Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership
FEMALE
VICE-PRESIDENTS AND
DEPUTY HEADS OF STATES
Note that in some monarchies
members of the royal families acts
as Deputy
Heads of State
 |
1954-75 Vice-Chairman Song Qingling, China |
| One of two
deputies of Chairman Mao. She afterwards became acting
Chairperson
of the presidium of the National People’s Congress and thereby
acting Head of State 1968-72 and perhaps 1976-78. From 1945-54
she vas Vice-Chairperson of the Council of Ministers. |
|
1961-66
Vice-President Maria Paretti, Romania |
| Member of the Council of State for some years before becoming it's Vice-Chairperson and deputy head of state. |
|
1966-70 Vice-President Constanta Craciun, Romania
|
| 1953-62
Chairperson of the State-Committee for Culture and Art 1962-66
Minister of Culture. |
 |
1972-74 Vice-President and President
of the Senate Maria Estela Martínez Cartas de Perón, Argentina
|
|
Isabel Peron succeeded her husband, President Juan Peron, in 1974
becoming the world’s first woman with the title of President.
(b. 1931-). |
 |
1975-76
Deputy Head of State, Premier Minister Élisabeth Domitién, Central African Republic
|
|
Acted as
President on occasions when President Bokassa was abroad. She
lived (1926-?97). |
 |
1979
Acting Deputy Head of State and President of The Congreso Lidia
Gueiler Tejada, Bolivia |
| Acting
President 1979-80
and before that President of Camera de Diputados 1978-79. |
 |
1980-85 Vice-President
Maria Ciocan, Romania |
| Between 1985-89 Member of the Council of State. |
 |
1980-85
Member of the Presidency of the Revolutionary Council and the Politburo of the
Communist Party Dr. Anahita Ratebzad, Afghanistan
|
|
Ambassador to Yugoslavia 1978, Minister of Social Affairs 1978-79 and
Minister of Education 1980. She was the highest ranking woman in the parcham
faction of the PDPA, as an expert propagandist and partner of Babrak Karmal. Her
former husband, Dr. Qamaruddin Kakar used to be king Zahir Shah's personal physician. (b. 1928-)
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1980-91 Deputy Head of State, President of the Assembléia Popular Nacional Alda Neves da Graça do
Espirito Santo, Sao Tomé e Principe |
|
Also known as Alda do Espírito Santo or Alda Graça,
she fought in the independence war and was a acclaimed poet.
1975-78 Minister of Culture, Education and 1978-80 Minister of
Education, Social Affairs and Culture.
As President of the National Assembly
she was Deputy Head of State.
She lived (1926-2010). |
|
1980-89 Deputy Head of State, Speaker of the House of Representatives Marie Davies-Pierre, Dominica
|
|
Clerk of the house 1965-80. As Speaker of the House she was Deputy Head of State.
|
 |
1981-1992 Deputy Head of
State, Chairperson of the Presidium of the
Kuo-min Ta-hui Yeh Chin-feng, Taiwan |
| Former Judge, Civil Servant and
member of the government - among other Minister of the Interior (1997-98) and Minister of Justice
(1998-2000) As Chairperson
of the National Assembly she ranked second in the hierarchy of the state
after the President. (b.
1943-)
|
|
1982-89 Vice-President
Emine Guri, Albania |
| 1. Vice-President of the National Assembly 1967-79 and Member of the Council of State from 1979. |
 |
1985-91 2nd.
Vice-President and 2nd. Deputy Prime Minister Viola Harper
Burnham, Guyana |
| In charge
of Social Development. She was the widow of President Burnham
who died 1985. She lived (1930-2003). |
|
1985-89 Vice-President
Maria Ghitulicâ, Romania |
|
Between 1979-82 Deputy Chairperson of the District Council of Olt,
1980-82 Secretary and 1982-85, 1988-89 Vice-President of the Grand
National Assembly. |
 |
1986-90
2nd. Vice-President Victoria Garrón de Doyan, Costa Rica. |
| Author and
Writer of children's books |
 |
1987-2002
Vice-President Nguyên Thi-Binh, Viêt Nam |
| In 1953,
she was arrested and jailed in Chi Hoa prison. Immediately after
her release the following year, she rejoined the resistance and
moved north to further her political training. 1960-68 in charge
of Foreign Affairs of the National Front for Liberation of South
Viet Nam,
Minister of Foreign Affairs
in the Socialist Provisorial Government of North Vietnam 1969-76,
Minister of Education 1976-87. Member of the Council of State
since 1982 and from 1987-92 one of it's vice-chairs and since 1992 the
only vice-President.. (b. 1926-) |
 |
1989 Vice-President
Elisabeth Kopp, Switzerland |
| Between
1974-84 President of the Municipal Grossrat (Grand Council) of Zürich,
1984-89 Federal Councillor of Justice and Police and Deputy
Councillor
of Finance. She had to resign from the government
because of a scandal of which she was later cleared in court. (b.
