Woman Heads of State and Government
Woman Premier Ministers of External Territories
17.12.1917-09.03.1918 Acting Head of the Government Evheniya              Bohdanivna Bosch, Ukraine
Евгения Богдановна Бош,              Yevgeniya Bogdanovna Bosh, or Yevheniya Bohdanivna Bosh was People's              Commissioner of Inteir, and it was regulated by a number of documents that              the holder of this office was the Acting Head of the Executive              Power. She had been a socialist activist from 1890s, Head of the              Kyiv Committee of the Russian Social Democratic Workerï¿½s Party (RSDRP)              1911-12 until she was imprisoned and a deprived of civil rights and              exiled to Siberia for life. After the revolution she became              Secretary of Regional Committee of RSDRP(B). She resigned from the              government in protest to the Brest-Litovsk Peace, according to which Soviet Russia occupied Ukraine. Afterwards she worked on different              party and Soviet posts outside Ukraine. When the pain of her disease              became unbearable, she committed suicide. She was of German-Jewish              origin, and she originally named Gotlibovna Maysh, and lived              (1879-1925).
06.04.1940-11.10.1944 Head of State Khertek Anchimaa-Toka, Peoplenids Republic of              Tannu Tuva
As Chairperson of the Presidium of              the Parliament, the Little Hï¿½ral,              Khertek Amyrbitovna was              the Head of the state which became              Independent in 1921, a People's Republic in 1926, was incoroprated              into the Soviet Union in 1944. She had held various jobs in local administration and the party administration,              Chairperson of the Women Department of the Central Committee of  the Tuvinian People's Revolutionary              Party 1938-1940. Married to the First Secretary of the TPRP, Salchak              Kalbakkhorekovich Toka in 1940, Deputy Chairperson of Oblast              Executive Committee 1944-1961 and Deputy              Chairperson of the Council of Ministers of Tuva 1961-1972. She lived (1912-2008).
21.07.1960-27.03.1965 Prime Minister Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias              Bandaranaike, Sri Lanka
29.05.1970-23.07.1977 Prime Minister
14.11.1994-10.8.2000 Prime Minister
Chairperson 1960-93 and 1993-2000 President of Sri Lanka Freedom              Party, 1965-70 and 1988-94 Leader of The Opposition, 1976              Chairperson of the Association of Non Aligned Nations. As Prime              Minister, she also held the posts as Minister of Foreign Affairs,              Defence, Finance etc, and before her appointment to Prime Minister              in 1994, she was Senior Minister without Portfolio (Second in              Cabinet) in her daughter, Chandrika's cabinet. She was the widow of              Solomon B., Premier of Ceylon 1956-59 until he was assassinated. Her              father Mr. Ratwatte was a Senator. She is mother of three children. She lived (1916-2000).
19.01.1966-24.03.1977 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, India
14.01.1980-31.10.1984 (ï¿½) Prime Minister
President 1959-60 and 1966-77 Leader of the Congress Party. She was              Minister of Information 1964-66 and member of Rajya Sabha 1964-67              and of Lok Sabha 1967-77, 1978 and 1980-84. In 1975 she declared a              stated of emergency and ruled as a dictator. She lost the              1977-elections and imprisoned. After her release she was leader of              Congress (I) 1978-84 and as Premier she also held posts of Minister              of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Finance, Home Affairs etc. Killed by              Sikh bodyguard. She was daughter of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru              (1947-64(ï¿½)), married to Feroze Gandhi in 1942. Her younger son              Rajiv Ghandi, was Prime Minister (1984-89(ï¿½)).              She lived (1917-84).
31.10.1968-24.02.1972 Acting Head of State Song Qingling, China
06.07.1976-05.03.78 Joint Acting Head of State
1979-1980 "Honorary President"
Born into a rich Christian family, she was educated in the USA. In              1927-29 Member of Government Council, 1929-49 Leader of Opposition              against her brother-in-Law President Chiang Kai-chek and 1948              Honorary Chairperson of the Kuomintang, 1949-54 Deputy Premier              Minister, 1954-59 Vice-Chairperson of The Peoples' Republic (Deputy              Head of State), 1954-76 and 1975-78 Vice-Chairperson of the National              Peopleï¿½s Congress, Vice-Chairperson of China Peopleï¿½s Consultative              Consultative Conference, CPPCC. In 1968-74 the Post of Chair of the              Republic was vacant and she and the other Vice-Chairperson, Dong Biw              shared the Presidential Powers. In 1976 the Chairman of the NPC died              and the 21 vice-chairmen, including Song, acted as collective heads              of state until 1978 when a replacement was elected. 1980 she was              Chairperson of the 3rd Session of the National Peopleï¿½s Congress.              Soong Qingling was widow of Sun Yat-Sen, Provisoric President of              China in 1911. Her sister Soong May-ling (b. 1897) played a crucial              role as wife of Chiang Kai-chek, President of China till 1945 and of              Taiwan 1945-75. And her brother, T. V. Soong, was Premier Minister              in Taiwan. A third sister was a business magnate. She lived              (1893-1981).
17.03.1969-10.04.1974 Minister President Golda Meï¿½r, Israel
Ambassador to USSR 1948-49, Minister of Labour 1949-56 and Minister of Foreign Affairs 1956-64, 1964-69 Secretary General and 1969-74 Leader of Labour.              When she became Foreign Minister her last name was hebrewnized. She              was born in Russia as Golda Mabovic and later immigrated to USA.              Mother of two children and she lived (1898-1978)
.
