Jefferson's attempted solution, an embargo upon American shipping, worked badly and was unpopular. Jefferson retired to Monticello to ponder such projects as his grand designs for the University of Virginia. A French nobleman observed that he had placed his house and his mind "on an elevated situation, from which he might contemplate the universe." He died on July 4, 1826 on the 50th anniversary of American Independence.

EUROPE

04 Andorra		Consell General election. Results : In parliamentary elections, the Liberal Party wins 15 of 28 seats, the Social Democratic Party 6, the Democratic Party 5, and the Unió Laurediana 2. Turnout is 81.6%.
04 Switzerland		Referendum on whether to begin immediate talks on joining the EU. Results : 77% Not Canton (regional) parliament elections in Aargau, Fribourg, Neuchatel, Solothurn and Valais. Results : See next week Vips-Feds
04 Benin		Presidential election. Results : The Constitutional Court of Benin, which made a simultaneous countdown with the Autonomous National Election Board (CENA), and whose partial results have been published, announced that incumbent Mathieu Kérékou, was ahead of Sunday presidential election winning 48% of the votes. Candidate Nicéphore Soglo won 29%, Adrien Houngbédji 11% and Bruno Amoussou 5. 6%. Both Kérékou and Soglo were qualifiedto run on the second run scheduled on March 18.
04 Ethiopia		Staggered local administration elections continue in early March.
04 United States		Former Minnesota governor (1939-43) Harold E. Stassen and former Ohio governor (1963-71, 1975-83) James A. Rhodes die. Born on a farm in Dakota County, Minnesota in 1907, Stassen worked his way through the University of Minnesota as a pullman train conductor. He earned a law degree in 1929 and after practicing law, served as a district attorney before being elected governor in 1938, at 31 being the youngest in the history of the state. He served as Assistant Chief of Staff to Admiral Halsey, in World War II. He was one of the authors and signers of the United Nations Charter in 1945, appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, and reappointed by President Harry Truman. After serving in World War II, he became president of the University of Pennsylvania and later joined in persuading Dwight Eisenhower to run for the U.S. Presidency. He subsequently served in various capacities with cabinet rank during the Eisenhower administration. As Eisenhower's special assistant on disarmament, or "Secretary for Peace" as he was called, Stassen was an active participant in the 1955 Geneva Summit.
04 Djibouti		A decree signed, by President Ismail Omar Guelleh, stated briefly that "Mr Dileita Mohamed Dileita has been appointed prime minister of the Republic of Djibouti". Dileita is a diplomat and former civil servant. He is from the Afar community, which has traditionally complained of political marginalisation and has in the past waged war against the ethnic-Somali dominated government.
04 Samoa		The centrist Human Rights Protection Party of Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi wins the parliamentary elections.
05 Japan		Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori survives a no-confidence vote (274-192).
05 Portugal		70 Victims of Bridge Disaster. Infrastructure Minister Jorge Coelho, resigned, taking "full political responsibility for the tragedy".
06 Rwanda		Municipal elections. Results : not available
06 Ghana	Kwame Nkrumah	National holiday : Independence Day (6 March 1957). In precolonial times the area of present-day Ghana comprised a number of independent kingdoms, including Gonja and Dagomba in the north, Ashanti in the interior, and the Fanti states along the coast. In 1482 the first European fort was established by the Portuguese at Elmina. The Danes (1850) and the Dutch (1872) withdrew in the face of expansionist activities by the Ashanti kingdom; the British, however, remained and allied themselves with the Fanti states against Ashanti. In 1874 the British defeated Ashanti and organized the coastal region as the colony of the Gold Coast. In the Gold Coast, nationalist activity, which began in the interwar period, intensified after World War II. Kwame Nkrumah of the Convention People's Party (CPP) emerged as the leading nationalist figure. In 1951, Britain granted a new constitution, which had been drawn up by Africans, and general elections were held. The CPP won overwhelmingly and Nkrumah became premier. On Mar. 6, 1957, the state of Ghana, named after the medieval W African empire, became an independent country within the Commonwealth of Nations. At the same time the people of British Togoland chose to become part of Ghana.
