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Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
WOMAN ELECTED
OR APPOINTED
HEADS OF STATE
AND GOVERNMENT
A list of female heads of state and chiefs of government of Independent
States and Self-ruling Territories from the 20th century
Also see
Reigning Queens and Empresses
and
Female Governor Generals,
Female
Presidents,
Woman Premier Ministers
and
Woman Premier Ministers of External Territories
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17.12.1917-09.03.1918 Acting Head of the Government Evheniya
Bohdanivna Bosch, Ukraine |
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Евгения Богдановна Бош,
Yevgeniya Bogdanovna Bosh, or Yevheniya Bohdanivna Bosh was People's
Commissioner of, and it was regulated by a number of documents that
the holder of this office was the Acting Head of the Executive
Power. She had been a socialist activist from 1890's, Head of the
Kyiv Committee of the Russian Social Democratic Worker’s Party (RSDRP)
1911-12 until she was imprisoned and a deprived of civil rights and
exiled to Siberia for life. After the revolution she became
Secretary of Regional Committee of RSDRP(B). She resigned from the
government in
protest to the Brest-Litovsk Peace, according to which
Soviet Russia occupied Ukraine. Afterwards she worked on different
party and Soviet posts outside Ukraine. When the pain of her disease
became unbearable, she committed suicide. She was of German-Jewish
origin, and she originally named Gotlibovna Maysh, and lived
(1879-1925). |
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06.04.1940-11.10.1944 Head of State Khertek Anchimaa-Toka, People's Republic of
Tannu Tuva |
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As Chairperson of the Presidium of
the Parliament, the Little Hüral,
Khertek Amyrbitovna was
the Head of the
state which became
Independent in 1921, a People's Republic in 1926, was incoroprated
into the Soviet Union in 1944. She had held
various jobs in local administration and the party administration,
Chairperson of the
Women Department of the Central Committee of
the Tuvinian People's Revolutionary
Party
1938-1940. Married to the First Secretary of the TPRP, Salchak
Kalbakkhorekovich Toka in 1940, Deputy Chairperson of Oblast
Executive Committee
1944-1961 and
Deputy
Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Tuva
1961-1972. She lived (1912-2008). |
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23.09.1953-07.07.1954 Acting Head of State Sühbaataryn Yanjmaa, Mongolia |
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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). |
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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 |
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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). |
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19.01.1966-24.03.1977 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, India
14.01.1980-31.10.1984 (†) Prime Minister |
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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). |
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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" |
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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). |
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17.03.1969-10.04.1974 Minister President Golda Meïr, Israel |
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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).
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01.07.1974- 24.03.1976 Executive President Maria Estella Martínez de Perón, Argentina |
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Isabel Peron was Vice-President and President of the Senate 1973-74.
As Executive President she was also head of the Cabinet. Chairperson
of Partido Justicial, The Peronist party 1974-85, removed by a coup
d'etat and in Prison 1976-78, Exile in Spain 1981-93. She was
married to General Juan Peron, who was President two times. (b.
1931-). |
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03.01.1975-07.04.1976 Premierministre Élisabeth Domitién, Central
African Republic |
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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). |
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...08-1977-...09.1977 Minister President Lucinda E. da Costa Gomez-Matheeuws,
The Netherlands Antilles (Self Governing Dutch External Territory) |
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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-). |
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03.05.1979-22.11.1990 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, United
Kingdom of Great Britain |
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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-). |
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01.08.1979-3.01.1980 President of the Council of Ministers Dr. Maria
de Lourdes Ruivo da Silva Pintasilgo, Portugal |
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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). |
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17.11.1979-18.07.1980 Interim Executive President Lidia Gueiler
Tejada, Bolivia |
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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 129th Coup
d’etat in the history of Bolivia, shortly before elections was due.
She lived (1921-2011). |
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21.07.1980-14.06.1995 Prime Minister Dame M. Eugenia Charles,
Dominica |
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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). |
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01.08.1980-01.08.1996 President Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Iceland |
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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-). |
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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 |
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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-). |
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01.04.1981-01.10.1981 Captain Regent Maria Lea Pedini Angelini, San
Marino |
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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- ). |
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15.02.1982-15.02.1987 President Agatha Barbara, Malta |
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Labour M.P 1947-82 and for long periods the only woman in
Parliament. Minister of Education and Culture 1955-58 and
1971-74 Labour, Welfare and Culture (Third in Cabinet) 1974-81. In
the last period she was Acting Prime Minister on various brief
occasions. She resigned as President 2 years ahead of time because
Labour lost the 1987-elections. She lived (1923-2002).
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24.03.1982-25.03.1985
President of
the
Government Lucette Michaux-Chevry, Guadalupe (France)
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As President
of the
Regional
Council she
was also
Chief of
Executive
Council.
1986-87 Secretary of State and 1993-95 Minister Delegate of Foreign
Affairs in the French Government, 1987-95 Maire de Gourbreyre, and from 1995 Maire de Basse-Terre,
1992-2004
President of
the Conseil
Regional
(Parliament),(b. 1929-)
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15.05.1982-15.05.1986 Chairperson of the Council of Ministers Milka
Planinc, Yugoslavia |
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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. She lived (1924-2010) |
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01.04.1984-01.10.1984 Captain Regent Gloriana Ranocchini, San
Marino
01.10.1989-01.04.90 Captain Regent |
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Member of the Parliament. (b. 1957-). |
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14.05-16.05.1984 Acting Head of State Carmen Pereira, Guinea Bissau |
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Member of the African Party for the Independence
of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) since 1962 and
later Political Commissioner for the Southern Front, and only female
member of the 24 members Committee Executivo da Luta (CEL). In
1973-84 Deputy President of Assembléia Nacional Popular, 1975-80
President of the Parliament of Cap Verde (which was in union with
Guinea Bissau at the time) 1981-83 Minister of Health and Social
Affairs 1984-89 President of Assembléia Nacional Popular, 1989-94
Member the Council of State and 1990-91 Minister of State (Deputy
Premier) for Social Affairs. She acted as head of state after João
Bernardo Viera, Head of state since 1980, was elected President in
1984. In 1999 he was deposed after a military coup d’etat. (b.
1937-). |
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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 |
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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-).