01.07.1974- 24.03.1976 Executive President Maria Estella Martï¿½nez de Perï¿½n, Argentina 
Isabel Peron was Vice-President and President of the Senate 1973-74.              As Executive President she was also head of the Cabinet. Chairperson              of Partido Justicial, The Peronist party 1974-85, removed by a coup              d'etat and in Prison 1976-78, Exile in Spain 1981-93. She was              married to General Juan Peron, who was President two times. (b.              1931-).
03.01.1975-07.04.1976 Premierministre ï¿½lisabeth Domitiï¿½n, Central              African Republic
As Premier Minister she was also Deputy Head of State and acted as              President on occasions when President Bokassa was abroad. Also              vice-President of the ruling Social Evolution Movement of Black              Africa (MESAN) 1975-79. She criticized the plans of her cousin, Jean              Bedel Bokassa, who had been chief of state since 1966, who wanted to              become emperor, and in effect he sacked her. After his fall from              power in 1979 she was imprisoned and tried in February 1980. She              later became an influential businesswoman in Bangui, Married to the              chief of the Mobaye Canton-Mayorship. She lived (1925-2005).
...08-1977-...09.1977 Minister President Lucinda E. da Costa Gomez-Matheeuws,              The Netherlands Antilles (Self Governing Dutch External Territory)
Minister of Health and Environment, Welfare, Youth, Sports, Culture              and Recreation 1970-77 and in 1977 Minister Presidente and Minister of General Affairs. She was              also Vice-President of The Nationale Volkspartij 1971-76 and around              1995 Member of the Raad van Advies, the Council of Advisors. She is              the widow of Dr. M.F. da Costa Gomez (1907-66), Premier of the state              1951-54.  (b.1929-).
03.05.1979-22.11.1990 Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, United              Kingdom of Great Britain
MP 1959-90, Parliamentary              Secretary of Pensions and National Insurance 1961-64, Secretary of              State of Education 1970-74, Shadow Minister of Environment and              Housing 1974-75, Shadow Special Minister of Finance and Public              Expenditure 1975, Leader of The Conservative Party 1975-90, Leader              of Her Majesty's Opposition 1975-79. As Prime Minister she was also              First Lord of the Treasury and Minister of the Civil Service.  In              1990 she was Created Baroness Thatcher of Kestaven and became              a member of the House of Lords. Mother of twins. She lived (1925-2013).
01.08.1979-3.01.1980 President of the Council of Ministers Dr. Maria              de Lourdes Ruivo da Silva de Matos Pintasilgo, Portugal
Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo was Secretary of State of Social Affairs 1974,  Ambassador to UNESCO              1975-79,  Minister of Social Affairs 1974-75,  Member of Council of State 1979-86 and Presidential Candidate in              1986. Member of the European Parliament 
1979-86. Unmarried. She lived (1930-2004)
.
17.11.1979-18.07.1980 Interim Executive President Lidia Gueiler              Tejada, Bolivia 
As President she was also Head of the Cabinet. Lidia Gueiler was              member of Parliament 1956-64 and afterwards in exile for 15 years.              Circa 1978 Subsecretary for Agriculture, 1978 President of Camera de              Diputados. Acting President of the Congress and acting Deputy Head              of State 1978-79.She was President of Partido Revolucionario de los              Izquierda Nazional Gueiler 1979-94, Exile in France 1980-82,              Ambassador in Embassy to West Germany 1982-83, and to Venezuela              1983-86 and since 1993 She was deposed by the 129th Coup              dï¿½etat in the history of Bolivia, shortly before elections was due. She lived (1921-2011).
21.07.1980-14.06.1995 Prime Minister Dame M. Eugenia Charles,              Dominica
Leader of Dominican Liberty Party 1964-94 and 1974-80 Leader of the              Opposition. During her tenure as Premier she was also Minister of              External Affairs, Finance, Trade and Industry, Defence, Minister of              Information and Public Relations. In 1992 she was Knighted by Queen              Elizabeth of the United Kingdom, the former Head of State of              Domenica. Unmarried and lived (1916-2005)
.
01.08.1980-01.08.1996 President Vigdï¿½s Finnbogadï¿½ttir, Iceland 
In 1972-80 Director of Icelandï¿½s National Theatre was the worldï¿½s              first democratically elected female President. Since 1996 she has              been involved in a wide range of international humanitarian and              cultural organizations. She was a divorcee and mother of an adopted              a daughter. (b.1930-)
.
04.02.1981-14.10.1981 Minister of State Gro Harlem Brundtland,              Norway
09.05.1986-16.10.1989 Minister of State
30.11.1990-25.10.1996 Minister of State
Minister of Environmental Protection 1974-79, Deputy Leader              1975-81, Deputy Parliamentary Leader1980-81, Leader 1981-93              and Parliamentary Leader, Parliamentary Leader of Arbeiderpartiet,              Labour, 1980-81 and 1989-90 Chairperson of the Foreign and 1989-90              of the Finance Committees, From 1998 Director General of the World              Health Organization, WHO, and Assistant Secretary General of the              United Nations. A medical doctor, daughter of Gudmond Harlem              (1917-88) a former Minister and mother of 4 children. (b. 1939-).