1934-)
|
|
1990-95 Deputy Head of State, Speaker of the House of Representatives
Neva A. Edwards, Dominica
|
|
As speaker she was Deputy Head of State |
 |
1992-93 Vice-President
Blaga Nikolova Dimitrova, Bulgaria |
| A famous independent poet. She resigned from the post of Vice-President in protest of the political developments in the country. She lived (1922-2003).
|
 |
1992-96 Member of the Presidency Tatjana
Ljugic-Mijatovic, Bosnia-Herzegovina
|
| Also
Member of the
Council of Minister.
Ambassador to Austria and to UN in Vienna (Wien) from 1997
|
|
1992-
Deputy Head of State, President of the Court of Appeal Kadidja Abeba, Djibouti
|
|
Until her appointment as
1. President of the Juridical Court, she was counsellor to the Supreme Court
and acts as
the Interim President when necessary. |
 |
1993-97 Third
Vice-President Guadalupe Jerezano Mejía, Honduras |
| Concurrently
Coordinator of the Office of Women and from 1996 Delegate to the
Central-American Parliament. |
 |
1994-98 Second
Vice-President Rebeca Grynspan Mayfis, Costa Rica |
|
Minister of Housing and
Urban Development 1997-98. |
 |
1994-2003 Vice-President
Dr. Wandira Specioza Kazibwe, Uganda |
| In
1989-91 Deputy Minister of Industry, 1992-94 Minister of Culture,
Women and Youth, 1994-96 Minister of Gender and Community
Development and 1996-99 Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry
and Fisheries. (b. 1955-).
|
 |
1995-97
Vice-President Julia de la Cruz Mena Rivera, Nicaragua |
| Julia Mena
was the first woman to serve as deputy to a female President (Violeta
Barrios de Chamorro). Former 1. Vice-President of the Asembleia
Nacional and since 1999 President of the Partido Liberal
Independiente and Vice-President of the Parlamento Centroamericano. |
 |
1995-96 Deputy Head of State Ilga Kreituse, Latvia
|
| As
Chairperson of the Saeima she was deputy to the President. Presidential Candidate in 1996. Minister of
European Affairs 1997. |
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1996-98 Vice-President
Rosalia Arteaga Serrano de Fernández de Córdova, Ecuador |
| Minister of Education 1994,
acting President 1997 and Presidential candidate in 1999. |
 |
1997- Vice-President
Aisatou N'Jie Saidy, The Gambia |
| Minister of Social Welfare, Health and Women’s Affairs since 1996. |
 |
1997 1st.
Vice-President and Prime Minister Janet Jagan, Guyana |
Became Prime Minister
and Vice-President after the
death of her husband, President Cheddi Jagan. Executive President 1997-99.
(b. 1920-) |
 |
1998-99 Vice-President
Ruth Dreifuss, Switzerland |
| As National
Councillor (Minister)
of the Interior 1992-2002, she served a one-year term as Vice-President
of Switzerland before taking over as President 1999-2000. |
 |
1997-2005 Vice-President Prof. Dr. Masoumek Ebtekar, Iran |
| In charge of Environment (b. 1960-) |
 |
1998-2002
1st. Vice-President Astrid Fischel Volio, Costa Rica |
|
As Deputy Head of State she acted as President on various
occations. She was also Minister of Culture
and Sports. Professor of History at the University of Costa
Rica.
