Promise kept: Chile Cabinet is half women

[Judi Lynn]

Promise kept: Chile Cabinet is half women

By Colin McMahon
Tribune foreign correspondent
Published February 2, 2006


BUENOS AIRES -- Michelle Bachelet, elected last month as Chile's first woman president, made good on a campaign promise this week: She split her Cabinet down the middle, appointing women to half the 20 posts.

But the novelty and history of that announcement soon gave way to more practical concerns. By Wednesday, the talk in Santiago was less about the gender parity of the Cabinet and more about its policies and priorities.

On that score, Bachelet signaled that she planned to fulfill another campaign pledge and maintain the centrist economic path of her political mentor and fellow Socialist Party member, departing President Ricardo Lagos.

"This Cabinet is a historic step for equality between men and women," Bachelet, 54, said in announcing her choices Monday night. "These are people with considerable intellectual, professional and political prestige up to the great challenges we have ahead."

Bachelet turned to a woman, Vivianne Blanlot, to succeed her as defense minister. She also appointed women to the top posts in the important economic and mining ministries, as well as in social ministries such as culture and health.
(snip/...)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-0602020194feb02,1,5464706.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed

[JudyM]

1. Radical.

[former_troglodyte]

4. Funny Headline.....

sounds like they are half woman, half....I dunno....sumpn else.....

[JudyM]

6. That must be what Chimpie was upset about ... those "hybrids"

Welcome to DU!

:hi:

[Just Me]

2. May I gloat?

:bounce: Not too much, of course. :7

[mom cat]

3. Gloat all you want to. We need to savor the good when it comes.

[markam]

5. As long as it is not half animal

The Bush would have to git em. Those damn evil human-animal hybrids.

[fakeshemp]

7. Zapatero did the same in Spain, I believe.

Good for Bachelet, but the far more important thing is that they now show some courage and get to grips with Chile's persisting economic inequalities. The right's apparent happiness at the cabinet financial appointments is cause for concern.