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25.2.1986-30.06.1992 Executive President Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco
Aquino,
The
Philippines
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Cory Aquino became leader of the opposition after the murder of her
husband Ninoi Aquino in 1986, and was brought to power by the
so-called "People Power", which protested about President Marcos's
attempts to remain in power. She was also Head of the Cabinet. 1998
among the senior advisors of the new President Estrada. During her
term in office she fought off 8 attempted coup d'etats.
Constitutionally barred from running for re-election. Mother of 4
children.
She lived (1933-2009). |
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05.10.1987-30.12.1987 Prime Minister Princess Stella Margaret
Nomzamo Sigcau, Transkei (Nominally Independent Homeland in South
Africa) |
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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). |
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02.12.1988-06.08.1990 Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan
19.10.1993-05.11.1996 Prime Minister |
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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). |
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13.03.1990-07.02.1991 Acting President Ertha Pascal-Trouillot,
Haiti |
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She was the first female High Court Judge 1986-90, and became acting
President during the turbulent political situation in Haiti in a
period where one Coup d’etat followed the other. Soldiers attempting
a coup held her hostage on one occasion. (b. 1943-). |
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17.03.1990-10.01.1991 Minister President Kasimiera Prunskienė,
Lithuania |
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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, 2004 and 2009 and Minister of Agriculture
2004-08. (b. 1945-). |
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05.04.1990-02.10.1990 Acting Head of State Dr. Sabine Bergmann-Pohl,
East-Germany |
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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-). |
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25.04.1990-10.01.1997 Executive President Violeta Barrios de
Chamorro, Nicaragua |
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In 1979 Doña Violeta was member of the Ruling Junta after the
overthrow of the Somoza-dictatorship but left because of
disagreement with the Sandinistas. 1979-90 Publisher of the
opposition newspaper La Prensa after the murder of her husband,
opposition leader Joaquín Chamorro Cardenal. As Executive President
she was also Head of the Cabinet and Minister of Defence. She did
not run for re-election. (b. 1929- ). |
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03.12.1990-12.09.1997 President Mary Robinson, Ireland |
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In 1969 she was appointed Professor of Law, 1970-90 she was
Labour-senator,
Assistant Secretary General and United Nations High Commissioner of
Human Rights 1997-2002 and since then director of the Ethical
Globalization Initiative, a new venture established to support human
rights. Mother of two children. (b. 1944-). |
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20.03.1991-30.03.1996 Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh
01.09.2001-29.10.2006 Prime Minister |
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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. Her sons, Tareque Rahman
and Arafat Rahman Koko were arrested on corruption charges in March and April
2007, and In September the same year she was herself charged with corruption and
the military supported care-taker government tried to pressure her into exile.
The charges against her was dropped in 2008.
(b. 1945- ). |
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01.10.1991-01.04.1992 Captain Regent Edda Ceccoli, San Marino |
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Member of the leadership of Partito Democratico Cristano Sammarinese.
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15.05.1991-02.04.1992 Premier Ministre Edith Cresson, France |
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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-). |
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08.07.1992-26.10.1993 Minister President Hanna Suchocka, Poland |
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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-). |
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25.01.1993-15.09.1994 Premier Marita Petersen, The Faeroe Islands (Føroyar/
Færøerne) (Self Governing Danish External Territory) |
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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). |
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01.04.1993-01.10.1993 Captain Regent Patrizia Busignani, San Marino |
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1983-90 President of Partito Socialista Unitario. From around 1997
she was Chief of the Parliamentary Group of Socialisti per le
Riforme.
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25.06.1993-07.03.1996 Minister President Tansu Çiller, Turkey |
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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-).
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25.06.1993-04.11.1993 Prime Minister A. Kim Campbell, Canada |
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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-). |
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10.07.1993-11.02.1994 Premier Ministre Sylvie Kinigi, Burundi
27.10.1993-05.02.94 Acting Head of State |
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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-).
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18.07.1993-07.05.1994 (†) Premier Ministre Agathe Uwilingiymana,
Rwanda |
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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).
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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 |
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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-). |
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19.8.1994-14.11.1994 Prime Minister Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratunga, Sri Lanka
14.11.1994-19.11.2005 Executive President |
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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-). |
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16.10.1994-25.01.1995 Interim Minister President Reneta Ivanova
Indzhova, Bulgaria |
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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-). |
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07.11.1995-27.02.1996 Premier Minister Claudette Werleigh, Haïti |
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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- ), |
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23.06.1996-15.7.2001 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed,
Bangladesh
06.01.2009- Prime Minister |
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Her father,
Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman (1920-72-75), and most of her
family was killed during a military coup in 1975 when she and her
sister were abroard. Returned to Bangladesh in 1981, President of the Awami Leauge from 1981,
Opposition Leader 1986-87 and 1991-96 and 2001-06. In 1983, she formed the 15-party alliance to launch a movement to oust
General Ershad from power and was in and out of prison throughout the 1980s and
was under house arrest a few times. Her party, along with the Bangladesh
Nationalist Party, led by Begum Khaleda Zia, was instrumental in the
movement against the military rule. 2007 she was arrested on corruption and
murder charges, but was allowed to go to USA for medical treatment in 2007
though the military supported care-taker government tried to pressure her into
exile. Returned in November 2008 to lead her party in the election campaign,
which her party won overwhelmingly. Married to the nuclear scientist Dr M. A.