|
 |
1998-2002
2nd Vice-President Elizabeth Odio Benito, Costa Rica |
|
As Deputy Head of State she acted as President on various
occations. She was also Minister of Environment
and Energy and Ministe rof Education in 2002. She was Minister of Justice and Attorney-General
1978-82 and 1990-94, Vice-rector of The University of Costa Rica, 1994
Ambassador to United Nations in Europe, 1994-97 Judge by the
International Tribunal in the former Yugoslavia and since 2003
Vice-President of the International Criminal Court. (b. 1939-). |
 |
1998-2001 Vice-President
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, The Philippines |
|
In 2001 she succeeded Estrada as President
after he was forced to resign. Daughter of
the late President Diosdado Macapagal and Dr. Evangeline
Macaraeg-Macapagal, mother of two sons and a daughter (b. 1947-)
|
 |
1998-2002
2nd. Executive Vice-President GLadys Caballero de Arevalo,
Honduras |
| Vice-Minister of Justice around 1996 |
 |
1999-2001 Vice-President
Megawati Sukarnoputri, Indonesia |
| Leader of the Democratic
Party in 1993-96, founder and leader of The
Party of Democratic Struggle in 1998, and won the most seats in the
Parliament in 1999. 2000-01 charged with the running of the daily
business of the government and state. At the 23rd of July
President Wahid was ousted as President and she inaugurated as President.
(b. 1946-)
|
 |
1999-2000 Deputy Head of State, President of the
Senate María de Los Ángeles Moreno
Uriegas, Mexico |
1982-88
Subsecretary of Budget, 1988-91 Secretary of Fisheries, 1992 President of Cámera de Diputados, 1994 President of the Permanent Commission of Congreso de la Union, 1993-94
Coordinator of the PRI Parliamentary Group, 1994 General Secretary,
1994-95 President and 1998-99 Vice-President of the Parliamentary, 1997 President of the Senate, 1997-98 1. Vice-President of the Senate and from
May to August 1998 Vice-President of the Permanent Commission. 1999
General Coordinator of the Parliamentary Group, 1999
President of the Senate (March), 1999 President of the Commission of Congreso de la Union. (b. 1954)
|
 |
2000-08 Vice-President Annette Lü Hsin-lien, Taiwan |
| Political prisoner 1979-85, on parole 1985-90, Member of the Legislative Yuan 1992, Counsellor of the President 1996, County Magistrate in Taoyan County
1997-2000 and
Acting Chairperson of the Democratic
Progressive Party 2005-06.
In
the first stage of the primary elections in May 2007, she finished last of the candidates with 6% of the wote.
The male candiate later lost the elections. (b. 1944-). |
 |
2000-
04
Vice-President Milagros
Ortiz Bosch, Dominican Republic
|
|
Also Secretary of State of Education. In 1963 and 1965 she was
Assistant of her relative, President Bosch, imprisoned 1963 and in
exile 1964-65, academic career, 1982-90 Advisor in the Camera de
Diputados, Senator 1990-2000, Vice-President of the Partido
Revolucionario Dominicano from 1991.
In 2004 she was candidate for President in the party's primary
elections, running against the incumbent President, who ultimately
lost the national elections. (b. 1936-)
|
 |
2000-02
Executive Vice-President Adina Mercedes Bastidas Castillo,
Venezuela
|
|
International banker, and she was removed from office in January 2002 because she expressed too leftist views. Instead she was appointed Minister of Productivity and Commerce. |
 |
2000- Deputy Head of State, Speaker of the House of
Representatives Alix Boyd Knights, Dominica
|
| Former human Right's Advocate. |
 |
2001-05
Vice-President
Sandra
Sumang Pierantozzi, Palau (Balau)
|
|
1989-96 Minister of
Administration and Budget as her country's first female minister, 1992 she was candidate for
Vice-President and from 1996 senator and Floor Leader. In 2001 she
again became Minister of Administration and Budget again, and was later
appointed Minister of Health.
In 2000
opponent as Vice-Presidential
candidate was her nephew, Senator Alan Seid. In 2004 she
failed to be re-elected for second term. Minister of State
from 2009 and thereby in charge of Foreign and Domestic Affairs, International Trade and the Office
of the Public Defender |
 |
2001-2003
and 2004-2007 Deputy Head of State Nino Burjanadze, Georgia |
| Elected Chairperson of the
Parliament and Deputy Head of State, after her predecessor resigned amid
serious political upheaval when President Eduard Shevardnadze sacked his
entire cabinet. She was Acting President after Shevardnaze was forced to
resign 2003-04 and again from 2007. (b.
1964-). |
|
2002
1st. Vice-President Lineth Saborío Chaverri, Costa Rica |
She has held various Cabinet
Positions.
At 23rd. of June 2003
President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella (b. 1933-) went on one week's
sick-leave and surrendered
his power temporarily to her.