01.04.1981-01.10.1981 Captain Regent Maria Lea Pedini Angelini, San              Marino 
Every 6th month The Consiglio Grande e Generale elects two Captain              Regents, who acts as Heads of State and Government and the              Parliament. From circa 1991 she has been Director in Ministry of              Government and Foreign Affairs, since 1995 Ambassador in the              Ministry to Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Switzerland etc. (b. 1954- ).
21.09.1981-17.011.1993 Governor General Dame Elmira Minita    Gordon, Belize
Commissioner of Belize City 1970-77
15.02.1982-15.02.1987 President Agatha Barbara, Malta 
Labour M.P 1947-82 and for long periods the only woman in              Parliament. Minister of Education and Culture 1955-58 and              1971-74 Labour, Welfare and Culture (Third in Cabinet) 1974-81. In              the last period she was Acting Prime Minister on various brief              occasions. She resigned as President 2 years ahead of time because              Labour lost the 1987-elections. She lived (1923-2002).  
2
Member of the Parliament. (b. 1957-).
14.05.1984-29.01.1990 Governor General The Rt. Hon. Jeanne Sauvï¿½, Canada
Minister of State of Science 1972, 1974-75 Minister of Environment, 1975-79 Minister of Communication and                Culture and 1980-84 Speaker of the House of Commons. She lived (1922-93).
14.05-16.05.1984 Acting Head of State Carmen Pereira, Guinea Bissau 
Member of the African Party for the Independence              of Guinea Bissau and Cape Verde (PAIGC) since 1962 and              later Political Commissioner for the Southern Front, and only female              member of the 24 members Committee Executivo da Luta (CEL). In              1973-84 Deputy President of Assemblï¿½ia Nacional Popular, 1975-80              President of the Parliament of Cap Verde (which was in union with              Guinea Bissau at the time) 1981-83 Minister of Health and Social              Affairs 1984-89 President of Assemblï¿½ia Nacional Popular, 1989-94              Member the Council of State and 1990-91 Minister of State (Deputy              Premier) for Social Affairs. She acted as head of state after Joï¿½o              Bernardo Viera, Head of state since 1980, was elected President in              1984. In 1999 he was deposed after a military coup dï¿½etat.
(b.              1937-).
18.09.1984-01.01.1986 Minister President Maria Ph. Liberia-Peters,              Nederlandse Antillen (Self Governing Dutch External Territory)
17.051988-25.12.1993 Minister President
Health Councillor 1977-78 and Lieutenant-Governor of Curaï¿½au 1982. Minister of Economy 1982-83 and              1984-86 also, Minister of General Affairs and the Interior, Health              and Environment. She resigned as Premier after she had lost a referendum on the autonomy of              Curaï¿½au. She was also Chairperson of the Nationale Volkspartij/Partido              Nashional de Peuplo (PNP) 1984-98 and 2002-04. (b. 1941-).
25.2.1986-30.06.1992 Executive President Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco              Aquino,              The Philippines
Cory Aquino became leader of the opposition after the murder of her              husband Ninoi Aquino in 1986, and was brought to power by the              so-called "People Power", which protested about President Marcos's              attempts to remain in power. She was also Head of the Cabinet. 1998              among the senior advisors of the new President Estrada. During her              term in office she fought off 8 attempted coup d'etats.              Constitutionally barred from running for re-election. Mother of 4              children. She lived (1933-2009).
05.10.1987-30.12.1987 Prime Minister Princess Stella Margaret              Nomzamo Sigcau, Transkei (Nominally Independent Homeland in South              Africa)
Minister of Education 1970-73, the Interior (Including Industry,              Trade and Tourism) 1973-78, Internal Affairs 1979-81, Post and              Telecommunication 1981-87, Leader Transkei National Independence              Party in 1987, Minister of Public Enterprises 1994-98 and of Public              Works 1998-2006 in the Government of South Africa for ANC. She was              daughter of Chief Botha Jongilizwe Sigcau of East-Pontoland              (1912-78) who was President of Transkei (1976-78) and the mother of              four children. She lived (1937-2006).
02.12.1988-06.08.1990 Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan
19.10.1993-05.11.1996 Prime Minister
Co-Chairperson 1984-94 and Leader of Pakistan People's Party     1994-2007, in house arrest 1977-84 and in exile 1984-86. She also     held the Portfolios of Defence, Atomic Energy, Finance, Economy,     Information and Establishment. Both in 1990 and 1996 she was removed     from office by the President on charges of corruption and later     convinced. Returned to Pakistan in 2007 after 10 years in exile in     United Kingdom and Dubai to contest elections in January 2008, which     she was widely expected to win, but was killed by a suicide bomb in     December 2007. . She was daughter of Zulfikar              Ali Bhutto, the former President and Prime Minister, who was              executed after the coup dï¿½etat in 1979. Her three children were born              in 1988, 1989 and 1993. She lived (1953-2007).
13.03.1990-07.02.1991 Acting President Ertha Pascal-Trouillot,              Haiti 
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 dï¿½etat followed the other. Soldiers attempting              a coup held her hostage on one occasion. (b. 1943-).
17.03.1990-10.01.1991 Minister President Kasimiera Prunskienė,              Lithuania
Deputy Premier and Minister of Economy 1989-90 and one of the              leaders of the struggle for independence. She became leader of the              government after the declaration of independence at 11.3.90, which              was internationally recognized at 6.9.91. In 1991 Chairperson              of Democratic Party, and from 1995-2001 Chairperson of Womenï¿½s              Party, 1996-2000 Group Chairperson of the independent MPï¿½s,              and Chairperson of the Peasants and New Democratic Parties Union 2001-04.              Presidential Candidate in 2002, 2004 and 2009 and Minister of Agriculture              2004-08. (b. 1945-).