Wazed Miah and mother a son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and a daughter, Saima Wazed Putul,
who both lives in the USA. (b. 1947- ). |
|
 |
03.09.1996-02.08.1997 Chairman of the Council of State Ruth Sando
Perry, Liberia |
|
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. 1939-). |
|
 |
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, mother of two
children
and
lived (1920-2009). |
|
 |
11.11.1997-11.11.2011 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) |
|
Deputy Opposition Leader 1994-96, Opposition Leader 1996-98 as
Leader of the Progressive Labour Party, PLP. As
Premier she also held the Portfolios of Education and Human
Affairs.
Her own party ousted her just three days after she led it to
an historic General Election victory. (b. ca. 1948-). |
|
 |
01.01.1999-31.12.1999 Federal President Ruth Dreifuss, Switzerland |
|
A former trade union-leader, she was Councillor of Interior in
1992-2002 and Vice-President 1998-99.
(b. 1939-). |
|
 |
01.04.1999-01.10.1999 and 01.04.2008- Captain Regent Rosa Zafferani, San Marino |
|
Director in the Department of Finance, Budget and Programs before
she was elected to the Consiglio Grande e Generale in 1998.
Secretary of State of Health, Social Security and Provision 2002-04,
Secretary of State of Public Education, University and Cultural
Institutions from 2004 and
2005-06
also in charge of Internal
Affairs.
(b. 1960 in USA. |
|
 |
03.05.1999-10/18.05.1999 Acting Minister President Irena Degutiené,
Lithuania
27.10.1999-03.11.1999 Acting Minister President |
|
Medical Doctor, 1994-97 Vice-Minister of Health and Minister of
Labour and Social Affairs 1997-2000, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas
2008-09 and Speaker from 2009. (b. 1949-). |
|
 |
17.06.1999-08.07.2007
President Vaira
Vīķe-Freiberga, Latvia |
|
Born in Latvia and grew up in refugee camps in
Germany, went to school in French Morocco, University studies in
Canada. Retired from the Universite de Montreal in 1998, after being
a professor of psychology there since 1965 and involved in various
scientific and administrative committees, among others as
Vice-Chairperson of the Science Council of Canada. She moved to
Latvia as Director of the newly created Latvian Institute in Riga.
Candiate for the Post of Secretary General of the United Nations in
2006.
Married to her fellow countryman, Imants Freibergs, also exiled in
Canada, who moved to Latvia in October 1999. Mother of a son and a
daughter. (b. 1937-). |
|
 |
22.07.1999-30.07.1999 Acting Minister President Tuyaa Nyam-Osoryn,
Mongolia |
|
A former journalist and director in the Foreign Ministry, she was
Minister of Foreign Affairs
1998-2000 and appointed acting Premier after her predecessor's
resignation. (b. 1958-). |
|
 |
01.09.1999-01.09.2004 Executive President Mireya Moscoso Rodrígez,
Panama |
|
Since 1991 President of the Arnolfist Party, 1994 Presidential
Candidate. As Executive President she is also head of the Cabinet,
and she is the first female President to have officially appointed a
First Lady - her sister, Ruby Moscoso de Young. She was
constitutionally barred from running for re-election. Mireya was
first married to President Rodriguez de Arias Madrid (1901-88) who
was President of Panama 1940-41, 1949-51 and 1968. Married to Mr.
Gruber 1991-97 and mother of an adopted a child.
(b. 1946-). |
|
 |
10.12.1999-19.11.2008 Prime Minister Helen Clark, New Zealand |
|
MP since 1981. Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select
Committee 1984-87, Minister of Housing and Conservation
1987-89, Deputy Premier and Minister of Labour and Health 1989-90,
Deputy Leader of Labour and of the Opposition 1990-93 and Leader of
Labour of the Opposition 1993-99. As Prime Minister she also holds
the Portfolio of Arts and Culture and Security Intelligence Service
and Ministerial Services. In 1981 she married Dr. Peter Davis. No
children. (b. 1950-). |
|
 |
01.03.2000- President Tarja Halonen, Finland |
|
Member of Parliament 1979-2000, 1984-87 Chairperson of the Social
Affairs Committee and Member of the Presidium of the Parliament,
1987-1990 Second Minister of Health and Social Affairs (Health
Minister) and 1989-1991 Minister of Nordic Co-operation, 1989-91
Co-leader of Soumen Sosialidemokraattinen Pulolue, The Social
Democrats. 1990-1991 Minister of Justice 1995-2000 Minister of
Foreign Affairs. The position as President is very powerful -
especially concerning foreign politics. Mother of one daughter. In
August 2000 she married her partner trough a decade, Pentti Arajärvi.
They did not live together before they moved into the Presidential
palace. Mother of one daughter. (b. 1943-).
|
|
 |
01.04.2000-01.10.2000 Capitano Reggente Maria Domenica Michelotti,
San Marino |
|
Former lecturer at San Marino University and Member of the Consiglio
Grande e Generale since 1998. She is widow and her married name was
Casadei Michelotti. Mother of two girls (b. 1952-). |
|
 |
20.01.2001-30.06.2010 Executive President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, The
Philippines |
|
As executive GMA is also Head of the Cabinet. 1987-1989 she was
Assistant Secretary and 1989-92 Undersecretary of Trade and Industry
and Senator 1992-98. Secretary of Social Development and
Welfare 1998-2000 and The President charged her with the leadership
of the Cabinet Meetings. In 2000 she resigned from her cabinet-post
after President Estrada was accused of accusations. In January 2001
he was forced to vacate the presidency and she succeeded him. 2002
and from 2003 also Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2003 and 2006-07 Minister
of Defence. 2004 she was re-elected to the post of President.
Daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal and Dr. Evangeline
Macaraeg-Macapagal, mother of two sons and a daughter (b. 1947-).
|
|
 |
02.02.2001-02.02.2005 Governor Sila Maria Calderón Serra, Estado Libre
Asociado de Puerto Rico (Self Governing External Territory of the
United States of America) |
|
As governor she was Leader of the Governor. She was Chief of Staff
of the Governor 1985, 1986-90 Secretary of Interior, 1988-90
Secretary of State and Deputy to the Governor and 1996-2001 Mayor of
San Juan (The Capital). Since 1999 she has been President of Partido
Popular Democrático. She did not seek re-election. (b. 1942-)
|
|
 |
03.03.2001-04.11.2002 Premier Ministre Mame Madior Boye, Sénégal |
|
Former assistant to the Attorney General of the Republic, judge and
first vice President of the Regional High Court in Dakar and former
President of the Court of Appeal in Dakar. Councillor
to the Supreme Court of Appeal
and Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals in 2000-2001. In 2002
she took over as Minister of Defence after the former incumbent
resigned after almost 1.000 persons died in a ferry-disaster.
(b.1940-). |
|
 |
23.07.2001-20.10.2004 Executive President Megawati Sukarnoputri,
Indonesia |
|
When Megawati Setyawati Soekarnoputri became leader of the
Democratic Party in 1993, she triggered the opposition against
President Quarto. In 1999 her party won the most seats in the
Parliament, but Abdulrahman Wahid was elected President. This caused
serious riots all over the country and she was elected
vice-President the following day. In August 2000 the ailing
President Wahid charged her with the running of the daily business
of the government and state and she chaired the cabinet meetings. At
the 23rd of July he was ousted and she inaugurated as President. In
2004 she lost her bid for re-election. Ibu Mega, as she is known, is
daughter of Indonesia's founding father Sukarno, is married for the
3rd time and mother of 3 children. (b. 1946-). |
|
 |
11.07.2002-31.07.2002 Acting Prime Minister Chang Sang, South Korea |
|
Appointed Acting Prime Minister upon her designation, which
was vetoed by the parliament at the 30.7 and about one month later the
parliament also rejected President Kim Dae Jung's nominee as her
successor. She holds a doctorate in philosophy from Princeton
Theological College in the United States.
She has been President of Ewha Women's University since 1996.
(b. 1939-). |
|
 |
03.10.2002-16.07.2003 Prime Minister Maria das Neves Ceita Batista
de Sousa, Republic of São Tomé e Príncipe
23.07.2003-18.09.2004 Prime Minister |
|
Maria das Neves worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Finance
and in the African Development Bank. 1999-2001 Minister of
Economics, Agriculture, Fisheries, Commerce and Tourism, 2001-02
Minister of Finance and 2002 Minister of Industry, Commerce and
Tourism. On 16th of July 2003 she was detained during a military
coup d'etat but on the 23rd the government was reinstated. The
following year she was dismissed after aaccusations
of corruption. (b. 1958-). |
|
 |
30.12.2002-04.02.2004 Acting President Natasa Micic, Serbia |
|
As President of the Assembly since 2001, she became Acting President
since the attempt to elect a President failed twice. She continued
her duties as Chairperson of the Parliament.
(b.1965-). |
|
 |
17.04.2003-24.06.2003 Minister of State Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Finland |
|
1991-94 and 1999-2000 Deputy Parliamentary Leader and since 2000
leader of Suomen Keskusta/Centern i Finland, 1994-95 Minister of
Justice. In 2003 Speaker of the Parliament. On 18.06 she tendered in
her resignation application after it was revealed that she had used
confidential material to aid her election campaign and then lying
about how she had got the documents. The Assistant Prime Minister
conducted her duties until 24.06. (b. 1955-). |
|
 |
28.06.2003-15.12.2003 President of the Council of Ministers Dr.
Beatriz Merino Lucero, Peru
|
|
Senator 1990-92, Member of the Congress 1995-2000, Vice-Presidential
Candidate 2000 and Superintendent of the National Tax Administration
before becoming a very popular Prime Minister, until she was sacked
by the extremely unpopular President. (b. 1949-). |
|
 |
11.09.2003-03.06.2004 Minister-President Mirna Louisa-Godett,
Nederlandse Antillen (Self Governing External Territory of The
Netherlands) |
|
Sister of the Leader of Frente Obrero Liberashon 30 di Mei (FOL)
Anthony Godett, who could not become Premier because he was charged
with and later convicted for corruption and fraud. Married to a member
of the Legislature for FOL, Johnny Louisa. She became
head of a coalition government.
(b. 1954-). |
|
|
01.10.2003-31.03.2004 Capitano Reggente Valeria Ciavatta, San Marino |
|
Member of the Grand and General Council for the Alianza Populare
since 1993 and Chairperson of the Council Group from 2002. As
Captain Regent, she was joint head of a state with a man, and also
President of the Parliament and Head of Government. Mother of twins.
(b. 1959-) |
|
|
23.11.2003-25.01.2004 Acting Executive President Nino Burjanadze,
Georgia
25.11.2007- Acting President |
|
As Chairperson of the Parliament 2001-08 she took over after
former President Eduard Shevardnadze
was forced to resign as result of a "velvet revolution" after he
rigged the parliamentary elections. She has been one of the
opposition leaders for some years, since 2003 as President of
Burjanadze-Democrats. In 2007 she aced as President again as the
incumbent,
Mikheil Saakashvili,
resigned to run in the January 2008-elections. She did not run for
Parliament in 2008. Her surname is also transcribed Burdzhanadze.
Mother of two children. (b.