She has since acted on many occations since then, when she has been
"Presidenta en ejercicio
de la República de Costa
Rica".
(b. 1962-) |
 |
2002-06 2nd Executive Vice-President Armida Villela de López Contreras, Honduras |
| She was
lawyer prior to her election to the post of vice-President. She is also in
charge of various social programs. |
|
2002-07
Vice-President Truong My Hoa, Vietnam |
| Trương Mỹ Hoa
was President of the
National Committee for the Advancement of Women
Ca. 1995-2002
and Vice-President of the National Assembly of Viet Nam until 2002. (b. 1945-). |
|
2002-
Deputy Head of State, 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 of President
Robinson (10-17.04). |
|
2002-10
Deputy Head of State Dr. Szili
Katalin, Hungary |
| As
President
of The Országgyülés
she was also Deputy Head of State. Dr. Szili
was Political State Secretary of Environmental Protection 1994-98 and Deputy Speaker
of the National Assembly 1998-2002. |
 |
2002-06
Deputy Head of State Ingrîda
Ûdre, Latvia |
| As
Chairperson of the Saeima she
was Deputy to the President. From 1998 Co-Chairperson and 1998-99 Vice-Chairperson of the Saeima Fracion of
the New Party and in 1999 Minister of Economics and Presidential Candidate. 2004 Designated as European
Commissioner. (b. 1958-). |
|
2003
Vice-President Ruth Metzler-Arnold, Switzerland
(2004 Designate Federal
President) |
|
Ruth Metzler was considered a
future hope of Swiss politics but was
was narrowly defeated for re-election
in 2003
as the first Councillor of State not to be reelected
for 131 years, because the parliament preferred a 18 years older
man from her party, who then took over the post of Federal President, which would have
occupied, had she remained in
office. She
was
Sächelmeisterin, Councillor of
Finance 1996-99
and Vice-President
of the Government 1998-99 of the Kanton Appenzell-Innerhoden
. (b. 1964-). |
 |
2003- Vice
President Teima Onorio,
Kiribati |
| Also
known as Teimwa Onorio, she is her country's only female MP and the first female cabinet member for 26 years
as Minister Education, Youth and Sport Development. (b. 1963-). |
|
2003
Deputy Head of State Anneli Jäätteenmäki,
Finland |
| As
Prime Minister she was also also Deputy Head of State. In 1991-94 and 1999-2000 Deputy Parliamentary Leader and since 2000 leader of Suomen Keskusta/Centern i Finland, 1994-95
Minister of Justice. (b. 1958-)
|
|
2003-06 and 2007-
Deputy Head of State Ene
Ergma, Estonia |
| As
Chairperson of the Riigikogu 2003-06 and from 2007 she was also Deputy Head of State. D.Sc. in physics and mathematics, Professor since 1988 and
Vice-President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences 1999-2003, Parliament
Vice-President from 2006 and Candiate in the August Presidential Elections. (b. 1944-).
|
|
2004-09
Vice-President Ana Vilma Alvanez de Escobar,
El Salvador
|
Ana Vilma de Escobar
was member of the Cabinet and President of the Salvadoran Institute of Social
Security
1999-2003.
|
|
2004- Vice-President
Joyce
Mujuru,
Zimbabwe |
A General during the anti-colonial under the name of Teurai-Ropa Nhongo.
Also ZANU-Party Secretary of Education.
1980 Minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation, 1980-85 Minister of Community Development and Women's Affairs,
1985-88 Minister of State by the Prime Minister,
1988-92 Minister of Community Development, Cooperatives and Women’ Affairs,
1992-96 Resident Minister and Governor of Mashonaland Central,
1996-97 Minister of Information, Post and Telecommunication
Since 1997
Minister of Rural Resources and Water Development
and in
2001 Acting Minister of Defence
Former Secretary and
from 2004 Vice-President of ZANU-P. (b. 1955-). |
 |
2004-09 Deputy Head of State Dr. Fatma Ekenoğlu, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus
|
|
CTP Deputy from 2000. As Parliamentary
Speaker she was also Deputy Head of State. (b. 1949-). |
 |
2004-07 Deputy Head of State
Dr. Anna Psarouda-Benaki, Greece
|
|
As President of the
Vouli
she is Second in the state
hierarchy even though she only acts as Head of State if the President is abroad for more
than 10 days or dies in office.
1989
she was
Alternate Minister of Education and Religion,
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.