05.04.1990-02.10.1990 Acting Head of State Dr. Sabine Bergmann-Pohl,              East-Germany 
As President of the People's Chamber she was acting as the last Head              of State of the German Democratic Republic, DDR/GDR before the              reunification. After the reunification she was Federal Minister              without Portfolio for the New Bundesstates 1990-91 and Parliamentary              State Secretary of Health 1991-98. Mother of two children.  (b.              1946-).
25.04.1990-10.01.1997 Executive President Violeta Barrios de              Chamorro, Nicaragua
In 1979 Doï¿½a Violeta was member of the Ruling Junta after the              overthrow of the Somoza-dictatorship but left because of disagreement with the Sandinistas. 1979-90 Publisher of the              opposition newspaper La Prensa after the murder of her husband,              opposition leader Joaquï¿½n Chamorro Cardenal. As Executive President              she was also Head of the Cabinet and Minister of Defence. She did              not run for re-election. (b. 1929- ).
20.11.1990-21.03.1996 Governor General Dame Catherine Tizard, New Zealand
In 1983-90 Mayor of Auckland. Her daughter, Judith Tizard became a Minister in 1999. Also Commander-in-Chief and President of the Executive Council. (b. 1931-)
03.12.1990-12.09.1997 President Mary Robinson, Ireland 
In 1969 she was appointed Professor of Law, 1970-90 she was     Labour-senator, Assistant Secretary General and United Nations High Commissioner of     Human Rights 1997-2002 and since then director of the Ethical     Globalization Initiative, a new venture established to support human     rights. Mother of two children. (b. 1944-).
20.03.1991-30.03.1996 Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh
01.09.2001-29.10.2006 Prime Minister
Vice-Chairperson of The Nationalist Party 1982-84 and Leader since              1984. Her husband, President Zia-ur-Rahman, was Premier Minister              1976-77 and President 1977-81 until he was assassinated. Khaleda was              detained seven times during nine years of autocratic rule. In the              face of mass upsurge spearheaded by the seven-party alliance, led by              Khaleda, and the eight-party combine, led by Hasina, Ershad resigned     in 1990 and handed over power to neutral caretaker government,     bringing an end to his nine-year autocratic rule. During her first     tenure as Premier she was also Minister of Defence, Establishment,     Cabinet Diversion and Planning, Information Energy and Resources.     1996-2001 Leader of the Opposition. Resigned in October 2006 to     prepare for the elections later in the year, but the military took     power. Her sons, Tareque Rahman  and Arafat Rahman Koko were arrested on corruption charges in March and April  2007, and In September the same year she was herself charged with corruption and  the military supported care-taker government tried to pressure her into exile.     The charges against her was dropped in 2008. (b. 1945- )
.
01.10.1991-01.04.1992 Captain Regent Edda Ceccoli, San Marino 
Member of the leadership of Partito Democratico Cristano Sammarinese.
15.05.1991-02.04.1992 Premier Ministre Edith Cresson, France
Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, External 1981-83, Trade              1983-84, Industry 1984-86, European Affairs 1988-90. She was              European Union Commissioner for Science, Research, Education and              Youth 1995-99. In march 1999 she brought along the downfall of the              EU-Commission as she refused the step down after a rapport had              demonstrated that she was responsible of nepotism and mismanagement.              (b. 1934-).
08.07.1992-26.10.1993 Minister President Hanna Suchocka, Poland
As Minister President she was also Vice-President of the National              Security Council. Member of Solidarity in 1980 and member of the              Sejm 1982-85 and again 1989-2002 for various parties. 1991-97 member              of Committee for Foreign Affairs and the Constitutional Committee.              Vice-President of the Council of Europe 1991-92. In 1994 she was              co-founder of the new Freedom Union (UW, liberal and social              democratic) and member of it's leadership. The following year she              was candidate in the party's primary for Presidential candidate,              1997-2000 Minister of Justice and Procurator-General. 1999 official              Polish candidate for the office of the secretary general of the              Council of Europe. Since 2002 Ambassador to the Vatican. Unmarried. (b. 1946-).
25.01.1993-15.09.1994 Premier Marita Petersen, The Faeroe Islands (Fï¿½royar/              Fï¿½rï¿½erne) (Self Governing Danish External Territory) 
A former Leader of the Teacher's Union, she was Minister of Justice,              Education Culture and Church Affairs 1991-93. As Premier she was also Minister of External Relations, the              Underground, Administration and Public Wages. Chairperson of the              Social Democrats 1993-96,  Chairperson of the Lï¿½gting (Assembly) 1994-95 and 1998-2001 substitute member of              the Danish Folketing. She lived (1940-2001). 
01.04.1993-01.10.1993 Captain Regent Patrizia Busignani, San Marino 
1983-90 President of Partito Socialista Unitario. From around 1997              she was Chief of the Parliamentary Group of Socialisti per le              Riforme
.
