Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership

FEMALE PRESIDENTS 
OF PARLIAMENTS AND
 PARLIAMENTARY BODIES 
from 2000 

This is a list of female Presidents of Parliaments. Included are territories with self-rule and nominal autonomous regions in the former USSR and Czechoslovakia and in Yugoslavia, which are now independent. 
Also see Current Female Presidents of Parliaments
Female Heads of Assembly prior to the 20th Century
and Female Heads of Parliamentary Bodies


2000-04 President of the Congreso de los Diputados Luisa Fernanda Rudi Úbeda, Spain  

1993-96 3. Secretary of the Congreso and mayor of Zaragoza since 1995. (b. 1950-).


2000 Joint President of Consiglio Grande e Generale Maria Domenica Michelotti, San Marino
 

As Captain Regent she was Head of State, Government and Parliament for a six-month period jointly with a man. She is a civil servant and since 2003 member of the Parliament during the absence of leave of one of the other members of the Christian Democrat Group. (b. 1952-).


2000- Speaker of the House of Representatives Alix Boyd Knights, Dominica

Former human Right's Advocate

 


2000-01 President of the Asemblea Legislativa Rina Maria Contreras López, Costa Rica

Parliament Vice-President 1998-2000. From 2001 President of the United Conservative Party and 2002-03 Minister of the Presidency. (b. 1950-).


2000-01 President of Cámera de Representantes Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez Castañeda, Colombia
2007-08 President the Congress and of the Senate

1995-96 Secretary of Environment of Cundinamarca,  Secretary General of the Government 1996-97 and sometime Acting Governor, member of the House of Representatives from 1998. (b. 1963-).


2000-01 President of the Ständerat/Conseil des Etats/Consiglio degli Stati Françoise Saudan, Switzerland


1995 President of Grand Conseil of Génève, 1999-2000 1. Vice-President of the Ständesrat. (b. 1939-).


2000 President of the Bundesrat Johanna Auer, Austria

Member of the Bundesrat from 2000, and was President from the 28th to the 31st of December 2000. (b. 1950-).


2000 Acting President of the Congreso Nacional  Luz Salgado Rubianes de Parades, Peru (Nov.-Dec.)

1992 Vice-Minister of Regional Development in the Ministry of the Presidency 1993-96, member of the Directive Council of the Democratic Constitutient Congress, 1996-97 and 1998-99 3. Vice-President and from July 2000 1. Vice-President. In this capacity she was acting President after Martha Hillebrandt was forced from office and again after that Hillebrandt's successor became acting President of the Nation. In 2000 she was also leader of Perú Posible in the Congress


2000 President-Elect of the Congreso Nacional Susana Gonzáles Muños, Ecuador (01.08-29.08)

The independent member of the Congress was elected President, but the largest party, The Christian Socialist Party objected to the choice and appealed at a local court in August 2000. Later the Constitutional Court ruled that the elections had to be repeated. At the 29.8 Congress elected another independent MP from the majority as President with Nina Pacari as acting President. (b. 1944-).


2000 Acting President of the Congreso Nacional Nina Pacari Vega, Ecuador (01-)29.08)

1999-2000 2. Vice-President of Congreso Nacional, she was the only remaining member of the Leadership of the Parliament and thus was acting head, and Presided over the election over a new President after the election of Susana Gonzáles had been proclaimed invalid. She was the first from the native Quéchua-Indian population to become vice-President of the congress. In 2003 Foreign Minister. (b. 1960-)


2000 Acting Speaker of the National Assembly Clarissa S. Riehl, Guyana (15.10-23.10)

As an Opposition MP and the Deputy Speaker since 1997, she acted as Speaker after the death of Derek Chunnilall Jagan until a successor was elected.


 

2000-01 President of the Union of Parliamentarians of MERCOSUR Mirta Elsa Rubini (Argentina)

Later also Vice-President of the General Assembly of the Conferation of American Parliamentarians.


2000-04 President of the Assembly of European Regions Liese Prokop (Austria)  

Government Councillor from 1981 and Vice Minister President 1992-2004 of Niederösterreich. Also vice-President of The ÖVP (Conservatives) of the state, and first Vice-President of the  Assembly of Regions which is part of the European Union setup 1999-2000. Federal Minister of Interior in Austria 2004-06 until she died of a hard attack on new years eve. She lived (1941-2006).


2000 President of Nordic Council Sigriður Anna þorðardóttir (Iceland)  

Chairperson of the Parliament Group of Sjálfstæðismanna (the Independence Party) 1998-2003 and Vice-Chairperson 2003-04, Vice-President of the Nordic Council 1999-2004, Minister of Environment 2004-06 and Minister of Nordic Cooperation 2005-06 and 6. Vice-Chairperson of the Alþing from 2006. (b. 1946-).


