17.12.1917-09.03.1918 Acting Head of the Government Evheniya Bohdanivna Bosch, Ukraine

23.09.1953-07.07.1954 Acting Head of State Sühbaataryn Yanjmaa, Mongolia 

Member of the Politburo of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party (MPRP) 1940-54, Secretary of the Central Committee of the MPRP 1941-47, member of the Presidium of the Little Hüral 1940-50 and of the People's Great Hüral 1950-62. She was the widow of the great national hero Damdiny Sühbaatar (1893-1923) and as 1. Deputy Chair of the Great Hüral since 1950, she took over during a vacancy on the post of Head of State and Chairperson of the Hüral. Born as Nemendeyen Yanjmaa and lived (1893-1963).

21.07.1960-27.03.1965 Prime Minister Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka
29.05.1970-23.07.1977 Prime Minister
14.11.1994-10.8.2000 Prime Minister

Chairperson 1960-93 and 1993-2000 President of Sri Lanka Freedom Party, 1965-70 and 1988-94 Leader of The Opposition, 1976 Chairperson of the Association of Non Aligned Nations. As Prime Minister, she also held the posts as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance etc, and before her appointment to Prime Minister in 1994, she was Senior Minister without Portfolio (Second in Cabinet) in her daughter, Chandrika's cabinet. She was the widow of Solomon B., Premier of Ceylon 1956-59 until he was assassinated. Her father Mr. Ratwatte was a Senator. She is mother of three children. She lived (1916-2000).

19.01.1966-24.03.1977 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, India
14.01.1980-31.10.1984 (†) Prime Minister

President 1959-60 and 1966-77 Leader of the Congress Party. She was Minister of Information 1964-66 and member of Rajya Sabha 1964-67 and of Lok Sabha 1967-77, 1978 and 1980-84. In 1975 she declared a stated of emergency and ruled as a dictator. She lost the 1977-elections and imprisoned. After her release she was leader of Congress (I) 1978-84 and as Premier she also held posts of Minister of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Home Affairs etc. Killed by Sikh bodyguard. She was daughter of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru (1947-64(†)), married to Feroze Gandhi in 1942. Her younger son Rajiv Ghandi, was Prime Minister (1984-89(†)). She lived (1917-84).

31.10.1968-24.02.1972 Acting Head of State Song Qingling, China
06.07.1976-05.03.78 Joint Acting Head of State
1979-1980 "Honorary President"

Born into a rich Christian family, she was educated in the USA. In 1927-29 Member of Government Council, 1929-49 Leader of Opposition against her brother-in-Law President Chiang Kai-chek and 1948 Honorary Chairperson of the Kuomintang, 1949-54 Deputy Premier Minister, 1954-59 Vice-Chairperson of The Peoples' Republic (Deputy Head of State), 1954-76 and 1975-78 Vice-Chairperson of the National People’s Congress, Vice-Chairperson of China People’s Consultative Consultative Conference, CPPCC. In 1968-74 the Post of Chair of the Republic was vacant and she and the other Vice-Chairperson, Dong Biw shared the Presidential Powers. In 1976 the Chairman of the NPC died and the 21 vice-chairmen, including Song, acted as collective heads of state until 1978 when a replacement was elected. 1980 she was Chairperson of the 3rd Session of the National People’s Congress. Soong Qingling was widow of Sun Yat-Sen, Provisoric President of China in 1911. Her sister Soong May-ling (b. 1897) played a crucial role as wife of Chiang Kai-chek, President of China till 1945 and of Taiwan 1945-75. And her brother, T. V. Soong, was Premier Minister in Taiwan. A third sister was a business magnate. She lived (1893-1981).

17.03.1969-10.04.1974 Minister President Golda Meïr, Israel

Ambassador to USSR 1948-49, Minister of Labour 1949-56 and Minister of Foreign Affairs 1956-64, 1964-69 Secretary General and 1969-74 Leader of Labour. When she became Foreign Minister her last name was hebrewnized. She was born in Russia as Golda Mabovic and later immigrated to USA. Mother of two children and she lived (1898-1978).