 
25.06.1993-07.03.1996 Minister President Tansu ï¿½iller, Turkey
Assistant Professor 1974-83 and 1983-90 Professor of Economics at              Bosphorus University. Minister of State and Chief Economic              Coordinator 1991-93, Deputy Premier and Minister of Foreign Affairs 1996-97. She was Deputy Chairperson 1990-93 and 1993-2002              Chairperson of DYP, The True Path Party. On 1.6.97 Premier Minister              Erbakan, leader of the Islamic Party resigned in order with the              purpose of her taking over as Premier, but President Demirel chose              Meshut Yilmaz, who managed to form a government among others because              of defections from her party. Mother of two children. (b. 1946-).
25.06.1993-04.11.1993 Prime Minister A. Kim Campbell, Canada
Executive Director, Office of British Columbia Premier 1985-86, Progressive Conservative MP 1988-93, Minister of State (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) 1989-90, Minister of Justice and Attorney-General 1990-93 and Minister of Defence and Minister of Veteran Affairs in              1993. As Prime Minister, 1993, she was also Minister responsible for Federal-Provincial Relations. She was leader of the Progressive Conservative party, 13.06.1993-13.12.1993, resigning after the party lost all but two seats in the House of Commons in the 1993 election in spite              of gaining about 16% of the vote. She became a lecturer at Harvard University and has been Consul General of Canada in Los Angeles since 1996. Married with a stepdaughter. (b. 1947-).
10.07.1993-11.02.1994 Premier Ministre Sylvie Kinigi, Burundi
27.10.1993-05.02.94 Acting Head of State
By the time of her appointment as Premier she was Head of the              Economic Planning Office in the Presidentï¿½s Office. During the Civil              War the President was killed and as the highest ranking remaining              official, she became Acting President (27.10.93-5.2.94). After her resignation she left politics and              joined the Burundiï¿½s Commercial Bank. (b. 1952-).
18.07.1993-07.05.1994 (ï¿½) Premier Ministre Agathe Uwilingiymana,              Rwanda 
Minister of Education from 1992 till her appointment as              Premier. On the 06.05 1994 the Hutu President Habyarimana was killed              together with his Burundian colleague, Cyprien Ntaryamira, when              their plane was rocketed on its way to Kigali airport. Agathe, a              Hutu, was killed by the Tutsi Presidential guard together with her              family and 10 Belgian soldiers, the day before she was supposed to              step down as Premier Minister. The two killings sparked off the              civil war and genocide of approximately 1 million Hutus and Tutsies.              Mother of about 6 children. She lived (1953-94)
.
25.12.1993-28.12.1993 Minister President Suzanne Camelia-Rï¿½mer,              Nederlandse Antillen (Self Governing Dutch External Territory)
14.05.1998-08.12.1999 Minister President
Suzi Rï¿½mer (Suzanne Francisco Coromoto Camelia-Rï¿½mer) had been              Minister of Justice since 1992 when she became acting Premier after the resignation of Mrs. Liberia-Peters. 1999-2002              Vice-Premier and Minister of Economy and the National Recovery Plan,              and 1998-2002 Leader of the Partido Nashional di Pueplo (b. 1959-). 
19.8.1994-14.11.1994 Prime Minister Chandrika Bandaranaike              Kumaratunga, Sri Lanka 
14.11.1994-19.11.2005 Executive President
Vice-President 1984-86 and President of Sri Lanka Maha Jana              Party 1984-86, Leader of United Socialist Alliance 1988 and since              1993 Leader of Peopleï¿½s Alliance and Deputy Leader of Sri Lanka              Freedom Party, 1993-94 Chief Minister of the Colombo Province and in              a few months in 1994 Prime Minister.             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.              Her husband politician Vijaya K. was assassinated 1988, and during              the Presidential campaign in 2000 she survived an              assassination-attempt but lost vision in one eye. She was not              allowed to stand for re-election in 2005. She is mother of 2              children. (b. 1945-).
16.10.1994-25.01.1995 Interim Minister President Reneta Ivanova              Indzhova, Bulgaria
Also know as Reneta Injova she was leader of an interim government              consisting of technocrats. Her Deputy Premier, Minister of Economy              and Finance was Hristina Vucheva. In 1995 she was mayoral candidate              in Sofia, 2001 Presidential Candidate and the same year she became              Chairperson of the Democratic Alliance. (b. 1953-).
06.06.1990-19.12.1995 (†) Governor General Dame Nita Barrow, Barbados
Head of a number of national and international nurse-organizations, North American President of the    World Council of Churches 1983-91, President of the World YWCA 1975-83    and worked with the WHO before becoming Ambassador to the UN, Cuba and the Dominican Republic 1986-90,    candidate for the post of UN General Assembly President in 1988. She was the sister of  Errol W. Barrow (1920-87), Prime Minister 1966-76 and 1986-87. She lived (1916-95).
07.11.1995-27.02.1996 Premier Minister Claudette Werleigh, Haï¿½ti
An economist, she became Minister of Social Affairs 1990-91, Minister of Foreign Affairs 1993-95 and was Executive Director of the Washington Office of Haiti              1993. Later an UN official. (b. 1946- ),
23.06.1996-15.7.2001 Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed,              Bangladesh
06.01.2009- Prime Minister
Her father, Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur              Rahman (1920-72-75), and most of her     family was killed during a military coup in 1975 when she and her     sister were abroard. Returned to Bangladesh in 1981, President of the Awami Leauge from 1981,  Opposition Leader 1986-87 and 1991-96 and 2001-06. In 1983, she formed the 15-party alliance to launch a movement to oust  General Ershad from power and was in and out of prison throughout the 1980s and  was under house arrest a few times. Her party, along with the Bangladesh  Nationalist Party, led by Begum  Khaleda Zia, was instrumental in the  movement against the military rule. 2007 she was arrested on corruption and  murder charges, but was allowed to go to USA for medical treatment in 2007  though the military supported care-taker government tried to pressure her into  exile. Returned in November 2008 to lead her party in the election campaign,  which her party won overwhelmingly. Married to the nuclear scientist Dr M. A.  Wazed Miah and mother a son, Sajeeb Wazed Joy, and a daughter, Saima Wazed Putul,  who both lives in the USA. (b. 1947- ).
