Bachelet era begins with change: Chile’s first female president named a cabinet of 10 men and 10 women Monday (Jen Ross, Christian Science Monitor)
Michelle Bachelet made history Jan. 15 by becoming Chile’s first female president.
Monday, she chalked up yet another precedent: naming a cabinet of 10 female and 10 male ministers. It’s the first of its kind in the entire western hemisphere – and one of few examples in the world.
“This Cabinet reflects the new style of government I’ve proposed,” Ms. Bachelet said, as she announced her choices. They included women in the key portfolios of economy and mining, as well as in her own two former ministries: health and defense.
It’s a significant change to the political status quo, and expected to be the first of many. But in a country known as the most socially conservative in the region, not everyone is celebrating her announcement. In fact, some experts question whether she’ll sacrifice competence for image.
“I think it’s a grave error,” says Ignacio Illanes, an analyst with the right-wing thinktank Liberty and Development (Libertad y Desarrollo). He puts it bluntly: “There’s only one way to have a 50-50 cabinet and that is by lowering the quality of the cabinet.”
I agree. It should be in favor of the women by at least 15-5. Otherwise, the quality suffers.
I just hope none of the ten women have anger-management issues like some Houston politicians. That could bring goverment to a standstill!
Actually, that might not be such a bad thing. Here or there.