01.07.1974- 24.03.1976 Executive President Maria Estella Martínez Cartas de Perón, Argentina 

03.01.1975-07.04.1976 Premierministre Élisabeth Domitién, Central African Republic

As Premier Minister she was also Deputy Head of State and acted as President on occasions when President Bokassa was abroad. Also vice-President of the ruling Social Evolution Movement of Black Africa (MESAN) 1975-79. She criticized the plans of her cousin, Jean Bedel Bokassa, who had been chief of state since 1966, who wanted to become emperor, and in effect he sacked her. After his fall from power in 1979 she was imprisoned and tried in February 1980. She later became an influential businesswoman in Bangui, Married to the chief of the Mobaye Canton-Mayorship. She lived (1925-2005).

...08-1977-...09.1977 Minister President Lucinda E. da Costa Gomez-Matheeuws, The Netherlands Antilles (Self Governing Dutch External Territory)

Minister of Health and Environment, Welfare, Youth, Sports, Culture and Recreation 1970-77 and in 1977 Minister Presidente and Minister of General Affairs. She was also Vice-President of The Nationale Volkspartij 1971-76 and around 1995 Member of the Raad van Advies, the Council of Advisors. She is the widow of Dr. M.F. da Costa Gomez (1907-66), Premier of the state 1951-54.  (b.1929-).

03.05.1979-22.11.1990 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, United Kingdom of Great Britain

MP 1959-90, Parliamentary Secretary of Pensions and National Insurance 1961-64, Secretary of State of Education 1970-74, Shadow Minister of Environment and Housing 1974-75, Shadow Special Minister of Finance and Public Expenditure 1975, Leader of The Conservative Party 1975-90, Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition 1975-79. As Prime Minister she was also First Lord of the Treasury and Minister of the Civil Service.  In 1990 she was Created Baroness Thatcher of Kestaven and became a member of the House of Lords. Mother of twins. (b. 1925-).

01.08.1979-3.01.1980 President of the Council of Ministers Dr. Maria de Lourdes Ruivo da Silva Pintasilgo, Portugal

Secretary of State of Social Affairs 1974,  Ambassador to UNESCO 1975-79,  Minister of Social Affairs 1974-75,
 Member of Council of State 1979-86 and Presidential Candidate in 1986. Member of the European Parliament 
1979-86. Unmarried. She lived (1930-2004).

17.11.1979-18.07.1980 Interim Executive President Lidia Gueiler Tejada, Bolivia 

As President she was also Head of the Cabinet. Lidia Gueiler was member of Parliament 1956-64 and afterwards in exile for 15 years. Circa 1978 Subsecretary for Agriculture, 1978 President of Camera de Diputados. Acting President of the Congress and acting Deputy Head of State 1978-79.She was President of Partido Revolucionario de los Izquierda Nazional Gueiler 1979-94, Exile in France 1980-82, Ambassador in Embassy to West Germany 1982-83, and to Venezuela 1983-86 and since 1993 She was deposed by the 129^th Coup d’etat in the history of Bolivia, shortly before elections was due. (b. 1921-).

21.07.1980-14.06.1995 Prime Minister Dame M. Eugenia Charles, Dominica

Leader of Dominican Liberty Party 1964-94 and 1974-80 Leader of the Opposition. During her tenure as Premier she was also Minister of External Affairs, Finance, Trade and Industry, Defence, Minister of Information and Public Relations. In 1992 she was Knighted by Queen Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, the former Head of State of Domenica. Unmarried and lived (1916-2005).

In 1972-80 Director of Iceland’s National Theatre was the world’s first democratically elected female President. Since 1996 she has been involved in a wide range of international humanitarian and cultural organizations. She was a divorcee and mother of an adopted a daughter. (b.1930-).