19.07.1996-04.11.1998 President Biljana Plavsic, Republic of Srpska,            (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
1992-94 Member of the Presidency of Bosnia-Herzegovina, 1994-96            Vice-President of Srpska. In 1998 she lost the bit for re-election as            the first female incumbent President ever. 2002 she was convicted for            war crimes during the Bosnian war. (b. 1930-). 
03.09.1996-02.08.1997 Chairperson of the Council of State Ruth Sando              Perry, Liberia 
Ruth Sando  Fahnbulleh Perry was a senator 1985-96. Appointed to chair the Council of State preparing              the transfer to democracy after many years of civil war. From 1999              Ruth Perry was 1. Vice-Chairperson of the Organization for African              Unity. She lived (1939-2017).
09.02.1997-11.02.1997 Acting Executive President Rosalia Arteaga              Serrano de Fernï¿½ndez de Cï¿½rdova, Ecuador
A former minister, she was Vice-President 1994-98 and Presidential              Candidate in 1998. She was inaugurated as Acting President after her              predecessor was removed from office but two days after the Congress              nominated someone else. As Executive President she was also Head of              the Cabinet. Presidential Candidate in 1997. (b. 1953-).
17.03.1997-22.12.1997 Prime Minister Janet Jagan, Guyana
19.12.1997-11.08.99 Executive President
As Premier Minister she also held the title of 1. Vice-President and              she was Minister of Mines. Her political career started in 1950 and              she held many positions. In 1997 her husband, Dr. Cheddi Bharat              Jagan, died, and she was chosen to replace the Premier who succeeded              Mr. Jagan as President. Janet was chosen as her party's candidate in              the following Presidential elections, which she won. Afterwards she              re-appointed the former President to the post of Prime Minister              after being sworn in as President .              She was born as Janet Rosenberg in Chicago, mother of two              children and     lived (1920-2009).
17.09.1997- Governor General Dame C. Pearlette Louisy, St. Lucia
Teacher, administrator, Vice-Principal and then Principal of St. Lucia's College. (b. 1946-)
11.11.1997-11.11.2011 President Mary McAleese, Ireland 
Professor of Law and 1993-97 Pro-chancellor of University of Belfast, the first person from Northern Ireland to be elected President of Ireland. During the 1997-elections 5 candidates were female and there was only one token male candidates finishing a distant last. 2004 she              was returned unopposed for a second term. (b. 1951-).
08.12.1997-10.12.1999 Prime Minister Jenny Shipley, New Zealand
Minister of Women's Affairs 1990-98, Social Affairs 1990-93,              Minister of Health 1993-96, Transport, State Services and              State-Owned Enterprises, Accident Rehabilitation and Compensation              Insurance 1996-97. As Premier she was also Minister in charge of the              New Zealand Security Intelligence Service. She ousted then Prime              Minister Jim Bolger as leader of the National Party and after his resignation she became leader of the government. 1999-2001 she was              Leader of the Opposition. Mother of two children. (b. 1952-)
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27.03.1997-10.12.1998 Premier Pamela Felicity Gordon, Bermuda (Self              Governing Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Parliamentary Secretary of Community Development, Culture and Youth              1992, Minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation 1992-96, Environment,              Planning and National Resources 1996-97. As Premier she was also Minister of Information and Attorney              General. She was former Deputy Chairperson and was elected to              succeed the previous Premier after his resignation. She was Leader              of the United Bermuda Party 1997-2001 and leader of the Opposition              1998-2001.  (b. 1955-).
31.08.1998
-23.09.1998 Acting Prime Minister Anne Enger              Lahnstein, Norway
Acting Premier during Kjell Magne Bondevik's sick leave              because of stress and psychological problems. She was Deputy Leader              1983-91, Parliamentary Leader, 1989-91 and Leader of The Centre              Party 1991-99. 1. Deputy to the Prime Minister and Minister of              Culture of the centre-right-government 1997-99, Vice Chairperson of              the Defence Committee of Stortinget 1999-2001 and Governor of              ï¿½stfold since 2003. (b. 1950-).
10.12.1998-29.07.2003 Premier Jennifer Meridith Smith, Bermuda (Self              Governing Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom)
Deputy Opposition Leader 1994-96, Opposition Leader 1996-98 as              Leader of the Progressive Labour Party, PLP. As Premier she also held the Portfolios of Education and Human              Affairs.
Her own party ousted her just three days after she led it to              an historic General Election victory. (b. circa 1948-).
01.01.1999-31.12.1999 President of the Confereration Ruth Dreifuss, Switzerland 
A former trade union-leader, she was Councillor of Interior in              1992-2002 and Vice-President 1998-99. (b. 1939-).
