Trade and Politics

Finnbjörn A. Hermannsson formally stepped down as President of the Icelandic Confederation of Labour (ASÍ) upon the opening of the 47th ASÍ Congress, concluding his term as he reached retirement age.

Former deputy in the Congress of Deputies and the Parliament of Andalusia Ernesto Caballero Castillo, an influential antifranquista leader and historic figure of the PCE and Izquierda Unida in Córdoba, died at age 91.

On the proposal of the Minister of Transport, the French Council of Ministers appointed Alexis Vuillemin as Commissioner for Transport, Public Works, and Construction.

The French Council of Ministers appointed magistrate Grégoire Dulin as director and Deputy Secretary-General at the Ministry of Justice, effective October 19, 2026.

On the proposal of the Minister of Justice, the French Council of Ministers appointed Marie Fontanel as State Councillor in ordinary service (Conseillère d'État en service ordinaire) at the Conseil d'État.

The Albanian Council of Ministers officially appointed Sadleva Bodo as the new General Director of Prisons, making her the first woman to head the institution.

Adriatik Kupi resigned from his post as the General Director of Prisons in Albania after seven months in office, citing institutional and security challenges.

Following the resignation of István Láng, Technical Deputy Director-General József Gacsályi was named acting Director-General of the General Directorate of Water Management (OVF) pending a public tender.

István Láng announced his departure as Director-General of the General Directorate of Water Management (OVF) effective October 15, stepping down to support a strategic policy shift toward climate adaptation and water retention.

Dr. László Nagy announced his resignation as President of the Supervisory Authority for Regulated Activities (SZTFH), citing government restructuring plans that eliminate the authority's independent regulatory status.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia formally acknowledged the resignation of Tea Košir as State Secretary at the Ministry of Health, effective October 15, 2026.

The Croatian Government dismissed Doria Tonkovic from the Governing Council of the Coastal Liner Services Agency and appointed Jelena Zovak as the new member representing the maritime affairs ministry.

The Croatian Government adopted a conclusion proposing to the Assembly of Zracna luka Zadar d.o.o. the appointment of Josip Klismanic as Management Board member and Director of the company for up to six months.

The Croatian Government appointed Ante Mihaljevic as Chief Inspector of the Road Transport and Roads Safety Inspectorate in the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure.

The Croatian Government appointed Marina Stanicic as Director of the Directorate for Budget and Finance in the Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure following an internal job competition.

The Croatian Government appointed Marica Mikec as Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture and Media based on an internal job announcement.

The Croatian Government appointed directors of directorates in the Ministry of Culture and Media following internal calls and public competition: Nevena Tudor Perkovic for Culture and Arts, Anja Jelavic for International Cultural Cooperation and European Affairs, Anuska Deranja Crnokic for Archives, Libraries and Museums, and Nives Zvonaric for Media and Cultural and Creative Industries.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a resolution dismissing Yehor Perelyhin from his post as Deputy Minister of Economy and Environment.

The Cabinet of Ministers dismissed Herman Filatov as Deputy Head of the State Agency of Water Resources and appointed him State Secretary of the Ministry of Digital Transformation.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine appointed Anatoliy Timenko as the new Deputy Minister for Recovery, Infrastructure, and Transport of Ukraine.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine dismissed Andriy Kashuba from his position as Deputy Minister for Recovery, Infrastructure, and Transport of Ukraine.

The LRT Council appointed legal scholar and Vytautas Magnus University professor Dr. Julija Kiršienė to the position of ethics controller of the public broadcaster.

The Slovak government officially appointed Andrej Kasana, acting Director General of Vodohospodárska výstavba, as the new Government Plenipotentiary for the Construction and Operation of the Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros Waterworks System.

The Slovak government officially recalled Peter Molda from his post as Government Plenipotentiary for the Construction and Operation of the Gabčíkovo-Nagymaros Waterworks System.

The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office announced the appointment of Ms Ann Snow MBE as His Majesty's Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen in succession to Ms Abda Sharif OBE.

Maciej Berek, previously elected to the Constitutional Tribunal by the Sejm, took his oath of office in the Sejm building before Marshal Wlodzimierz Czarzasty following a Venice Commission opinion, despite non-recognition from President Karol Nawrocki.

The Swedish Riksdag elected eleven regular members and eleven deputies to the General Council of the Riksbank (Riksbanksfullmäktige) for the 2026–2030 term.

The Council of Ministers approved Royal Decree 841/2026 appointing María Concepción Peinado Reillo as the new Undersecretary of Labour and Social Economy.

On October 13, 2026, the Superior Council of Magistracy revoked the suspension of Judge Tatiana Avasiloaie and restored her to judicial office at the Chișinău Court following the closure of corruption proceedings.

The government announced the appointment of energy consultant Géza Losonczy as President of the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (MEKH) for a seven-year mandate effective October 16.

Dr. Edit Juhász submitted her resignation as President of the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority (MEKH), terminating her mandate effective October 15, 2026.

András Tótth resigned from his post as State Secretary for Energy at the Ministry of Economy and Energy, ending his term following five months in office.

Deputy Chief of Mission Josh Huck took charge of the United States Embassy in Athens as Chargé d'Affaires ad interim following the departure of Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Kimberly Guilfoyle resigned from her post as United States Ambassador to Greece following White House requests and mounting scrutiny over allegations of ethical violations and financial impropriety.

President Nicușor Dan signed the decree approving the release from office upon retirement of Judge Lavinia Curelea from the High Court of Cassation and Justice.

The President of Romania decreed the transfer to the military reserve of Lieutenant General Ion George Spiridonescu from the Ministry of National Defence.

Lega deputy Francesco Bruzzone was elected President of the Chamber of Deputies' XIII Agriculture Commission, succeeding Mirco Carloni.

The Council of Ministers appointed Carabinieri Brigadier General Giuseppe Vadalà to lead urgent environmental remediation and site closure activities at strategic national priority areas, including Taranto.

Lithuanian Ambassador Aurelijus Zykas presented his letters of credence to President Hilda C. Heine of the Republic of the Marshall Islands.

Yevhen Hrushovets was officially appointed as a member of the Competition Commission responsible for selections for administrative posts in the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office.

Energy Minister Lukas Savickas appointed Mantas Bekešius as the fourth vice minister of energy, responsible for energy security, strategic infrastructure, and crisis preparedness.

Alexander Schweitzer received his official certificate of appointment as Federal Minister of Labour and Social Affairs from Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Berlin following the resignation of Bärbel Bas.

The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage constituted the Main Heritage Conservation Commission for the 2026-2031 term, appointing Dr Aleksander Broda as its chairman.

President Karol Nawrocki conferred formal appointment acts to the members of the Chapter of the Order of Polonia Restituta for a new term, including Piotr Andrzejewski, Maria Gintowt-Jankowicz, Wieslaw Johann, Mieczyslaw Ryba and Krzysztof Szwagrzyk.