2000 Chairperson of the Belelux Parliament Mr. W.J.C. Wildens-Rozendaal (The Netherlands)

Willie Wildens was Dutch MP for PvdA 1986-2002.


2000 President of the World Health Assembly Dr Libertine Appolus Amathila (Namibia)

Member of the Namibian government from 1987, she was Minister of Health and Social Service 1996-2005 and has been Deputy Prime Minister since 2005. The World Health Assembly is the supreme decision-making body for WHO. Its main function is to determine the policies of the Organization. The Health Assembly appoints the Director-General, supervises the financial policies of the Organization, and reviews and approves the Proposed programme budget. (b. 1940-).


Around 2000- President of the Kotu Nui The Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid, Cook Islands (In Free Association with New Zealand)

The Kotu Nui or Council of Chiefs is a council consisting of sub-chiefs.


2001-03 and 2004-07 and 2008- Chairperson of the Parlamenti Nino Burjanadze, Georgia
2001-02 President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation

Elected Parliament Chair after her predecessor resigned amid serious political upheaval when President Eduard Shevardnadze sacked his entire cabinet. She was Acting President until January the following year and again 2007-January. Her surname is also transcribed Burdzhanadze. (b. 1964-).


2001-04 President of the Narodna Skupština Natasa Micic, Serbia (Serbia and Montenegro)

The first woman and the youngest President of the Serbian National Assembly for the last 125 year. Natasa Micic. In December 2003 she became Acting President since the attempt to elect a President has failed twice and continued her duties as Chairperson of the Parliament.


2001 Acting President of the Senate Brunilda Ortiz, Puerto Rico (USA) (01-08.01)

Secretary of the Senate ca. 1998-2001 after a career as politically appointed administrator. The Secretary acts as President from the installation of the newly elected Senate til it convenes to elect the presiding officer. (b. 1959-).


2001-05 President of the Parliamentul Eugenia Ostapciuc, Moldova

Former civil servant, she was Secretary of the Parliamentary Group of the Communist Party 1998-2000. From 2005 Leader of the Communist Faction in Parliament. (b. 1947-).


2001-02 President of the Skupštine Vesna Perovic, Montenegro (Yugoslavia)

Spokesperson of the Liberal Alliance. She worked in the office of State prosecutor of Serbia and in the Constitutional court of Serbia. After second marriage she moved to Montenegro. As the daughter of a Croat father and Serbian mother, she has declared herself as “Yugoslav”. (b. 1954-).


2001-05 President of the Odelsting Ågot Valle, Norway

Member of the Storting for The Socialist Left Party (SV) since 1997. (b. 1945-).


2001-02 President of the Nationalrat/Conseil national/Consiglio nazionale Liliane Maury Pasquier, Switzerland

Municipal Councillor of Vevirier 1983-92 and Member of the Grand Council of Génève 1993-95 until she was elected member of the National Council. (b. 1956-).


2001-05 Speaker of the Lagting 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 2005-08 and Party Chairperson from 2004 and Premier (Lantråd) from 2007. (b. 1956-).


2001-03 Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, Cayman Islands (United Kingdom External Dependency)

Minister of Community Development, Sports, Youth Affairs and Culture 1996-2000 and 2003-04 and Minister for Planning, Communications, District Administration and IT 2004-05.


2001- Presiding Officer of the House of Assembly Anne Mitchell-Gift, Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago)

Head Librarian of Tobago, a self-ruling island.


2001-06 President of the Assembly Marjorie Morton, Nevis (St. Kitts and Nevis)

An autonomous island within the kingdom


2001-04 President of L'Assemblée Lucette Taaroamea Taero, Polynésie Française (French External Territory)

Minister for Employment, Professional Training and responsible for Social Dialogue and Women’s Affairs 1997-2001. (b. 1957-).


2001-03 President of the Andean Parliament Jhannett Madriz Sotillo (Venezuela)
2003-04 President of the Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas

2000-2001 1.st Vice-President of the Andean Parliament, the
institution that supervises and promotes the process of subregional integration of the member-states, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, and Venezuela. 2002-2003 First Vice-President of the Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas (COPA)


2001-05 Chairperson of the Executive Board of UNESCO Professor Aziza Bennani  (Morocco)

Head of the Department of Hispanic Studies 1974-88, Dean of the Mohammedia Faculty of Humanities and Human Sciences 1988-94, High Commissioner for Disabled Persons 1994 and was Minister of Culture until 1998. From 1999 she has been Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Morocco to United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (b. 1943-).