1964-). |
|
 |
17.02.2004-16.01.2010 Prime Minister Luísa Días Diogo, Moçambique
|
|
Head of Department in the Ministry of Finance 1986-89, National
Budget Director 1982-89 in Ministry of Planning and Finance, worked
in World Bank 1993-94. 1994-2000 Vice-Minister and Minister of
Planning and Finance 2000-05. Mother of three children. (b. 1958-). |
|
|
06.07.2004-08.07.2004 Acting Joint Head of State Barbara Prammer,
Austria |
|
As Vice-President of the National Assembly she assumed the
Presidential duties together with the two other members of the
Presidium, when the outgoing President died two days before his
successor was to take office in July. She is a former Federal
Minister and leading member of the Social Democrats of Austria, SPÖ.
(b. 1954-). |
 |
12.05.2004-02.06.2004 Acting President of the Government Radmila
Sekerinska, Macedonia
18.11.2004-17.12.2004 Acting President of the Government |
|
As Vice-President of the Government and Minister without Portfolio for
Euro-Atlantic Integration 2002-06, she acted as Head of Government
from the former Prime Minister Crvenkovski's Presidential inauguration
until election of Kostov as new Prime Minister. She already presided
over government sessions and signed documents since Crvenkovski became
candidate for President, as he 'renounced' his Premiership during the
campaign, but he never officially stepped down. In November she was
again appointed Acting Premier after her predecessor resigned, but
lost the party internal election for the post of Prime Minister and
Leader of the Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM).
(b. 1972-). |
|
 |
24.01.2005-08.09.2005 Prime Minister Yuliya Tymoshenko, Ukraine
18.12.2007-11.03.2010 Prime Minster |
|
Her name is also transcribed as Yulia Voldyrovna Timoshenkno. She is
former Co-Leader of the Hromda party, Director of United Energy System
1998-2000, In January 2001 dismissed from the government, detained
charged with corruption but later acquitted. Leader of Batkivsjtjina
(Fatherland's Party) 2000/01-05 and of the Bloc Tymoshenko from 2005.
Narrowly defeated in the
2010-presidential elections and afterwards her coalition in parliament
broke up and she was defeated by a motion of no confidence.
(b. 1961-). |
|
|
01.04.2005-01.10.2005 Capitano Reggente Fausta Simona Morganti, San
Marino |
|
In 1974 she was one of the first three women elected to the
Consiglio Grande e Generale. 1978-83 and 1988-92 Minister of State
of Culture, Education and Justice, In the late 1990s Leader in
Partito Progressista Democartico Sammarinese and Chief of the
Parliamentary Group from around 1997 to 2002 and then again
later in 2002
and Secretary of State of Public Education, Universities, Cultural
Institutions and Social Affairs in 2002. (b. 1944-). |
|
 |
03.05.2005-22.06.2005 Acting Prime Minister Cynthia A. Pratt, The
Bahamas |
|
Appointed Acting Prime Minister when the incumbent suffered a minor stroke and stepped aside from his duties, but she has acted on a number of occasions before, when he was abroad. She is also known as "Mother" Pratt. As Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Security since
2002 she was in charge of the Defence Force and Police. She was
Opposition Whip Ca. 1992-2000 and from ca. 2000 Deputy Leader of the
Opposition and Deputy Leader of the Progressive Liberal Democratic
Part. A former nurse, she is mother of 6 children (b. 1945-). |
|
 |
07.06.2005-21.04.2006 Prime Minister
Maria do Carmo Trovoada Pires de Carvalho Silveira,
São Tomé e Princípe |
|
Normally known as Maria do Carmo Silveira, she was governor of
the National Bank 1999-2005 and member of the Political Bureau of the
Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tomé-Social Democratic Party,
MLSTP-PSD. Also Minister of Finance from 2005.
(b. 1961-). |
|
 |
22.11.2005- Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany
|
|
1990 Deputy Spokesperson of the Government of the DDR, 1990-98
Deputy Chairperson of CDU, 1991-94 Federal Minister Women and Youth
and 1994-98 Federal Minister of Environment, Protection of Nature
and Reactor Safety, 1993-2000 Chairperson of CDU in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, 1998-2000
Federal Secretary General and since 2000 Federal Chairperson of CDU
and 2002-05 also Parliamentary Leader. Leader of a Grand Coalition
between CDU/CSU and SPD. Née Kasner and married secondly to Joachim
Sauer, no children. (b. 1954-). |
|
 |
15.01.2006- Executive President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf,
Liberia
|
|
1972-73 and 1977-79 Secretary of State of Finance, 1979-80 Minister
of Finance, 1980 President of the National Bank, 1980-85 worked for
the World Bank, 1985-86 in house arrest after her return, 1990-92
Leading member of exile-government of Amos Sawyer in United States
of America, 1992-97 African Director of the UNDP (United Nations
Development Program). From 1997 Leader of the Unity Party.
Presidential Candidate in 1997 and 2003 (within the Trasitional
Council), she won the elections in November 2005. She is divorced,
mother of a number of children, and grandmother. (b. 1938-). |
|
 |
11.03.2006-11.03.2010 Executive President Michelle Bachelet Jeria, Chile
|
|
2000-02 Minister of Health, 2002-04 Minister of Defence. Her father,
a general, was killed by the Pinochet dictatorship. Her boyfriend
was also detained, tortured and disappeared. She and her mother were
also detained and tortured and afterwards lived in exile in
Australia and East Germany. She returned to Chile in 1979 and worked
for various NGOs helping children of the tortured and disappeared.
