Close share panel
Dilma Rousseff has simply been elected President of Brazil, making her the united states’s first feminine president. This woman is the latest woman in Latin America to use up the utmost effective work. BBC Information profiles the ladies presidents associated with the area – both present and past.
Dilma Rousseff for the ruling Workers’ Party has simply been elected president of Brazil – a country of very nearly 200 million people, and an increasing power that is global.
She actually is a lifetime career diplomat, and had been – until operating when it comes to presidency – chief of staff to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva; before that she ended up being power minister.
Lula offered her his complete backing throughout the campaign and she’s got guaranteed to carry on their policies.
Those that understand Rousseff describe her as a “tough cookie”, and also as a determined, pragmatic girl who loves to get things done. Certainly one of her nick-names is ‘the iron lady’.
She’s considered astute, by having a strategic, rational head.
Her daddy had been an immigrant from Bulgaria, and her mother college instructor.
While a student into the 1960s, she joined up with the left-wing armed opposition contrary to the armed forces dictatorship.
Although she claims she ended up being never ever involved with physical violence herself, she ended up being regarded as a vital figure in the motion.
She had been arrested and held for 36 months, during which time she had been tortured.
Ms Rousseff was launched in 1973, resumed her studies in economics, then joined up with the civil service.
Laura Chinchilla, President of Costa Rica 2010-
Laura Chinchilla had been sworn in as president of Costa Rica in might with this year, following a conclusive triumph in elections in February.
She actually is aided by the centrist nationwide Liberation Party, and ended up being vice-president under her predecessor, Oscar Arias.
Ms Chinchilla has held a few government posts and originates from a family that is political.
She learned in Costa Rica as well as Georgetown University in the usa.
Ms Chinchilla is viewed as a conservative that is social and it is in opposition to homosexual wedding and abortion.
She has guaranteed to carry on utilizing the free-market policies of previous president Arias, also to expand on Costa Rica’s free trade discounts.
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, President of Argentina 2007-
Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner swept to triumph when you look at the very first round of Argentina’s presidential election in October 2007.
She annexed the presidency from her spouse Nestor Kirchner.
The 2 worked closely together, and had been dubbed “the Clintons associated with South”.
Mr Kirchner passed away of a coronary arrest at the chronilogical age of 60 in 2010 october.
Christina Fernandez possesses long track-record in politics dating back to the late 1980s. She’s got worked within the local parliament, the nationwide parliament, so that as a senator.
She learned law at college, and it is recognized on her work campaigning on human being liberties and ladies’ legal rights.
Michelle Bachelet, President of Chile 2006-2010
Michelle Bachelet ended up being inaugurated as president of Chile for the Socialist Party in March 2006.
She had formerly been Chile’s Defence Minister – the very first girl to hold that post in Latin America – and in addition wellness minister.
She learned army strategy and is trained as being a paediatrician as well as an epidemiologist.
In 1970s, into the very early times of Augusto Pinochet’s guideline, her dad happened on fees of treason. Ms Bachelet and her mom had been also detained and tortured, before you go into exile.
As wellness minister Ms Bachelet caused a stir in staunchly Catholic Chile by permitting the distribution that is free of early early morning after product for victims of intimate abuse.
She stepped down in March 2010 having an appeal score in excess of 80%, while the Chilean constitution doesn’t enable a moment consecutive term that is presidential.
This woman is currently mind of a brand new un agency focusing on sex problems, called UN Women.
Mireya Moscoso, President of Panama 1999-2004
Mireya Moscoso won presidential elections in might 1999, and was at fee per year later on for the united states handover for the Panama canal.
She actually is the widow of three-time president Arnulfo Arias.
She began her governmental job after her spouse’s death.
Ms Moscoso originated from an undesirable, rural back ground, and trained as an inside designer.
She promised working to cut back poverty in Panama. Nevertheless, her presidency had been dogged by allegations of corruption.
Rosalia Arteaga, interim President of Ecuador 1997
Rosalia Arteaga acted as interim president of Ecuador just for 2 days in February 1997, as soon as the leader that is former Abdala Bucaram, was announced unfit to govern.
She was vice-president before that.
Ms Arteaga went for the presidency in elections in 1998, but got just a indonesiancupid com share that is small of vote.
Violeta Chamorro, Pres
Violetta Chamorro beat the Daniel that is incumbent Ortega elections, to be president of Nicaragua in April 1990.
She ended up being the prospect when it comes to National Opposition Union – a coalition of events that went up against the Sandinistas.
Her bid had been supported by the usa, whom lifted sanctions in the nation after her election.
Ms Chamorro comes from the rich family members and ended up being educated abroad, including in the usa.
She joined politics after her spouse Pedro Joaquin Chamorro – who had previously been editor of a anti-government magazine – had been assassinated. She took over as editor of this paper after their murder.
This woman is credited for helping stability that is bring comfort to Nicaragua.
Lidia Gueiler Tejada, interim President of Bolivia, 1979-1980
Lidia Gueiler Tejada ended up being president that is interim of from 1979 to 1980.
She had been opted for to perform the nation after inconclusive elections as well as the ousting associated with the president that is temporary Guevara.
She was to lead Bolivia until fresh elections, but she by by herself ended up being eliminated in a coup before these people were held.
She trained as an accountant, and worked as an associate of Congress so that as president for the Chamber of Deputies before being leader that is interim.
She later on worked as Bolivian Ambassador to wide range of nations.
Isabel Peron, President of Argentina 1974-1976
Isabel Peron had been the very first girl president in Latin America.
She took over as president of Argentina whenever her spouse – the three-time president Juan Domingo Peron – passed away in workplace in 1974.
Isabel Peron ended up being their 3rd spouse, in addition they married a long period following the loss of the much-loved very first Lady Eva Peron.
Recognized to Argentineans as “Isabelita”, Ms Peron had been a cabaret dancer that is former.
During her presidency, there have been many labour hits, and a huge selection of political murders.
Isabel Peron had been eliminated in a coup that is military 1976, and held under household arrest for quite a while before going to Spain.
In 2007, Argentina issued an arrest that is international on her, over her so-called links to a right-wing paramilitary group, which operated during her guideline.
Argentinean authorities additionally wished to concern her on the disappearance of two guys.
Spain rejected the extradition demand; the court here ruled that there is inadequate evidence against her.