06 Portugal		Ferro Rodrigues is the new Minister for Social Equipment and State Secretary for Employment Paulo Pedroso becomes Minister of Employment and Solidarity. Such is the internal solution drawn by Premier António Guterres.
06 Brazil		Mário Covas Junior, the hot-tempered and blunt-speaking governor of Sao Paulo, died from multiple organ failure at the age of 70. President Fernando Henrique Cardoso has decreed seven days of national mourning. Covas entered politics in 1962 when he was elected to Congress for the Brazilian Democratic Party. As he began his second term in 1966, the military regime stripped him of his political rights after he defended a fellow congressman who had criticized the armed forces. In 1979, Covas returned to Congress. Four years later, he was appointed Sao Paulo mayor. Covas was elected to the Senate in 1986, and two years later, he and then Senator Cardoso founded the Brazilian Social Democracy Party. Covas was the party's candidate in the 1989 presidential elections, but came in fourth.
07 Uganda		Presidential election. Results : Ther first round of the presidential election has been postponed.
07 Ukrainia		President Leonid Kuchma had signed orders dismissing Energy Minister Serhiy Yermilov and replacing him with Stanislav Stashevsky.
07 Israel		Ariel Sharon takes office as prime minister. SEE NEW GOVERNMENT
08 Italy		Carlo Azeglio Ciampi Italy's president dissolved parliament on Thursday, paving the way for national elections by mid-May. The exact date of the election has not been set, but is widely expected to be May 6 or May 13.
08 Canada		Bernard Landry takes office as premier of Quebec. Born in Saint-Jacques (Joliette) on March 9, 1937. Studied at Saint-Louis, Saint-Jacques' Academies. Studies at Joliette Seminary .B.LL from Montreal University -Québec's Bar (1965). Degree in Economy and finance, Montreal University. Degree in Economy and finance from the Institut d'études politiques, Paris, France. Main political, parliamentary eand ministerial posts : elected MP for Fabre constituency in General Elections on November 15, 1976 , reelected on Septembee 12, 1994 and November 30,1998. Was also Minister of International Affairs from November 3 1995 to January 28 1996. Minister entrusted with FrenchSpeaking from 3 of November 1995 to 28 of January 1996. Minister responsible with the Secretary for Youth from 3 of Novembee 1995 to 28 of January 1996. Minister responsible with the Office for international humanitarian action from 3 of November 1995 to 28 of January 1996. Minister of Industry, Trade, Science and Technology from 29of January 1996 to 23 of September 1998 and from 15 of December 1998 to 8 of March 2001.State Minister for the Economy and Finance from 29 of January 1996 to 15 of December 1998 and from 15 of December 1998 to 8 of March 2001. Minister of Finance and minister of Budget from January 29, 1996 to December 15, 1998. Minister responsible with the Estrie region from 15 of December 1998 to 8 of March 2001.
08 Germany (Greens)		Germany's junior coalition partners, the Greens, have elected an outspoken left-winger as joint leader at their party conference in Stuttgart. Claudia Roth, a gay rights campaigner, was chosen unopposed to replace Renate Kuenast, recently appointed Minister of Consumer Affairs and Farming. Claudia Roth is born on 15 May 1955 in Ulm. 1974 Abitur at the Simpert shopkeeper High School Krumbach. Dramaturgin, urban stages Dortmund, " Hoffmans Comic Teater ", Managerin " tone of stones pieces of broken glass ". Memberships into Humanisti union, pro asylum, research association escape migration FFM, ImmiGruen, gay association in Germany (SVD) and international association for the human rights of the Kurds (IMK). 1985 to 1989 press spokeswoman that Becoming Green in the Bundestag, 1989 to 1998 member of the European parliament, starting from 1994 leader of the parliamentary group that Becoming Green. Member of the federal daily since 1998 ; Chairman of the committee for human rights and humanitarian assistance ; Representative of the Federal Republic of Germany in the parliamentary meeting of the Council of Europe at the same time representative in the meeting of the Western European union.