She had two children with her first husband and a daughter with her
former partner. (b. 1952-). |
|
 |
26.03.2006-10.10.2010 Minister President Emily de Jongh-Elhage, Nederlandse
Antillen (Self-governing Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
|
|
Commissioner of Public works and Public Housing of Curaçao 1998-99,
Commissioner of Education, Sport and Cultural Affairs 1999-2002,
Minister of Education and Culture of the Nederlandse Antillen
2002-03 and Commissioner of Public Enterprises and Public Housing
2004-05 of Curaçao. From 2005 Leader of De Partido Antia Restrukturá
(PAR). Also Minister of General Affairs and External Relations. |
|
 |
30.03.2006-11.09.2007
Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller, Jamaica
05.01.2012- Prime Minister |
|
Since 1976 MP, 1976-82 Parliamentary Secretary of the Prime
Minister, Deputy President of People's National Party 1978-2006 and
President from 2006. Minister of Labour, Social Welfare and Sports
1989-2000, Candidate for the party leadership and Premiership in
1992, Minister of Tourism, Entertainment, Sports and Women’s Affairs
2000-02 and Minister of Local Government, Community Development and
Sport 2002-06. Acting Prime Minister on various occasions whenever
the chief of government was out of the country.
2006-2007 and from 2012 also Minister of Defence and a number of
other portfolios, and Opposition Leader 2007-11
(b. 1946-). |
|
 |
19.04.2006-07.03.07 Prime Minister Han Myung-sook, South Korea |
|
During the years of the military dictatorship, she started her
career as a social activist in the South Korea Christian Academy and
was a political prisoner 1979-81. Master in Christian Theology and
Women's Studies and B.A. in French. MP from 2000. Minister of Gender
Equality 2001-03 and Minister of Environment 2003-04. She resigned
to run as candidate in the Uri-party internal primaries but soon
after the party merged with other parties into the United New
Democratic Party, which chose a male presidential candidate. (b. 1944-).
|
 |
01.01.2007-31.12.2007 President of the Confederation
01.01.2011-31.12.2011 President of the Confederation
Micheline Calmy-Rey,
Switzerland |
| Former President of the Socialist
Party of Génève, she was President of the Grand Conseil of Génève
1993, Councillor of Finance 1997-2002, Vice-President of the Cantonal Government
2000-01 and
President of the Cantonal Government
2001-02. Federal Foreign Minister 2003-11 and Vice-President
in 2006 and 2010. (b. 1945-). |
|
 |
25.01.2007-15.07.2007 Acting President Dalia Itzik, Israel |
|
Former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem in charge of Education, Labour Member
of the Knesset 1992-2005, Minister of Environment 1999-2001, Minister of
Trade and Industry 2001-02, Group Chairperson of Labour 2003-05 and
Minister of Communication in 2005. She joined Kadima, a new party formed by Ariel Sharon in 2006
and Speaker of the Knesset 2006-09. She became Acting Head of State when President Moshe Katsaw on his own
request was temporary suspended after the Attorney General announced that
he would charge
the president with offences including rape, obstruction of justice and fraud, on 1. July he resigned and she continued in her role until his successor, Shimon Peres, took office. (b. 1952-). |
 |
25.07.2007- President
Pratibha Patil, India |
|
Deputy Minister
1967-72
and
Cabinet Minister 1972-83 and Congress Leader and Leader of the Opposition 1979-80 in Maharastra, Deputy Chairperson of the Union Upper House, the Rajya Sabha
1986-88, Governor of Rajasthan 2004-07. Married to Devisingh Shekhawat, a former Mayor of Amravati. (b. 1934-). |
|
 |
10.12.2007- Executive President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Argentina |
|
Won the first round of the presidential elections in
October 2007 as candidate for Partido Justicalista. She was Member of the Assembly of Santa Cruz 1989-95 and 1. Vice-President of the Assembly in 1990, National Senator 1995-97 and again since 2001, National Deputy 1997-2001. President of the Senate Committee of Contitutional
Affairs since 2001.
Her late husband Néstor Carlos Kirchner (1950-2010)
was President of Argentina 2003-07 and held a number of other posts.
Mother of 2 children. (b. 1953-). |
|
 |
2007-11 Premier
Viveca Eriksson, Åland (Finish External
Territory) |
|
Chairperson of the Liberal Parliamentary Group 1999-2001, Member of the
Speaker's Conference 1999-2000, Chairperson of the Finance Committee
1999-2001, first Vice-speaker 2000-01 and 2005-07,
Speaker 2001-05 and Party
Chairperson from 2004.
(b. 1956-). |
 |
31.03.2008-14.09.2009
Prime Minister Zinaida Grecianîi, Moldova
|
|
Vice-Minister 2000-01 and First Vice-Minister of Finance 2001-02,
Minister of Finance 2002-05 and 1. Vice Prime Minister and Coordinator
of the activity of executive
institution in charge with economic-financial sector
from 2005.
Presidential Candidate in 2009. (b. 1956-). |
|
 |
25.07.2008-07.08.2008 Acting President of the Executive Council
Marthe
Ogoundélé-Tessi, St-Martin (French External Territory)
(25.07-07.08.08) |
|
2007-08 1. Vice-President in charge of Employment,
Educational Training, Professional Training, Teaching, Culture, Youth
and Sports, School Transport, Also President of the Conseil Territory,
Candidate for the Post of President in 2008 and since 2008 Member of the
Executive Council. |
 |
31.07.2008-11.11.2009
Prime Minister
Michèle Pierre-Louis, Haiti |
|
The third nominee by president Preval since March, has been
Executive Director of the Foundation of Knowledge and Liberty since
1995. (b. 1947-). |
 |
25.09.2008 Acting President
Dr. Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri,
South Africa |
|
Premier of the Free State
1996-99, Federal Minister of
Communication since 1999.
