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WOMEN
WHO WERE
HEADS OF STATE
AND GOVERNMENT
CONCURRENTLY
of
independent governments since 1900
Also see Female Presidents,
Chronological List of Female Presidents,
Woman Heads of State and
Government
and
Woman Premier Ministers
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1908-12 De-facto Co-Regent, HIM Dowager Empress Xiao Ding Jing Long Yu
Huagtaihou of China (13.11-06.12)
1911-12 Empress-Regent (6.12-12.2) |
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Dowager Empress Cixi entrusted a vaguely specified Imperial
authority to her. Long Yu was the holder of the Imperial Seal and
exercised the Imperial authority. On 6.12.11 the regent and father of
Emperor Puyi (1906-1908-12-67), Prince Zaifeng, resigned. At 6.12.12
she presided over the final cabinet meeting of the Qing Dynasty and
was forced to sign the imperial abdication decree, which abolished the
monarchy. Long Yu was niece of Empress Cixi and the childless widow of
Emperor Zaitian and lived (1868-1913)
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1918-65 HM Kuini Salote Mafile'o Pilolevu Veiongo Tupou III, By
the Grace of God Queen of Tonga (05.04-15.12) |
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Queen Salote was absolute ruler and also President of the Privy
Council. Also the 24th Tu’i Kano’kupolu and 1923-65 Head of the Free
Wesleyan Church of Tonga, the National (Methodist) Church, in 1937
Created Dame of the Order
of the British Empire, 1945 Dame of the Order Grand Cross and 1953
Dame of the Order of St. James’s. Her husband, was a member of the
nobility and a side-line of the royal family, Prince Uiliame Tupoulahi
Tungi, and Premier 1923- 41(†), their son was Premier till she died
and he became king Tauf’ahau Toupu IV (1918-1965-). 191 centimetres
tall, mother of three sons, and
lived (1900-65) |
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1927-74 La Dame Dame Sibyl Mary Beaumont Hathaway of Sark
(Channel Islands)
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She
succeeded her father William Collings as the 21st Seigneur of the
Sark. Her first husband, Dudley Beaumont, died in 1918 of influenza
leaving her with five children and one unborn daughter. Her second
husband, Robert Hathaway (1888-1954) became Seigneur in the right of
his wife in accordance with the ancient custom. In principle Sibyl
would have had to retire, but she remained the active and driving
force the de-facto ruler. She remained on Sark during the German
occupation while her husband was deported to Germany. Dame Sibyl was
President and member of a number of committees of the Chief Pleas. She
appointed her youngest daughter Jehanne Bell as Deputy Seigneur 1946-68.
Sibyl outlived all but two children and was succeeded by her grandson,
the present Seigneur J. Michael Beaumont.
She lived (1884-1974). |
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01.07.1974- 24.03.1976 Executive President Maria Estella Martínez
Cartas 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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17.11.1979-18.07.1980 Interim Executive President Lydia 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 Cámara 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.
(b. 1921-). |
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01.04-01.10.1981 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 as Chairmen
of the Consiglio Grande e Generale. From circa 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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01.04.1984-01.10.1984 and 01.10.1989-01.04.90 Captain Regent
Gloriana Ranocchini, San Marino |
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Member of the Parliament. (b. 1957-). |
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25.2.1986-30.06.1992 Executive President Maria Corazón Sumulong
Cojuangco Aquino, The Phillipines |
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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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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. She was held
hostage on one occasion by soldiers attempting a coup. (b. 1943-).
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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. Between 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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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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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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27.10.1993-05.02.1994 Acting Head of State Sylvie Kinigi, Burundi |
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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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14.11.1994-19.11.2005 Executive President Chandrika Bandaranaike
Kumaratunga, Sri Lanka |
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She was 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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09.02.1997-11.02.1997 Acting Executive President Rosalia Arteaga
Serrano de Fernández de Córdova, Ecuador |
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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-). |
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19.12.1997-11.08.99 Executive President Janet Jagan, Guyana |
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She was her country's first white and first female President and was
executive President but worked together with the Prime Minister.
1950-90 she held leading posts in the Progressive People's Party,
PPP, 1953 Deputy President of the National Assembly, 1954 imprisoned
by the British authorities for her activities for independence
1957-61. Minister of Labour, Health and Housing, 1963-64 Minister of
Home Affairs (Senator), 1973-97 Editor-in-Chief of The Mirror, 1993
Acting Permanent Representative to the United Nations. In 1997 her
husband, President Dr. Cheddi Bharat Jagan, died, and she was chosen
to replace the Premier, who had become President. Janet was chosen
as her party's candidate in the following Presidential elections.
She was in office until July 1999 when she suffered a mild hart
attack and chose to resign from her post 3 years ahead of time. Born
as Janet Rosenberg in Chicago. Mother of two children. (b. 1920-).
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01.01.1999-31.12.1999 President of the Confederation Ruth Dreifuss,
Switzerland |
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A
former trade union-leader, she was Councillor of Interior in
1992-2002 and Vice-President 1998-99.
(b. 1939-). |
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01.04.1999-01.10.1999 Captain Regent Rosa Zafferani, San Marino |
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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 since 2005 also in charge of Internal
Affairs.
(b.
1960 in USA). |
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01.09.1999-01.09.2004 Executive President Mireya Moscoso Rodrígez,
Panama |
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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-). |
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01.04.2000-01.10.2000 Capitano Reggente Maria Domenica Michelotti,
San Marino |
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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-). |
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20.01.2001- Executive President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, The
Philippines |
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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 2003 also Minister of Foreign Affairs and 2003 and since 2006 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-). |
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23.07.2001-20.10.2004 Executive President Megawati Sukarnoputri,
Indonesia |
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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-). |
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23.11.2003-25.01.2004 Acting Executive President Nino Burjanadze,
Georgia |
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As Chairperson of the Parliament since 2001 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. Her surname is also transcribed Burdzhanadze.
Mother of two children. (b.
1964-). |
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01.04.2005-01.10.2005 Capitano Reggente Fausta Simona Morganti, San
Marino |
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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-). |
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16.01.2006- Executive President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberia |
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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, Candidate for the Chairmanship of
the National Transitional Government in 2003 and finally won the
presidential elections in November 2005. She is divorced, mother of
a number of children, and grandmother. (b. 1938-). |
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11.03.2006- Executive President Michelle Bachelet Jeria, Chile |
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2000-02 Minister of Health and 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-). |
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01.01.2007- President of the Confederation Micheline Calmy-Rey,
Switzerland |
| She is 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 since 2003 and Vice-President
in 2006. (b. 1945-). |
Last update
12.01.07
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