01.04.1999-01.10.1999 and 01.04.2008-01.10.2008 Captain Regent Rosa Zafferani, San Marino 
Director in the Department of Finance, Budget and Programs before              she was elected to the Consiglio Grande e Generale in 1998.              Secretary of State of Health, Social Security and Provision 2002-04,              Secretary of State of Public Education, University and Cultural              Institutions from 2004 and  2005-06 also in charge of Internal              Affairs. (b. 1960 in USA.
03.05.1999-10/18.05.1999 Acting Minister President Irena Degutienï¿½,              Lithuania
27.10.1999-03.11.1999 Acting Minister President
Medical Doctor, 1994-97 Vice-Minister of Health and Minister of              Labour and Social Affairs 1997-2000, Deputy Speaker of the Seimas     2008-09 and from 2012, Speaker 2009-12. (b. 1949-).
17.06.1999-08.07.2007 President Vaira              Vīķe-Freiberga, Latvia
Born in Latvia and grew up in refugee camps in              Germany, went to school in French Morocco, University studies in              Canada. Retired from the Universite de Montreal in 1998, after being              a professor of psychology there since 1965 and involved in various              scientific and administrative committees, among others as              Vice-Chairperson of the Science Council of Canada. She moved to              Latvia as Director of the newly created Latvian Institute in Riga. Candiate for the Post of Secretary General of the United Nations in              2006. Married to her fellow countryman, Imants Freibergs, also exiled in              Canada, who moved to Latvia in October 1999. Mother of a son and a              daughter. (b. 1937-)
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22.07.1999-30.07.1999 Acting Minister President Tuyaa Nyam-Osoryn,              Mongolia
A former journalist and director in the Foreign Ministry, she was Minister of Foreign Affairs 1998-2000 and appointed acting Premier after her predecessor's              resignation. (b. 1958-).
01.09.1999-01.09.2004 Executive President Mireya Moscoso Rodrï¿½gez,              Panama 
Since 1991 President of the Arnolfist Party, 1994 Presidential              Candidate. As Executive President she is also head of the Cabinet,              and she is the first female President to have officially appointed a              First Lady - her sister, Ruby Moscoso de Young. She was              constitutionally barred from running for re-election. Mireya was              first married to President Rodriguez de Arias Madrid (1901-88) who              was President of Panama 1940-41, 1949-51 and 1968. Married to Mr.              Gruber 1991-97 and mother of an adopted a child. (b. 1946-).
07.11.1999-27.09.2005 Governor General Adrienne Poy Clarkson, Canada
First Governor General of Asian origin. Broadcaster and Journalist, Agent-General of Ontario in Paris 1982-87. She married her longtime partner John Saul (b. 1947-) shortly                before taking office. Mother of three children. Born in Hong Kong as Ng Bing Tse, which was changed to Adrienne Poy. (b. 1939-)
10.12.1999-19.11.2008 Prime Minister Helen Clark, New Zealand
MP since 1981. Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Select              Committee 1984-87, Minister of Housing and Conservation              1987-89, Deputy Premier and Minister of Labour and Health 1989-90,              Deputy Leader of Labour and of the Opposition 1990-93 and Leader of              Labour of the Opposition 1993-99. As Prime Minister she also held the Portfolio of Arts and Culture and Security Intelligence Service              and Ministerial Services. Candidate for UN Secretary General in     2016. In 1981 she married Dr. Peter Davis. No              children. (b. 1950-).
01.03.2000-01.03.2012 President Tarja Halonen, Finland 
Member of Parliament 1979-2000, 1984-87 Chairperson of the Social              Affairs Committee and Member of the Presidium of the Parliament,              1987-1990 Second Minister of Health and Social Affairs (Health              Minister) and 1989-1991 Minister of Nordic Co-operation, 1989-91              Co-leader of Soumen Sosialidemokraattinen Pulolue, The Social              Democrats. 1990-1991 Minister of Justice 1995-2000 Minister of              Foreign Affairs. The position as President is very powerful -              especially concerning foreign politics. Mother of one daughter. In              August 2000 she married her partner trough a decade, Pentti Arajï¿½rvi.              They did not live together before they moved into the Presidential              palace. Mother of one daughter. (b. 1943-)
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01.04.2000-01.10.2000 Captain Regent Maria Domenica Michelotti,              San Marino 
Former lecturer at San Marino University and Member of the Consiglio              Grande e Generale since 1998.  She is widow and her married name was              Casadei Michelotti. Mother of two girls (b. 1952-).
20.01.2001-30.06.2010 Executive President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, The              Philippines 
As executive GMA is also Head of the Cabinet. 1987-1989 she was              Assistant Secretary and 1989-92 Undersecretary of Trade and Industry              and Senator 1992-98. Secretary of Social Development and              Welfare 1998-2000 and The President charged her with the leadership              of the Cabinet Meetings. In 2000 she resigned from her cabinet-post              after President Estrada was accused of accusations. In January 2001              he was forced to vacate the presidency and she succeeded him. 2002              and from 2003 also Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2003 and 2006-07 Minister              of Defence. 2004 she was re-elected to the post of President.              In 2011 she was arrested on charges for electoral fraud. Daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal and Dr. Evangeline              Macaraeg-Macapagal, mother of two sons and a daughter (b. 1947-).