Acting President on one or two
occations in 2003 and Member of the Pool of Possible Acting
Presidents from 2005 and on 25. September, she was Acting
Executive after the resignation of the President until a successor
was elected and sworn in. She lived (1937-2009). |
|
 |
01.10.2008-30.03.2009 Capitan
Regent Assunta Meloni, San Marino |
|
Member of the
Consiglio Grande e Generale for
Alleanza Popolare from 2006. Married to Fabrizio Stacchini and mother of
2 sons. (b. 1951-). |
|
 |
03.12.2008-
Leader of the Government
Antonella Mularoni, San Marino |
|
As Secretary of Foreign and Political Affairs she also functions as
Leader of the Government even though the Captain Generals are both Heads
of State and Government. Also Secretary of Telecommunication and Transport. She was Political Secretary to the Minister of Finance
1986-87, Director of the Office for relations with the associations of San
Marino citizens living abroad 1987-90, Deputy Permanent Representative to the
Council of Europe, 1989-90, Barrister and public notary in the Republic of San
Marino 1991-2001, Member of the General Grand Council 1993-2001 and again from
2008, and Judge of the European Court of Human Rights 2001-08. (b. 1961-)./td>
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01.02.2009-
Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir,
Iceland |
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Johanna Sigurdardsottir
was Deputy Chairperson
of the Social Democrats
1984-93, Chairperson 1994-99 of the
National Revival Party until she rejoined the Social
Democrats, becoming it's leader in 2009,
Vice-President of the Lower Chamber
1979 and 1983-84 and
Vice-Chairperson of the the Alþing
2003-07,
Minister of Social
Affairs And Health 1987-91 and
Minister of Social
Affairs 1991-94 and 2007-09.
First married to
Þorvaldur Steinar Jóhannesson with
whom she has got 2 sons,
and in 2010 she married her registered partner since 2002,
the author Jónína
Leósdóttir,
who is mother of 1 son.
(b. 1942-).
.
(b. 1942-). |
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10.06.2009- Interim President
Rose Francine
Rogombé, Gabon |
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Secretary of State for the Advancement of Women and Human Rights during
the 1980s. As President of the Senate from 2008 she is Deputy Head of
State and became Interim President when President Bongo died. (b.
1942-). |
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06.07.2009-23.12.2011
Prime Minister Jadranka Kosor,
Croatia |
Vice-President of the Sabor
1995-2000 and from 2011,
Deputy Chairperson of HDZ
1995-97.
Minister of War Weterans from 2003, Minister for Family and Inter-Generation Solidarity
2003-08 and responsible for Foreign Policy and Human Rights.
Presidential Candidate 2005. (b.
1953-).
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12.07.2009- President Dalia Grybauskaitė, Lithuania |
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1994-1995 Extraordinary Envoy and Plenipotentiary Minister at the
Lithuanian Mission to the EU and Deputy Head Negotiator for the
Europe Agreement with EU, 1996-1999 Plenipotentiary Minister at
the Embassy in USA, 1999-2000 Vice-Minister of
Finance and 2000-01 Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Head
of the EU Accession negotiations,
2001-04 Minister of Finance and 2004 EU-Commissioner of Financial
Programming and Budget 2004-09. Won 69% of the votes in the
presidential elections.
Unmarried and no children.
(b.
1956-). |
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21.10.2009-13.11.2009 Acting Prime Minister 18.12.2009-20.12.2009 Prime
Minister Cécile Manorohanta, Madagascar |
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Cécile Marie Ange Dominique Manorohanta was Vice-Minister
of Education and Scientific Research 2007, Minister of Defence 2007-09
and Vice-Premier and Minister of Interior in 2009.
As part of the power struggle she was in charge of the government from
October to November as the appointed Premier could not be sworn in and
when he was abroard in December, she again acted as his stand-in until
he was dismissed and she appointed as his successor
but herself replaced after 2 days. |
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01.01.2010-31.12.2010 President of the Confederation Doris Leuthard,
Switzerland
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Member of the Assembly in Aargau 1997-2000, Vice-President of
Christian Democratic Party, CVP 2001-04, President of CVP Schweiz
2004-06 and Federal Councillor of Economic Affairs
from 2006 and Vice-President in 2009. (b. 1963-). |
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07.04.2010-19.05.2010 Head of the Interim
Government 19.05.2010-01.12.2011 President Roza Otunbayeva, Kyrgyzstan |
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Other versions of her
surname are
Otunbaeva or
Otunbajewa.
1983-86 Secretary of the Municipal Communist Central Committee of Frunze,
1986-89 Deputy Prime Minister and Foregin Minister in the Kyrgyz
SSR, 1991 Ambassador of the USSR to Malaysia,
1992 Kyrgyz Deputy Premier Minister
and Minister of Foreign Affairs,
1992-93 Ambassador to USA and Canada and 1994 to Turkey, Foreign
Minister 1994-96, Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain
1996-2003, Deputy Head of
the United Nations special mission to Georgia 2002-04, Acting
Foreign Minister 2007, Parliamentary Leader of the Social Democrats
20009-10 and Interim Head of State and Government from April 2010
after the former President was ousted.
In May she was appointed President
for the term ending in December 2011. (b. 1950-). |
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08.05.10.2010- President Laura Chinchilla Miranda, Costa Rica |
|
Vice-Minister
of Security 1994-96, Minister of Public Security, Interior and
Police 1996-98, 1. Vice-President and Minister of Justice 2006-08
and Acting Minister of Security in 2008.
Resigned to become Liberal Party Presidential
Candidate for the 2010-elections which she won.(b. 1959-). |
 |
26.05.2010- Prime
Minister
Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Trinidad and Tobago |
| Attorney General (second in
Cabinet) 1995-06 and 2001, Minister of Legal Affairs 1996-99 and 2001 and
Minister of Education 1999-2001.
First appointed acting premier on the absence of the Premier in September 2000.
