Search:



The Web

Rediff




    Home | News | Gallery

< Back > < Next >  

These women run their countries

Michelle Bachelet

In 2005, Veronica Michelle Bachelet Jeria became the first woman to be elected President of Chile.

Born in 1951, she served as Health Minister and Defence Minister in the past and has often described herself as an agnostic, which is interesting considering Chile is largely a Catholic country. Bachelet won the race to the top by campaigning about increasing social benefits to reduce the gap between rich and poor.

She speaks six languages and is a mother of three. Her presidency is to be inaugurated on March 11, 2006.

Also See: Saluting a Star

Photograph: Matin Bernetti/AFP/Getty Images

< Back > < Next >  

Article Tools Email this article
Write us a letter