 
02.02.2001-02.02.2005 Governor Sila Maria Calderï¿½n Serra, Estado Libre              Asociado de  Puerto Rico (Self Governing External Territory of the              United States of America)
As governor she was Leader of the Governor. She was Chief of Staff              of the Governor 1985, 1986-90 Secretary of Interior, 1988-90              Secretary of State and Deputy to the Governor and 1996-2001 Mayor of              San Juan (The Capital). Since 1999 she has been President of Partido              Popular Democrï¿½tico. She did not seek re-election. (b. 1942-)
03.03.2001-04.11.2002 Premier Ministre Mame Madior Boye, Sï¿½nï¿½gal
Former assistant to the Attorney General of the Republic, judge and            first vice President of the Regional High Court in Dakar and former            President of the Court of Appeal in Dakar. Councillor to the Supreme Court of Appeal and Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals in 2000-2001. In 2002            she took over as Minister of Defence after the former incumbent            resigned after almost 1.000 persons died in a ferry-disaster.            (b.1940-).
22.03.2001-04.04.2001 Acting Governor General Dame Sian     Elias, New Zealand
04.08.2006-23.08.2006 Acting Governor General
23.08.2011-31.08.2011 Acting Governor General
As Chief Justice of New Zealand since 1999, she is the first deputy of the Governor General and acts in her place when she is abroad or otherwise incapacitated. Her official title when she acts as Governor General is                Administrator of the Government. (b. 1949-).
04.04.2001-04.04.2006 Governor General Dame Silvia Cartwright, New Zealand
In 1989 she became the first female Chief Justice of a District Court and in 1993 the first woman in the Supreme Court. She was also Commander-in-Chief and President of the Executive Council. From 2006 one of two international judges on Trial Chamber of the Cambodian War Crimes Tribunal. (b. 1943-).
23.07.2001-20.10.2004 Executive President Megawati Sukarnoputri,              Indonesia
When Megawati Setyawati Soekarnoputri became leader of the              Democratic Party in 1993, she triggered the opposition against              President Quarto. In 1999 her party won the most seats in the              Parliament, but Abdulrahman Wahid was elected President. This caused              serious riots all over the country and she was elected              vice-President the following day. In August 2000 the ailing              President Wahid charged her with the running of the daily business              of the government and state and she chaired the cabinet meetings. At              the 23rd of July he was ousted and she inaugurated as President. In              2004 she lost her bid for re-election. Ibu Mega, as she is known, is              daughter of Indonesia's founding father Sukarno, is married for the              3rd time and mother of 3 children. (b. 1946-)
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11.07.2002-31.07.2002 Acting Prime Minister Chang Sang, South Korea
Appointed Acting Prime Minister upon her designation, which            was vetoed by the parliament at the 30.7 and about one month later the            parliament also rejected President Kim Dae Jung's nominee as her            successor. She holds a doctorate in philosophy from Princeton            Theological College in the United States.           She has been President of Ewha Women's University since 1996. (b. 1939-).
03.10.2002-16.07.2003 Prime Minister Maria das Neves Ceita Batista              de Sousa, Republic of Sï¿½o Tomï¿½ e Prï¿½ncipe
23.07.2003-18.09.2004 Prime Minister
Maria das Neves worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Finance              and in the African Development Bank. 1999-2001 Minister of              Economics, Agriculture, Fisheries, Commerce and Tourism, 2001-02              Minister of Finance and 2002 Minister of Industry, Commerce and              Tourism.  Vice-President of the National Assembly since 2010 and     Presidential Candidate in 2011. (b. 1958-).
03.06.2002-06.09.2002 Acting Governor General Monica Jessie Dacon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
As Deputy Governor General since 2001, she acted during the ilness and death of the Governor General until a successor was appointed. Acting Governor General on numerous occations. (b. 1934-).
30.12.2002-04.02.2004 Acting President Natasa Micic, Serbia 
As President of the Assembly since 2001, she became Acting President              since the attempt to elect a President failed twice. She continued              her duties as Chairperson of the Parliament.  (b.1965-).
17.04.2003-24.06.2003 Minister of State Anneli Jï¿½ï¿½tteenmï¿½ki, Finland
1991-94 and 1999-2000 Deputy Parliamentary Leader and since 2000            leader of Suomen Keskusta/Centern i Finland, 1994-95 Minister of            Justice. In 2003 Speaker of the Parliament. On 18.06 she tendered in            her resignation application after it was revealed that she had used            confidential material to aid her election campaign and then lying            about how she had got the documents. The Assistant Prime Minister            conducted her duties until 24.06. (b. 1955-).
28.06.2003-15.12.2003 President of the Council of Ministers Dr.              Beatriz Merino Lucero, Peru
Senator 1990-92, Member of the Congress 1995-2000, Vice-Presidential              Candidate 2000 and Superintendent of the National Tax Administration              before becoming a very popular Prime Minister, until she was sacked              by the extremely unpopular President. (b. 1949-).
11.09.2003-03.06.2004 Minister-President Mirna Louisa-Godett,            Nederlandse Antillen (Self Governing External Territory of The            Netherlands)
Sister of the Leader of Frente Obrero Liberashon 30 di Mei (FOL)            Anthony Godett, who could not become Premier because he was charged            with and later convicted for corruption and fraud. Married to a member            of the Legislature for FOL, Johnny Louisa. She became head of a coalition government . (b. 1954-).
01.10.2003-31.03.2004 Captain Regent Valeria Ciavatta, San Marino
Member of the Grand and General Council for the Alianza Populare              since 1993 and Chairperson of the Council Group from 2002. As              Captain Regent, she was joint head of a state with a man, and also              President of the Parliament and Head of Government. Mother of twins. (b. 1959-)