2002 President of the Bundesrat Uta Barbara Pühringer, Austria

She was member of the Landtag of Oberösterreich 1996-96 when she became member of the Bundesrat for the Österreichischen Volkspartei. (b. 1943-).


2002-03 President of the Camera de Diputados Adriana Muñoz D'Albora, Chile

1988-90, 1991-92 and 2000-02 Vice-President of Partido por la Democracia. Member of the Chamber 1990-94 since 1998 and 1. Vice-President in 1998. (b. 1948-).


2002-07 President of the Senate Dr. Linda Baboolal, Trinidad and Tobago

Chairperson of Peoples National Movement 1996-2002. Minister of Social Welfare and Consumer's Affairs 1991-95 and Minister of Health 1995. Only a couple of days after her election to Senate President, she became Acting President of the Republic during the travels abroad and illness of President Robinson in April, July and October. She acted on many occations during her whole tenure when the President was out of the country. There were speculations that the government would nominated her as State President in 2008, but the incumbent was re-elected.


2002 Acting President of the Senate Christine Kangaloo, Trinidad and Tobago (10-17.04, and 11.07-25.07)

Few days after having been elected vice-President, she acted as President of the Upper Chamber during Linda Baboolal's tenures as Acting President of the Republic. Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister 2002-05 and Minister of Legal and Consumer's Affairs from 2005. (b. 1960-)


2002- Speaker of The Országgyülés Dr. Szili Katalin, Hungary

Dr. Szili was Political State Secretary of Environmental Protection 1994-98 and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 1998-2002. Unsuccessful Presidential Candidate in 2005. As Speaker she is Deputy Head of state. (b. 1956-).


2002-07 President of the Senate Sharon Wilson, The Bahamas

An Attorney and former Magistrate.


2002-06 Chairperson of the Saeima Ingrīda Ūdre, Latvia

From 1998 Co-Chairperson and 1998-99 Vice-Chairperson of the Saeima Faction of the New Party, before becoming leader of Leader Union of Greens and Farmers, and it's Deputy Parliamentary Group Chairperson 2002-06. As Chairperson of the Parliament she was Deputy Head of state. 2004 Designate European Commissioner for Taxes until she was asked to withdraw her candidature. (b. 1958-).


 

2002-03 President Cámera de Senadores Mirtha Queuedo Acalinovic, Bolivia

Secretary of the Cámera de Diputados 1993-94, Prefect and General Commander of the Department of Oruro 1995-97, Vice-President of the Municipal Council of Oruro 2001-02 Minister of Popular Participation in 2003 and Leader of Deputies of the Movimiento Nacionalista Revolucionario from around 2005. (b. 1960-).


2002-03 Leader of the Senate Grace Beatrice Minor, Liberia

As President Pro Tempore she is the leader of the day-to-day business of the Senate, and she the incumbent presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President, who is also the President of the Senate. She is also third in line of succession to the presidency, after the Vice President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.


2002 President of the Nordic Council Outi Ojala (Finland)

Since 1999 Parliamentary Leader of the Left-group in the Parliament of Finland and also Vice-President of the Nordic Council since 1999. (b. 1946-)


2002-06 President the Inuit Circumpolar Conference Sheila Watt-Cloutier (Canada)

1995-2002 Vice-President of the ICC and President of the Canadian branch of ICC from 1995.


2002-03 President of L'Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie Louise Harel (Canada)

1981-85 Minister of Cultural Communities and Immigration, Spokesperson on various issues for the opposition, 1994-2002 Minister of State and Minister in charge of various Portfolios, President of the National Assembly of Quebec 2002-2003 and Interim Leader of the Parti Québécois and of the Opposition in the National Assembly in 2005. (b. 1946-).


2002 and 2003 Chairperson of the Presidium of the Baltic Assembly Giedrė Purvaneckienė (Lithuania)

Social Democratic MP and Head of the Lithuanian delegation to the Baltic Assembly 2001 and 2001-02, 2002-03 and 2004 its Vice-Chairperson. (b. 1945-)


2002- Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly Glenys Kinnock (United Kingdom)  

The EU Co-chair of the Assembly of the agreement between the African, Caribbean and the Pacific States with the European Union jointly with the ACP Co-President, who is a man. She was the 1. Vice-President of the Assembly 1994-2002, she is married to the former British Labour Leader Neil Kinnock, who was given the title of Baron in 2004 upon his retirement as EU-Commissioner. (b. 1944-).


