LETTER N° 16

From 16 to 22 April

16 Italy		Regional and local elections in 15 regions. Won a centre-left coalition.
16 Hungary		Repeat parliamentaty by elections in Szekesfehervar and Fehergyarmat constituencies.
16 Ukraine		Ukraine, National referendum on parliament. Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma has won a landslide victory in a weekend referendum on expanding his powers over parliament. The Election Commission said that with all ballots counted each of the four questions put to voters had mustered more than 80 percent backing. Participation surpassed the 50 percent required to make the referendum valid long before polls closed at 8 p.m.
16 Malaysia		The raja of Perlis since 1945 and former paramount ruler of Malaysia (1960-65) Syed Harun Putra ibni al-Marhum Syed Hasan Jamalullail dies. On April 17 his son, Syed Sirajuddin ibni al-Marhum Syed Putra Jamalullail, is proclaimed raja of Perlis.
17 Rwanda		Paul Kagame is elected president by a vote of government ministers and parliamentarians, defeating Charles Muligande by 81 votes to 5.
17 Canada Prince Edward Island		In Prince Edward Island elections, the Progressive Conservatives of Premier Pat Binns win 26 of 27 seats and the Liberals 1.
17 Canada Yukon Territory		In the Yukon Territory, the Liberals led by Pat Duncan win 10 of 17 seats, the New Democratic Party 6, and the Yukon Party 1.
19 Italy		Prime Minister Massimo D'Alema resigns after the results of local and regional elections.
21 Italy		President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi asks Giuliano Amato to form a government.