04.02.1981-14.10.1981 Minister of State Gro Harlem Brundtland, Norway
09.05.1986-16.10.1989 Minister of State
30.11.1990-25.10.1996 Minister of State

Minister of Environmental Protection 1974-79, Deputy Leader 1975-81, Deputy Parliamentary Leader1980-81, Leader 1981-93 and Parliamentary Leader, Parliamentary Leader of Arbeiderpartiet, Labour, 1980-81 and 1989-90 Chairperson of the Foreign and 1989-90 of the Finance Committees, From 1998 Director General of the World Health Organization, WHO, and Assistant Secretary General of the United Nations. A medical doctor, daughter of Gudmond Harlem (1917-88) a former Minister and mother of 4 children. (b. 1939-).

01.04.1981-01.10.1981 Captain Regent Maria Lea Pedini Angelini, San Marino 

Every 6th month The Consiglio Grande e Generale elects two Captain Regents, who acts as Heads of State and Government and the Parliament. From ca. 1991 she has been Director in Ministry of Government and Foreign Affairs, since 1995 Ambassador in the Ministry to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland etc. (b. 1954- ).

15.05.1982-15.05.1986 Chairperson of the Council of Ministers Milka Planinc, Yugoslavia

Secretary of Treönjevka People’s Assembly 1957, Secretary   of Cultural Affairs of the City of Zagreb 1961-63, Croatian Secretary for Education 1963-65
President of Assembly 1967-71, Leader of the Communist Party in Croatia 1971-82. (b. 1924-).

01.04.1984-01.10.1984 Captain Regent Gloriana Ranocchini, San Marino 
01.10.1989-01.04.90 Captain Regent

Member of the Parliament. (b. 1957-).

18.09.1984-01.01.1986 Minister President Maria Ph. Liberia-Peters, Nederlandse Antillen (Self Governing Dutch External Territory)
17.051988-25.12.1993 Minister President

Health Councillor 1977-78 and Lieutenant-Governor of Curaçau 1982. Minister of Economy 1982-83 and 1984-86 also, Minister of General Affairs and the Interior, Health and Environment. She resigned as Premier after she had lost a referendum on the autonomy of Curaçau. She was also Chairperson of the Nationale Volkspartij/Partido Nashional de Peuplo (PNP) 1984-98 and 2002-04. (b. 1941-).

05.10.1987-30.12.1987 Prime Minister Princess Stella Margaret Nomzamo Sigcau, Transkei (Nominally Independent Homeland in South Africa)

Minister of Education 1970-73, the Interior (Including Industry, Trade and Tourism) 1973-78, Internal Affairs 1979-81, Post and Telecommunication 1981-87, Leader Transkei National Independence Party in 1987, Minister of Public Enterprises 1994-98 and of Public Works 1998-2006 in the Government of South Africa for ANC. She was daughter of Chief Botha Jongilizwe Sigcau of East-Pontoland (1912-78) who was President of Transkei (1976-78) and the mother of four children. She lived (1937-2006).

02.12.1988-06.08.1990 Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan
19.10.1993-05.11.1996 Prime Minister

Co-Chairperson 1984-94 and Leader of Pakistan People's Party 1994-2007, in house arrest 1977-84 and in exile 1984-86. She also held the Portfolios of Defence, Atomic Energy, Finance, Economy, Information and Establishment. Both in 1990 and 1996 she was removed from office by the President on charges of corruption and later convinced. Returned to Pakistan in 2007 after 10 years in exile in United Kingdom and Dubai to contest elections in January 2008, which she was widely expected to win, but was killed by a suicide bomb in December 2007. . She was daughter of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the former President and Prime Minister, who was executed after the coup d’etat in 1979. Her three children were born in 1988, 1989 and 1993. She lived (1953-2007).