2002-03 President of the Parliamentary Confederation of the Americas Laura Pavón Jaramillo (Mexico)

Former Representative of the Congress of the State of Mexico, Mayor of Toluca City, capital of the State of Mexico, Representative of the Federal Congress of Mexico for three legislative periods. She was also Senator of the Republic and Secretary of the Senate and participated in several major parliamentary institutions and legislative committees.


2002- Chairperson of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas Céline Hervieux-Payette (Canada)

Canadian Liberal MP 1979-85, 1980-82 Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General, 1982-84 Minister of State (Amateur Sport) and 1984 Minister of State (Youth). Senator since 1995. (b. 1941-).


2003-04 President of the Camera di Diputados Isabel Allende Bussi, Chile

1990-92 Vice President Partido Socialista de in Charge of International Relations since 1992 National Vice President and in 1993-94 Acting President (December-January). She has been MP in a number of years. Daughter of President Salvador Allende Gossens. (b. 1945-).


2003 Speaker of the Eduskunta/Riksdag Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Finland (25.03-15.04) 

In 1991-94 and 1999-2000 Deputy Parliamentary Leader and since 2000 leader of Suomen Keskusta/Centern i Finland, 1994-95 Minister of Justice. 2003 also appointed Government Formateur as the leader of the largest party and Premier Minister from April to June. (b. 1955-).


2003 Acting Speaker of the Eduskunta/Riksdag Liisa Jaakonsaari, Finland (15.04-22.04)

Acted as Speaker when Anneli Jääteenmaki vacated the post to become Premier Minister. In 1987-93 Deputy Parliamentary Leader and since 1992 Second Deputy Chairperson of The Social Democrats, 1995-99 Minister of Labour, 1999-2003 Chairperson of the External Affairs Committee and Member of the Presidium 1999-2003 and again from 2003. 1. Vice-Speaker in 2003. Her Faction rejected her as Vice-Speaker in favour of a male MP who never previous held any office in Parliament. (b. 1946-).


2003-06 and 2007- Chairperson of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma, Estonia

She holds a D.Sc. in physics and mathematics, Professor since 1988 and Vice-President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences 1999-2003. Parliament Vice-Chair 2006-07 and Presidential Candidate in 2006. As Parliament Chair she was also Deputy Head of State. (b. 1944-).


2003- Chairperson of the Eerste Kamer of the Staten General mr. Y.E.M.A. Timmerman-Buck, The Netherlands

Yvonne Timmerman was Secretary of the  C.D.A. Parliamentary Faction in the Second Chamber 1999-2001 before becoming Faction Chairperson in 2001. (b. 1956-).


2003-07 Speaker of the Legislative Council Inez Archibald, British Virgin Island (External Territory of the United Kingdom)

Vivian Inez Archibald has been a member and Chairperson of the BVI Public Service Commission, the BVI Judicial and Legal Services Commission, the BVI Income Tax Appeal Board and the Family Support Network. The Deputy Speaker is Eileene Parsons. (b. 1945-)

2003- Chairperson of the Council of Chiefs Paramount Chiefess Kgôsi Mosadi Seboko a Mokgôsi of Balete, Botswana

On the 3rd of December 2001 She was elected to succeed her brother Seboko II Mokgôsi (1959-2001) as head of the baMalete tribe. She took over her duties after her election, which was approved by the minister of Local Government, Margaret Nasha, in the beginning of January 2001. When she was crowned in August 2003 she had already become leader of the House of Chiefs. Mother of two children. (b. 1950-)


2003-04 Joint President of Consiglio Grande e Generale Valeria Ciavatta, San Marino

As Capitano Reggente she was both head of state, the government and of the parliament. Member of the Grand and General Council for the Alianza Populare since 1993 and Chairperson of the Council Group 2002-05, Party President 2006, Minister of Minister of Internal Affairs and Civil Protection and Accomplishment of the Programme from 2006. Mother of twins. (b. 1959-).


2003 Acting President of the Sobranie Liljana Popovska, Macedonia (08.-18.11)

1998-2002 Deputy Minister of Development and Vice-President of the Parliament 2002-04 until she was expelled from her party and was voted out by the Parliament, as is Vice-President. (b. 1956-).


2003- Co-President of the Polish-Ukrainian Parliamentary Assembly Jolanta Danielak (Poland)

From 2001 Vice-Marshall of the Polish Senate. (b. 1954-).


2004- President of the Senate Leslie-Ann Seon, Grenada

Had a distinguished career as a Private Attorney. She is the third female Senate President in the Country.


2004- Speaker of Cumhuriyet Meclisi Dr. Fatma Ekenoğlu, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

MP from 2000. As Chairperson of the Assembly of the Republic she is also Deputy Head of State. (b. 1949-).