Leader of The United National Congesss and Oppostion Leader 2006-07 and 2010 and
Political Leader from 2010. (b. 1952-)
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22.06.2010-22.06.2011 Prime Minister
Mari Kiviniemi, Finland |
|
MP from 1991, Deputy Parliamentary Leader of the Center
Party in 2003, Party Vice-Chairperson 2003-08 and Party Chairperson from 2010, Political Advisor of the Prime Minister 2004-07,
Minister of Foreign Trade and Development Aid and Minister at the Prime Minister's
Office 2005-06 and Minister of Public Administration and Local
Government 2007-10. Mother of 2 children. (b. 1968-) |
|
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24.06.2010- Prime
Minister Julia Gillard, Australia |
|
MP from 1998, Manager of Opposition
Business in the House of Representatives 2003-06 and
Deputy Leader
of Labor 2006-10, Deputy Leader of the Opposition 2006-07 and Leader of Labour
from 2010,
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education, Employment and
Workplace Relations and Social Inclusion from 2007-10. Her parents
immigrated to Australia from Wales. She lives with her partner and
has no children. (b. 1961-). |
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08.07.2010-
Prime Minister
Iveta Radičová, Slovakia |
|
Iveta Radicova is Professor of Sociology and Political Sciences at the Comenius University in
Bratislava, from 2005 Director of the Institute of Sociology at the Slovak
Academy of Sciences, 2005-06 Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, MP from 2006
and Deputy Leader of the Democratic and Christian Union–Democratic
Party 2006-10 and Party Leader since 2010. Presidential Candidate for all the opposition parties
in 2009
and finished second in the second round of voting, and in 2010 the
opposition 4-party coalition won the elections.
Minister of Defence from
2011 (b.
1956-). |
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10.10.2010-
Prime
Minister
Sarah
Wescott-Williams,
Sint Maarten
(Self-governing Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)
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Ca. 1995-2009 Commissioner of General Affairs, Education
etc.,
1999-2009 Leader of the Government, Social and Cultural Development, Finance, Juridical
Affairs, Emergency Services, Information, Communication and Protocol, Strategic
Policy, Planning and Development of Sint Maartin which was part of the
Netherlands
Antilles
until 2010 when it
became a
self ruling
entity
within the
Kingdom of
the
Netherlands.
She is
Leader of the St. Maarten Party. |
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29.10.2010- Premier Paula A. Cox, Bermuda (British Dependent
Territory) |
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Succeeded her father, Eugene Cox as Minister of Finance when he
died in January 2004. 1998-2002 Minister of Labour and Home Affairs
and Public Security, 2002-04 Minister of Education, 2002-03 Minister
of Development, 2003-04 Attorney General and Minister of Justice.
Minister of Finance since 2004, Deputy Leader of the Progressive
Labour Party and Deputy Premier 2006-10, Party Leader and Premier
from 2010. (b. 1969-). |
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01.01.2011- Executive President
Dilma Vana Linhares Rousseff,
Brazil |
|
Dilma Rousseff is a
former student leader who fought Brazil's
military dictatorship as a guerrilla during the early 1970s
and an economist. Secretary of Mines, Energy and Communication of Rio Grande do
Sul 1993-94 and 1999-2002, Minister of Mines and
Energy
2003-05
and
Minister and Secretary General of the Presidential Staff (Cabinet Chief)
2005-10.
(b.
1947-). |
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19.03.2011-28.07.2011 Rosario del
Pilar Fernández Figueroa, Peru |
|
Minister of Justice 2007-09 and again from 2010. Her official title
is Presidenta del Consejo de Ministros del Perú |
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01.04.2011-
Capitano Reggente
Maria Luisa Berti, San
Marino |
|
Member of the Consiglio Grande e Generale for Noi
Sammarinesi since 2008. In 2011 she was also joint president of the
parliament. (b. 1971-) |
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04.04.2011-
Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé,
Mali |
|
Mariam Sidibé was Minister of Planning and
International Cooperation
1991-92
and
Minister of Agriculture and Environment
in 1992, Executive Secretary of the intergovernmental Interstate
Committee on the Fight Against Desertification in the Sahel 1993-2000, Special
Counselor to the President 2001-02,
Minister of Rural
Development in 2002 and
President of the administrative council
of Mali's government Tobacco corporation since 2003. (b. 1948-). |
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07.04.2011- President Atifete
Jahjaga, Kosovo |
|
She was Deputy Chief of Police of Kosovo with
rank of Major General at the time of her election. Married to
Astrit Kuçi. (b.
1975-) |
 |
08.08.2011- Prime Minister
Yingluck Shinawatra, Thailand |
|
A former buisness woman and main candidate for the Pheu Thai Party which won about 50% of
the votes in the parliamentary elections. A member of a walthy family, her
father, uncle and other family members were MPs her brother and
brother-in-law were Prime Ministers and her sister Mayor of Chiang
Mai. She is married to businessman Anusorn Amornchat and mother
of a son. (b. 1967-). |
 |
03.10.2011- Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, Denmark |
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Social Democrat Member of the European Parliament
1999-2004 and Member of the Parliament and Party Chairperson from 2005. Married to Stephen Kinnock and mother of
two daughters. (b. 1966-) |
 |
25.11.2011- Lantråd Camilla Gunell, the Åland Islands (Finish External
Territory) |
|
Member of the Lagting since 2003,
Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group of the Social Democrats
2003-05 and Party Chairperson from 2009 and Minister of Education and
Culture 2005-2007. (b. 1970-). |
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01.12.2012-31.12.2012 President of the
Confederation Eveline
Widmer-Sclumpf,
Switzerland |
|
Councillor of Finance and Military of
Graubünden 1998-2007, Vice-President of the Government
2000 and 2004 and President of the Government
2001 and
2005,
Federal Councillor
of Justice and Police 2008-10
and Councillor of Finance from 2010 and Vice-President in 2011. (b. 1956-). |
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