13.03.1990-07.02.1991 Acting President Ertha Pascal-Trouillot, Haiti 

17.03.1990-10.01.1991 Minister President Kasimiera Prunskienė, Lithuania

Deputy Premier and Minister of Economy 1989-90 and one of the leaders of the struggle for independence. She became leader of the government after the declaration of independence at 11.3.90, which was internationally recognized at 6.9.91. In 1991 Chairperson of Democratic Party, and from 1995-2001 Chairperson of Women’s Party, 1996-2000 Group Chairperson of the independent MP’s, and Chairperson of the Peasants and New Democratic Parties Union 2001-04. Presidential Candidate in 2002 and 2004, and Minister of Agriculture from 2004. (b. 1945-).

As President of the People's Chamber she was acting as the last Head of State of the German Democratic Republic, DDR/GDR before the reunification. After the reunification she was Federal Minister without Portfolio for the New Bundesstates 1990-91 and Parliamentary State Secretary of Health 1991-98. Mother of two children.  (b. 1946-).

03.12.1990-12.09.1997 President Mary Robinson, Ireland 

20.03.1991-30.03.1996 Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh
01.09.2001-29.10.2006 Prime Minister

Vice-Chairperson of The Nationalist Party 1982-84 and Leader since 1984. Her husband, President Zia-ur-Rahman, was Premier Minister 1976-77 and President 1977-81 until he was assassinated. Khaleda was detained seven times during nine years of autocratic rule. In the face of mass upsurge spearheaded by the seven-party alliance, led by Khaleda, and the eight-party combine, led by Hasina, Ershad resigned in 1990 and handed over power to neutral caretaker government, bringing an end to his nine-year autocratic rule. During her first tenure as Premier she was also Minister of Defence, Establishment, Cabinet Diversion and Planning, Information Energy and Resources. 1996-2001 Leader of the Opposition. Resigned in October 2006 to prepare for the elections later in the year, but the military took power and in September 2007 she was arrested on charges of corruption.  (b. 1945- ).

15.05.1991-02.04.1992 Premier Ministre Edith Cresson, France

Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, External 1981-83, Trade 1983-84, Industry 1984-86, European Affairs 1988-90. She was European Union Commissioner for Science, Research, Education and Youth 1995-99. In march 1999 she brought along the downfall of the EU-Commission as she refused the step down after a rapport had demonstrated that she was responsible of nepotism and mismanagement. (b. 1934-).

As Minister President she was also Vice-President of the National Security Council. Member of Solidarity in 1980 and member of the Sejm 1982-85 and again 1989-2002 for various parties. 1991-97 member of Committee for Foreign Affairs and the Constitutional Committee. Vice-President of the Council of Europe 1991-92. In 1994 she was co-founder of the new Freedom Union (UW, liberal and social democratic) and member of it's leadership. The following year she was candidate in the party's primary for Presidential candidate, 1997-2000 Minister of Justice and Procurator-General. 1999 official Polish candidate for the office of the secretary general of the Council of Europe. Since 2002 Ambassador to the Vatican. Unmarried. (b. 1946-).

25.01.1993-15.09.1994 Premier Marita Petersen, The Faeroe Islands (Føroyar/ Færøerne) (Self Governing Danish External Territory) 

A former Leader of the Teacher's Union, she was Minister of Justice, Education Culture and Church Affairs 1991-93. As Premier she was also Minister of External Relations, the Underground, Administration and Public Wages. Chairperson of the Social Democrats 1993-96, Chairperson of the Lógting (Assembly) 1994-95 and 1998-2001 substitute member of the Danish Folketing. She lived (1940-2001). 

01.04.1993-01.10.1993 Captain Regent Patrizia Busignani, San Marino 

1983-90 President of Partito Socialista Unitario. From around 1997 she was Chief of the Parliamentary Group of Socialisti per le Riforme.  