2004-07 President of the Vouli Dr. Anna Psarouda-Benaki, Greece

Anna Benaki was Alternate Minister of Education and Religion in 1989, 1990-91 Alternate Minister of Culture, 1991-92 Minister of Culture and 1992-93 Minister of Justice and Vice-President of the Parliament 2000-04. Also Deputy Head of State. (b. 1934-).


2004- Speaker of the House of Representatives D. Gisele Isaac-Arrindell, Antigua and Barbuda

Giselle Isaac is the country's third Speaker, she was the second woman to be appointed Speaker of the House - but the first woman was not elected to the House until 2004. She is a social activist and novellist.


2004- Speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete, South Africa

Chairperson of the (ANC) Parliamentary caucus 1995-96 and Deputy Speaker 1996-2004. (b. 1949-).


2004 (†) Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces Joyce Lesawana Kgoali, South Africa

1999-2004 Chairperson of Committees of the NCOP, and until 2004 Chairperson of the Parliamentary Caucus of ANC. She lived (1950-2004).


2004-07 President of the Senaat/Sénat Anne-Marie Lizin-Vanderpeeten, Belgium

Member of the European Parliament 1979-88, 1988-92 she was Secretary of State of  "Europe 1992", Member of the Chamber of Representatives, the Wallon Regional Council and of the Council of the French Community 1991-95, senator from 1999, President of the Committee of Interior Affairs 1999-2003 and of External Affairs and Defence from 2003. Queastor of the Senate from 2007. (b. 1949- ).


  2004-07 President of the Sang i-in Chikage Ogi, Japan

Formerly been Vice-Minister in the Directorate General of Science and Technology, 1981-83 State Secretary for Science and Technology, 2000 Minister of Construction and Minister of State and Director General of the National Land Agency and 2000-03 Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Chairperson of the New Conservative Party (Hoshushinto) 2000-03. The party, which broke away from LDP in 1994 rejoined the governing party in 2003. She resigned from the House of Councillors in 2007. (b. 1933-).


2004-05 President of the Cámera de Representantes Zulema del Carmen Jattin Corrales, Columbia

Zulema Jattin is former Advisor to various ministries, MP from 1998. As President of the Chamber of Representatives she was also Vice-President of the Congress of the Republic, which is presided over by the President of the Senate. (b. 1969-).


2004-08 Speaker of the National Assembly Marcella Liburd, St. Kitts and Nevis

Before 1999 Assistant Secretary of the Labour Party, and nominated Senator in the Unicameral Legislature 1999-2004 and Deputy Speaker, until her appointment as Presiding Officer. She is the only female member.


 

2004 Acting Speaker of the House of Assembly Trusty Gina, Swaziland (11. 03-11.05)
2006 Acting Speaker of the House of Assembly (26.10-03.11)

The Deputy Speaker since 2003, she took over as Speaker on in 2004 when her predecessor resigned after a dispute with the king. In May she lost the elections for the post of Speaker. In 2006 Acting again when the former Speaker was appointed to the Cabinet.


2004- President of the Counseil General Nassimah Magnolia Dindar, Réunion (French Oversea's Territory)

As President of the General Council she is also Head of the Government. She was Vice-President of the Regional Council 2001-04 (b. 1960-).


2004 Acting Chairperson of the Island Council Brenda Christian, Pitcairn Island (United Kingdom Territory)

Member of the Island Council since 2000, Brenda Vera Amelia Lupton-Christian became Acting Mayor and Chief Executive Officer, after the former mayor was one of the many male islanders convicted of rapes and other sexual abuse of children, but one month later, she was defeated by Jay Warren, the only of the defendants to be acquitted of the charges. From 2001 she was Police Officer. (b. 1954-).


2004- Chairperson of National Indigenous Council Dr. Sue Gordon, Australia

Children's Magistrate and former ATSIC-Commissioner. The Australian government replaced the ATSIC against protests from the indigenous population and the most prominent community leaders refused to be named to the non-elected advisory body.


2004-06 President of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures Senator Joanne M. Salas Brown (Guam)

Treasurer of the Association of the Pacific Island Legislatures 2000-2001, Secretary 2001-03, Vice-President 2003-04. Also former Assistant Majority Leader in the Guam Legislature and chairperson of various committees, 2004-05 Legislative Secretary and its Vice-President 2005-07.


  2004- President of the Parliament of the African Union Gertrude Ibengwe Mongella (Tanzania)

Tanzanian Minister of State by the Prime Minister 1982-86, 1986-89 Minister of National Resources and Tourism, 1989-90 Minister without Portfolio by Premier Minister, 1990-93 Ambassador to India, 1993-95 Secretary General for United Nations-Women's Conf