Presidential Women of the World

Africa’s first elected female president lifts Liberia

Fractured by a 14-year civil war, Liberia is trying to pick up the pieces, facing staggering unemployment and lackluster infrastructure. Halfway into her first term, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf — an economist educated at Harvard University who won the presidency at age 67 — is leading that recovery. As Africa’s first elected female head of state, she has taken on corruption, gotten some of Liberia’s debt canceled and rebuilt the army with the help of the U.S.

She was elected President in the 2005 presidential election and took office on 16 January 2006.

Pratibha Devisingh Patil (born December 19, 1934) is the current President of India, the 12th person and first woman to hold the office.

 ...She took office as India's first female president on July 25, 2007.

Michelle Bachelet was voted the first female President of Chile in 2006. Although women may be treated like second class citizens in Latin America, Michelle has overcome huge obstacles in a
predominately male-driven system. She shows a deep passion for her people and the well-being of her country. She has survived the brutal dictatorship of Pinochet, including imprisonment in a torture centre in 1975.

A moderate Socialist, she promised to increase social benefits to help reduce the gap between rich and poor. And it seems like her approval is up even in the tough economic times.

One thing is for sure; she has made history, and led Chile with grace and courage. She has won the hearts of her people, and inspired many other women worldwide to rise up and reach new heights in politics.

As Hillary Clinton writes, “She speaks and leads from her heart."

She was elected President in the 2005 presidential election and took office on 16 January 2006.

...It’s no wonder Michelle Bachelet ranked 15th on the list of the world's 100 most influential people in Time magazine 2008.

Tarja Kaarina Halonen (born 24 December 1943) is the current President of Finland. She began her first six-year term of office in 2000 and was re-elected on January 29, 2006. Her current term expires in 2012. She is the first woman to hold the office.

In Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Wajed has been sworn in as prime minister, restoring democracy to the country after two years of rule by an interim administration backed by the army. The new prime minister says she wants to end decades of political confrontation with the opposition.         

Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina Wajed was sworn into office at the presidential palace in Dhaka.   She comes to power following a landslide victory in elections held by an army-backed administration.

Sheikh Hasina has called for opposition leader and bitter rival, Begum Khaleda Zia, to cooperate in restoring democracy and promised to end decades of political confrontation.  Democracy was suspended for two years after the parties they head paralyzed the country with street protests and deadly violence.

There are signs that change is in the air for a country whose politics has long been hostage to the bitter rivalry between the two women known as the "battling Begums." 

The new premier declared to fight against poverty which stands out be a major problem in Bangladesh. The country is one of the poorest nations of the world with 40 percent of its 144 million people living on less than a dollar a day.

Begum Khaleda Zia (born August 15, 1945) is a former Prime Minister of Bangladesh, having served from 1991 to 1996, becoming the first woman in the country's history to hold that position. She served again from 2001 to 2006.

(Yulia) Tymoshenko first became Prime Minister (of Ukraine) in 2005 between January 24 and September 8. She was elected again as PM on December 18, 2007 and is considered a possible candidate for the President of Ukraine in 2010.

 
 Benazir Bhutto was the first woman elected to lead a Muslim state, having twice been Prime Minister of Pakistan (1988–1990; 1993–1996). She was Pakistan's first and to date only female prime minister.

Agathe Uwilingiyimana (23 May 1953 – 7 April 1994) She served as Prime Minister of Rwanda from 18 July 1993 until her death on 7 April 1994. Her term was ended when she was assassinated during the opening stages of the Rwandan Genocide. She was Rwanda's first and so far only female prime minister.

Kim Campbell, Prime minister of Canada from 25 Jun to 5 Nov 1993. First woman ruler in North America.