25.06.1993-07.03.1996 Minister President Tansu Çiller, Turkey

Assistant Professor 1974-83 and 1983-90 Professor of Economics at Bosphorus University. Minister of State and Chief Economic Coordinator 1991-93, Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs 1996-97. She was Deputy Chairperson 1990-93 and 1993-2002 Chairperson of DYP, The True Path Party. On 1.6.97 Premier Minister Erbakan, leader of the Islamic Party resigned in order with the purpose of her taking over as Premier, but President Demirel chose Meshut Yilmaz, who managed to form a government among others because of defections from her party. Mother of two children. (b. 1946-).

25.06.1993-04.11.1993 Prime Minister A. Kim Campbell, Canada

Executive Director, Office of British Columbia Premier 1985-86, Progressive Conservative MP 1988-93, Minister of State (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) 1989-90, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General 1990-93 and Minister of Defence and Minister of Veteran Affairs in 1993. As Prime Minister, 1993, she was also Minister responsible for Federal-Provincial Relations. She was leader of the Progressive Conservative party, 13.06.1993-13.12.1993, resigning after the party lost all but two seats in the House of Commons in the 1993 election in spite of gaining about 16% of the vote. She became a lecturer at Harvard University and has been Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles since 1996. Married with a stepdaughter. (b. 1947-).

By the time of her appointment as Premier she was Head of the Economic Planning Office in the President’s Office. During the Civil War the President was killed and as the highest ranking remaining official, she became Acting President (27.10.93-5.2.94). After her resignation she left politics and joined the Burundi’s Commercial Bank. (b. 1952-).

18.07.1993-07.05.1994 (†) Premier Ministre Agathe Uwilingiymana, Rwanda 

Minister of Education from 1992 till her appointment as Premier. On the 06.05 1994 the Hutu President Habyarimana was killed together with his Burundian colleague, Cyprien Ntaryamira, when their plane was rocketed on its way to Kigali airport. Agathe, a Hutu, was killed by the Tutsi Presidential guard together with her family and 10 Belgian soldiers, the day before she was supposed to step down as Premier Minister. The two killings sparked off the civil war and genocide of approximately 1 million Hutus and Tutsies. Mother of about 6 children. She lived (1953-94).

25.12.1993-28.12.1993 Minister President Suzanne Camelia-Römer, Nederlandse Antillen (Self Governing Dutch External Territory)
14.05.1998-08.12.1999 Minister President

Suzi Römer (Suzanne Francisco Coromoto Camelia-Römer) had been Minister of Justice since 1992 when she became acting Premier after the resignation of Mrs. Liberia-Peters. 1999-2002 Vice-Premier and Minister of Economy and the National Recovery Plan, and 1998-2002 Leader of the Partido Nashional di Pueplo (b. 1959). 

Vice-President 1984-86 and President of Sri Lanka Maha Jana Party 1984-86, Leader of United Socialist Alliance 1988 and since 1993 Leader of People’s Alliance and Deputy Leader of Sri Lanka Freedom Party, 1993-94 Chief Minister of the Colombo Province and in a few months in 1994 Prime Minister. As Executive President she was also Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and held the Portfolio of Defence and Finance and Planning 1994-2001 and was Minister of Defence, Information and Interior from November 2003. She is the first person in the world to be daughter of two premier ministers, Solomon and Sirivamo Bandaranaike and the first to have appointed her mother to the post of Prime Minister. Her husband politician Vijaya K. was assassinated 1988, and during the Presidential campaign in 2000 she survived an assassination-attempt but lost vision in one eye. She was not allowed to stand for re-election in 2005. She is mother of 2 children. (b. 1945-).

16.10.1994-25.01.1995 Interim Minister President Reneta Ivanova Indzhova, Bulgaria

Also know as Reneta Injova she was leader of an interim government consisting of technocrats. Her Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy and Finance was Hristina Vucheva. In 1995 she was mayoral candidate in Sofia, 2001 Presidential Candidate and the same year she became Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance. (b. 1953-).

