Women Presidents From Around the World

Men used to be associated as rulers of kingdoms, empires, dynasties, countries, or states. Just a few women have been given the chance to rule although some Egyptian Queens are believed to have governed from around 3000 BCE. The first to be named by the sources without any doubt is Ku-baba, who ruled the Mesopotamian City-State of Ur round 2500 BCE.

In 1960 Sirivamo Bandaranaike of Sri Lanka became the world’s first female elected Premier Minister. In 1974 Isabel Perón of Argentina became the first woman President. From then on, women have become prominent rulers contrary to what most of us believe.

Here is a list of women presidents who made an impact as world leaders.

Lydia Gueiler Tejada, Bolivia (17.11.1979-18.07.1980)

As President she was also head of the Cabinet. She used to be a member of Parliament 1956-64 and afterwards in exile for 15 years. She was deposed by Coup d’etat shortly before elections was due.

Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, Iceland (01.08.1980-01.08.1996)

She 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.

President Agatha Barbara, Malta (15.02.1982-15.02.1987)

She resigned as President 2 years ahead of time because Labour lost the 1987-elections.

Maria Corazón Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino, The Philippines (25.2.1986-30.06.1992)

Cory Aquino became leader of the opposition after the murder of her husband Ninoy Aquino in 1986. She was brought to power by the so-called “People Power.”

Ertha Pascal-Trouillot, Haiti (13.03.1990-07.02.1991)

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.

Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, Nicaragua (25.04.1990-10.01.1997)

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.

President Mary Robinson, Ireland (03.12.1990-12.09.1997)

In 1969 she was appointed Professor of Law, 1970-90 she was Labour-senator. Her Irish title and name was Uachtarán na hEeireann Máire Mhic Roíbín. She did not run for re-election.

Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Sri Lanka (14.11.1994-19.11.2005)

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.