Ummmm...Canada had a female Prime Minister over twenty years ago. Do we not count as part of the Americas? Or is a Prime Minister not equivalent to a President?

Violetta Barios de Chamorro won internationally supervised elections in Nicaragua in 1990. Likewise, Mireya Moscoso of the Panamenista party won the Panamanian elections in 1999. More like Señoras Presidentes, no?

To be fair, Canada's Kim Campbell succeeded Brian Mulroney, she wasn't technically elected - and she was only in power for less than 6 months before the Progressive Conservatives were righteously tossed to the curb.

I can still see Canada electing a female leader before the USA does though.

The NY Times article referenced here actually states "If she is [elected], she will be the first woman in the Americas to be elected president not because she was a wife of a famous politician, but because of her own record." The first female president, both in the Americas and in the world, was Isabel Peron of Argentina.

The author is rather ignorant of Latin American history, and even current affairs.

Past female presidents and prime ministers "in the Americas":

Mireya Moscoso, Panama

Isabel Perón, Argentina

Kim Campbell, Canada

These were marginal leaders. Moscoso was president for one full term (1999-2004) and Perón and Campbell held office for abbreviated terms. The most successful female politician in the Western Hemisphere was almost certainly Eugenia Charles, who was elected again and again under the exemplary democratic system of Dominica, holding the prime ministership from 1980 to 1995.

Matthew T. Corey

New York, NY

The Times op-ed piece made clear a distinction that the Broadsheet item did not: If elected, Chile's Michelle Bachelet would NOT be "the first female president anywhere in the Americas," as Broadsheet stated. She would be, as the Times op-ed put it, "the first woman in the Americas to be elected president not because she was the wife of a famous politician, but because of her own record."

Without the latter distinction, one would have to acknowledge a number of other women to hold the office of president in the Americas: Violeta Chamorro, Nicaragua's president in 1990-1997; Mireya Moscoso, Panama's president in 1999-2004; Erthan Pascal Trouillot, Haiti's interim president in 1990-1991; and Isabel Perón, Argentina's president in 1974-1976.

Besides female presidents, the Americas have had a number of female prime ministers--although several were in countries where the president, not prime minister, is head of government: Kim Campbell in Canada, Claudette Werleigh in Haiti, Lidia Tejada in Bolivia, Eugenia Charles in Dominica, and Janet Jagan in Guyana.

So what's wrong with the U.S., supposedly the land of equality? Hmmmm . . . food for thought.

Sincerely,

Kathy Wilmore

NYC

Well, not really.

A quote from the NY times op/ed piece referenced:

"If she is, she will be the first woman in the Americas to be elected president not because she was a wife of a famous politician, but because of her own record."

Other women have been presidents in the Americas. For example, Mireya Moscoso was the President of Panama from 1999 to 2004. However, she is the widow of former President Arnulfo Arias.

Hello everyone:

Thanks for pointing out that error. We changed the post to correct it.

best, Katharine Mieszkowski

Whether she is first or not, elected or not, in the Americas (North or South), seems less relevant than a simple comparison between Chile and the U.S.

A similar female candidate could NOT be a front-runner, much less elected, here. Any ONE of her characteristics, divorced or single mother or being an atheist (not to mention being a member of the Socialist Party), would prevent a woman being elected president here. Or even being taken seriously as a candidate.

And even a man could not be elected here if he were a self-professed atheist. Not a chance.

Should Michelle Bachelet win the election, Chile is indeed fortunate that she has no oil. Otherwise, the Rev. Pat Robertson may feel compelled to urge the whacking of another recalcitrant South American Commie, as he did recently, with President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

Chile has come a long way since September 11,1973 when the United States(CIA) orchestrated the overthrow of yet another democratically elected government. Now Pinochet is under house arrest, and the memory of Savador Allende runs deep.

Viva Bachelet, viva Chile.

I thought Broadsheet was supposed to be relatively latebreaking news? All of their reports come about five days too late. When I saw this headline my first reaction was (pardon my French) "no fucking shit!"

While its great that a woman has gotten elected on her own terms in Chile, characterizing Chile as "ultraconservative" and assuming that only a woman will make Chilean politics sensitive to the needs of women doesn't reflect that country's history.

This characterization undermines the courageousness of the men and women before 1973 who elected Salvador Allende, those who resisted under the rightist Pinochet regime, and the citizenry who, while still under the brutal military dictatorship, voted out their regime, completely surprisinge everyone. Since 1990, Chile has elected very pragmatic socialists/leftists.

Chileans,for decades, have paved the way for Ms. Bachelet's success, and I think it can more appropriately be seen as a progression of social movements that she is inheriting, rather than a radical break. I of course think it is wonderful that she will be the likely president.

Okay, now that I've read the letters on this article, I understand the phrase "based on her own record" that appears in the article.

But before reading these letters? I didn't get the point. It just seemed like an awkward and rather obvious (to my ignorant self) statement. Maybe it could be clarified? Tease out the point a little more. Thanks for being responsive to the earlier posters.

Also -- this would be a heck of a stunt, I think, " '...nowadays it isn't at all strange to see an ultraconservative Catholic candidate singing his name on a transvestite's legs...' "

I believe what is meant here is "signing," rather than "singing."

Thanks!

"The author is rather ignorant of Latin American history, and even current affairs." Matthew T. Corey

before insulting people so, Matthew should read the article again and note that it was qualified that she is the first woman to be elected WITHOUT riding in on her husband's coattails, which is how the women you mention gained office, most commonly after the husband in the office dies and his wife takes the (mostly ceremonial) position, facilitation a continuation of the cabinet and staff of her husband's administration.