Chile starts a new era

By FEDERICO QUILODRAN
VALPARAISO, CHILE
Socialist Michelle Bachelet is sworn in as the country's first female president.

Michelle Bachelet, a Socialist pediatrician who suffered prison, torture and exile under Chile's military dictatorship, was sworn in as the country's first female president yesterday.

Bachelet took her oath before Senate President Eduardo Frei at the crowded Hall of Honour of Chile's Congress in this port city near Santiago.

The 54-year-old president appeared relaxed and waved her right hand in response to greetings from some people in the stands.

She smiled broadly when someone shouted, "We love you, Michelle!"

Outgoing president Ricardo Lagos removed the white, red and blue presidential sash he was wearing and handed it to Frei, who placed it on Bachelet.

More than 1,000 guests attended the ceremony, including the presidents of Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela, Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean and U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Bachelet swore in her cabinet of 10 men and 10 women.

She has promised to have equal numbers of men and women in about 300 decision-making posts.

Bachelet is part of a wave of leftist leaders in the region, joining presidents Nestor Kirchner of Argentina, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, Evo Morales of Bolivia and Hugo Chavez of Venezuela.

"South America has changed," Chavez said as he arrived.

"A worker is president of Brazil (there comes Lula), an Indian is president of Bolivia, a woman is president of Chile and in Venezuela, a revolutionary soldier, which is what I am."

Lagos -- who ended his six-year term with an approval rating of more than 70 per cent -- was cheered as he left the presidential palace in Santiago and headed to Valparaiso for Bachelet's inauguration.

The event marks a deep cultural change in this male-dominated, conservative society, where divorce was legalized less than two years ago, abortion remains illegal and women often earn as much as 40 per cent less than men doing the same work.

Already, she has challenged the traditional power structure by appointing what she calls a "parity government," with equal numbers of men and women in key jobs. She made the appointments without the traditional, lengthy negotiations with the political parties.

In addition, Bachelet also has vowed to promote legislation that would force political parties to include a certain percentage of female candidates.

Bachelet was elected to a four-year term in a Jan. 15 runoff vote to replace Lagos, a fellow Socialist. Bachelet served as Lagos's defence and health minister.

At an International Women's Day celebration, Lagos called Bachelet's election "proof that we have expanded the limits of what is possible in Chile nowadays."

A separated mother of three, Bachelet is the first elected Latin American leader who didn't rise to power with the help of a powerful husband. She says her victory reflects profound changes in Chilean society.

Bachelet is the daughter of an air force general who was tortured and died in prison for opposing the 1973 military coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet. She, too, was briefly imprisoned and tortured.

CHILE'S NEW PRESIDENT

- Michelle Bachelet was born Sept. 29, 1951.

- A Socialist, she won the presidency in a runoff election in January, facing centre-right billionaire entrepreneur and former senator Sebastian Pinera.

- Bachelet obtained 53.5 per cent of the vote, campaigning on a platform of continuing Chile's free market policies, while increasing social benefits to help reduce the country's gap between rich and poor, one of the largest in the world.

- Bachelet served as health minister and defence minister under former president Ricardo Lagos.

- She is a separated mother of three and a self-described agnostic, which sets her apart in a predominantly conservative and Catholic country.