An economist, she became Minister of Social Affairs 1990-91, Minister of Foreign Affairs 1993-95 and was Executive Director of the Washington Office of Haiti 1993. Later an UN official. (b. 1946- ),

23.06.1996-15.7.2001 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed, Bangladesh

Leader of the Awami League since 1981 and Leader of the Opposition 1991-96. As Premier she was also Minister of Defence. She took over the Party-Leadership after her father, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman (1920-72-75), was murdered during a coup d’etat. Also her mother, 3 brothers and 2 sisters-in-laws were killed, only a sister survived. Arrested by the military government in 2007 on charges of corruption, extortion and murder. Mother of 2 sons (b. 1945- ).

1985-96 senator. Appointed to chair the Council of State preparing the transfer to democracy after many years of civil war. From 1999 Ruth Perry was 1. Vice-Chairperson of the Organization for African Unity. (b. 1937-).

09.02.1997-11.02.1997 Acting Executive President Rosalia Arteaga Serrano de Fernández de Córdova, Ecuador

A former minister, she was Vice-President 1994-98 and Presidential Candidate in 1998. She was inaugurated as Acting President after her predecessor was removed from office but two days after the Congress nominated someone else. As Executive President she was also Head of the Cabinet. Presidential Candidate in 1997. (b. 1953-).

17.03.1997-22.12.1997 Prime Minister Janet Jagan, Guyana
19.12.1997-11.08.99 Executive President

As Premier Minister she also held the title of 1. Vice-President and she was Minister of Mines. Her political career started in 1950 and she held many positions. In 1997 her husband, Dr. Cheddi Bharat Jagan, died, and she was chosen to replace the Premier who succeeded Mr. Jagan as President. Janet was chosen as her party's candidate in the following Presidential elections, which she won. Afterwards she re-appointed the former President to the post of Prime Minister after being sworn in as President. She was born as Janet Rosenberg in Chicago and mother of two children. (b. 1920-).

11.11.1997- President Mary McAleese, Ireland 

Professor of Law and 1993-97 Pro-chancellor of University of Belfast, the first person from Northern Ireland to be elected President of Ireland. During the 1997-elections 5 candidates were female and there was only one token male candidates finishing a distant last. 2004 she was returned unopposed for a second term. (b. 1951-).

08.12.1997-10.12.1999 Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, New Zealand

Minister of Women's Affairs 1990-98, Social Affairs 1990-93, Minister of Health 1993-96, Transport, State Services and State-Owned Enterprises, Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation Insurance 1996-97. As Premier she was also Minister in charge of the New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. She ousted then Prime Minister Jim Bolger as leader of the National Party and after his resignation she became leader of the government. 1999-2001 she was Leader of the Opposition. Mother of two children. (b. 1952-).

27.03.1997-10.12.1998 Premier Pamela Felicity Gordon, Bermuda (Self Governing Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)

Parliamentary Secretary of Community Development, Culture and Youth 1992, Minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation 1992-96, Environment, Planning and National Resources 1996-97. As Premier she was also Minister of Information and Attorney General. She was former Deputy Chairperson and was elected to succeed the previous Premier after his resignation. She was Leader of the United Bermuda Party 1997-2001 and leader of the Opposition 1998-2001.  (b. 1955-).

31.08.1998-23.09.1998 Acting Prime Minister Anne Enger Lahnstein, Norway

Acting Premier during Kjell Magne Bondevik's sick leave because of stress and psychological problems. She was Deputy Leader 1983-91, Parliamentary Leader, 1989-91 and Leader of The Centre Party 1991-99. 1. Deputy to the Prime Minister and Minister of Culture of the centre-right-government 1997-99, Vice Chairperson of the Defence Committee of Stortinget 1999-2001 and Governor of Østfold since 2003. (b. 1950-).

10.12.1998-29.07.2003 Premier Jennifer Meridith Smith, Bermuda (Self Governing Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)