(b. 1934-). |
 |
2005-08 Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, South Africa
|
|
1996-99 Deputy Minister of
Industry and Trade, 1999-2005
Minister of Minerals and Energy,
Acting Minister of Arts and
Culture in 2004 and appointed
Acting President in 2004 from 28.07 to 30.07 and
in 2005 on 23.01. When President Mbeki was deposed by
the ANC, she decided to resign instead taking over as Acting President.
(b. 1955-). |
 |
2005-06 2. Vice-President Alice Nzomukunda,
Burundi
|
|
As Deputy Chief of State and Government, she
was responsible for Economic and Social Issues. Secretary General of the
Transitional National Assembly 2004-05 and Spokesperson of RAFEBU (Ralliement
des associations des Femmes Burundaises) and the League of the Women of CNDD-FDD
and 1. Vice-President of the National Assembly 2007-08, Leader of the
Democratic Alliance for Renewal (ADR) from 2009 and Presidential Candidate
in 2010. (b. 1966-). |
 |
2005-09
Vice-President
Fatemeh Javadi, Iran
|
|
Also Head
of the Environmental Protection Organisation. Until her appointment she
was paleontologist teaching
at the University of Shiraz. |
 |
2006
Vice-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 since 2003 and will take
office as President on 1. january 2007. (b. 1945-).
|
 |
2006- Vice-President
Dr. Naja Al-Attar, Syria
|
|
Minister of Culture 1976-2000 and of National Guidance 1994-2000. Graduated from University in 1958. |
 |
2006-08 1.
Vice-President Laura Chinchilla Miranda, Costa Rica |
| Vice-Minister
of Security 1994-96, Minister of Public Security, Interior and
Police 1996-98 and also Minister of Justice from 2006.
Resigned to become Liberal Party Presidential
Candidate for the 2010-elections which she won.(b. 1959-). |
 |
2006- 2.
Vice-President Lourdes Mendoza del Solar, Perú |
Former Mayor, Zoila Lourdes Carmen
Sandra Mendoza del Solar was the running-mate of Alan Garcia. (b. 1958-). |
 |
2006-07 2. Vice-President Marina Barampama, Burundi |
|
Secretary General of the Women's
Leauge of the Cndd-fdd Party from 2006. Fired by the president after
6 months in office because of political differences. |
 |
2006-09 Deputy Head of State
Dalia Itzik, Israel |
|
As
Speaker of the Knesset she was also Deputy Head of State. 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.
Acting President 25.01-15-07 2007. (b. 1952-).
|
 |
2007- Vice-President
Nguyễn Thị Doan, Vietnam |
| Nguyen Thi Doanis
professor in Economics and Vice-Chairperson of the Inspection Commission of the Communist Party. (b. 1951-). |
 |
2008- Deputy President Baleka Mbete,
South Africa |
|
Chairperson of the (ANC) Parliamentary caucus 1995-96,
Deputy Speaker
of the National Assembly
1996-2004 and Speaker 2004-08 and ANC Chair from 2007.
When the President resigned in September 2008 it
was expected that she would be named Acting President for the period
until April 2009, but this position went to a man, who appointed her
as Deputy President. (b. 1949-). |
|
 |
2009
Vice-President of the Confederation Doris Leuthard,
Switzerland |
|
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 President in 2010. (b. 1963-). |
|
 |
2009- Vice-President Joyce Banda, Malawi |
|
Minister of Women, Child Welfare and Community Service 2004-06 and
Minister of Foreign Affairs 206-09.
(b.
1954-). |
|
|
2009- Deputy Head
of State
Irena Degutiené, Lithuania |
|
As Speaker of the Seimas she is also Deputy Head of State.
Medical Doctor, 1994-97 Vice-Minister of Health, Minister of
Labour and Social Affairs 1997-2000, Acting Prime Minister twice in
1999 and Deputy Speaker of the Seimas.(b. 1949-). |
 |
2009-
Vice-President
Nasrin Soltankhah, Iran
|
|
In carge of Science
and Technology, 2005-09
Cabinet Member and
Director of the Center for Women's
Participation and Presidential Advisor on Women’s Affairs and
Member of the Theran City Council from 2003. |
 |
2010-
Vice-President María Antonieta Guillén
de Bográn, Honduras
|
|
President of
Partido Nacional in 2009.
Also Minister of the Presidency from 2010. |
Last update 17.05.10
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