Finland votes in its first female president

Associated Press
Sunday, 6 February 2000

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Tarja Halonen's first words after she learned today that she was about to become Finland's first female president were practical.


Tarja Halonen's first words after she learned today that she was about to become Finland's first female president were practical.

"Tomorrow I'll go to the Foreign Ministry to take care of some administrative tasks. Then I'll take a vacation," she said on national television as she sat next to her rival waiting for the final results to be tallied.

But the 56-year-old Social Democratic foreign minister waxed ideological as the results became more certain.

"In 2005, Finns will celebrate 100 years of women's voting rights, and I think it's great and fitting that then we'll have a woman as president," she said.

The jovial, red-haired Halonen, who will begin her six-year term on March 1, is known for her down-to-earth style and her sympathy for the downtrodden.

She started her victory speech tonight with a warning to cheering supporters to be careful not to trample several small children up front.

Foreign minister since 1995, Halonen was a member of Helsinki City Council for 20 years and has been a lawmaker since 1979. She has held several other ministerial posts and has a reputation for getting things done.

Some pundits had predicted that Halonen's left-wing tendencies and untraditional lifestyle would work against her. But many Finns said they admired her independence.

"I'm voting for Halonen because of her values, and she has a lot of experience," said Pekka Mikkonen, 36, a computer maintenance worker.

The former trade union lawyer is divorced and lives with her longtime boyfriend, Pentti Arajarvi, who will be moving with her to the presidential residence.

Arajarvi said he was proud of Halonen and ready for the change.

"Every time a woman wins something in our society, it's a great victory for them. Even though our society is fairly egalitarian, there are still things to improve," he said.

Halonen currently lives in the workers' part of Helsinki where she grew up. She has a daughter, Anna, who lives in England.

Halonen left the Evangelical Lutheran Church to which 85 percent of Finns belong to protest its policy of taxing all employed church members and its negative stand against female priests. Nevertheless, she maintains that she was baptised and confirmed in the church.

She supports minority groups and has headed Finland's Gay Association.

"She will be a caring president which is very important in our society where the rich are getting richer," said Suvi-Anne Siimes, head of the Left Alliance, a member of the coalition government.

Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership

FEMALE
VICE-PRESIDENTS AND
DEPUTY HEADS OF STATEh
Note that in some monarchies members of the royal families acts
as Deputy Heads of State


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1954-75 Vice-Chairman Song Qingling, China
One of two deputies of Chairman Mao. She afterwards became acting Chairperson of the presidium of the National People’s Congress and thereby acting Head of State 1968-72 and perhaps 1976-78. From 1945-54 she vas Vice-Chairperson of the Council of Ministers.


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1961-66 Vice-President Maria Paretti, Romania
Member of the Council of State for some years before becoming it's Vice-Chairperson and deputy head of state.


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1966-70 Vice-President Constanta Craciun, Romania
1953-62 Chairperson of the State-Committee for Culture and Art 1962-66 Minister of Culture.


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1972-74 Vice-President and President of the Senate Maria Estela Martínez Cartas de Perón, Argentina

Isabel Peron succeeded her husband, President Juan Peron, in 1974 becoming the world’s first woman with the title of President. (b. 1931-).


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1975-76 Deputy Head of State, Premier Minister Élisabeth Domitién, Central African Republic
Ated as President on occasions when President Bokassa was abroad.. She lived (1926-?97).

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1979 Acting Deputy Head of State and President of The Congreso Lidia Gueiler Tejada, Bolivia
Acting President 1979-80 and before that President of Camera de Diputados 1978-79.

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1980-85 Vice-President Maria Ciocan, Romania
Between 1985-89 Member of the Council of State.


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1998-99 Vice-President Ruth Dreifuss, Switzerland
As National Councillor (Minister) of the Interior 1992-2002, she served a one-year term as Vice-President of Switzerland before taking over as President 1999-2000.

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1997-2005 Vice-President Prof. Dr. Masoumek Ebtekar, Iran
In charge of Environment (b. 1960-)

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1998-2002 1st. Vice-President Astrid Fischel Volio, Costa Rica
Also Minister of Culture and Sports. She is Professor of History at the University of Costa Rica.

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1998-2002 2nd Vice-President Elizabeth Odio Benito, Costa Rica
Also Minister of Environment and Energy. She was Minister of Justice and Attorney-General 1978-82 and
1990-94, Vice-rector of The University of Costa Rica, 1994 Ambassador to UN in Europe, 1994-97 Judge by the International Tribunal in the former Yugoslavia. From 2002 Minister of Education.

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1998-2001 Vice-President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, The Philippines
In 2001 she succeeded Estrada as President after he was forced to resign. Daughter of the late President Diosdado Macapagal and Dr. Evangeline Macaraeg-Macapagal, mother of two sons and a daughter (b. 1947-)

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1998-2002 2nd. Executive Vice-President GLadys Caballero de Arevalo, Honduras
Vice-Minister of Justice around 1996

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1999-2001 Vice-President Megawati Sukarnoputri, Indonesia
Leader of the Democratic Party in 1993-96, founder and leader of The Party of Democratic Struggle in 1998, and won the most seats in the Parliament in 1999. 2000-01 charged with the running of the daily business of the government and state. At the 23rd of July President Wahid was ousted as President and she inaugurated as President. (b. 1946-)

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1999-2000 Deputy Head of State, President of the
Senate María de Los Ángeles Moreno Uriegas, Mexico
1982-88 Subsecretary of Budget, 1988-91 Secretary of Fisheries, 1992 President of Cámera de Diputados, 1994 President of the Permanent Commission of Congreso de la Union, 1993-94 Coordinator of the PRI Parliamentary Group, 1994 General Secretary, 1994-95 President and 1998-99 Vice-President of the Parliamentary, 1997 President of the Senate, 1997-98 1. Vice-President of the Senate and from
May to August 1998 Vice-President of the Permanent Commission. 1999 General Coordinator of the Parliamentary Group, 1999 President of the Senate (March), 1999 President of the Commission of Congreso de la Union. (b. 1954)

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2000-08 Vice-President Annette Lü Hsin-lien, Taiwan
Political prisoner 1979-85, on parole 1985-90, Member of the Legislative Yuan 1992, Counsellor of the President 1996, County Magistrate in Taoyan County 1997-2000 and Acting Chairperson of the Democratic Progressive Party 2005-06. In the first stage of the primary elections in May 2007, she finished last of the candidates with 6% of the wote. The male candiate later lost the elections. (b. 1944-).

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2000- 04 Vice-President Milagros Ortiz Bosch, Dominican Republic
Also Secretary of State of Education. In 1963 and 1965 she was Assistant of her relative, President Bosch, imprisoned 1963 and in exile 1964-65, academic career, 1982-90 Advisor in the Camera de Diputados, Senator 1990-2000, Vice-President of the Partido Revolucionario Dominicano from 1991. In 2004 she was candidate for President in the party's primary elections, running against the incumbent President, who ultimately lost the national elections. (b. 1936-)

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2000-02 Executive Vice-President Adina Mercedes Bastidas Castillo, Venezuela
International banker, and she was removed from office in January 2002 because she expressed too leftist views. Instead she was appointed Minister of Productivity and Commerce.

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2000- Deputy Head of State, Speaker of the House of Representatives Alix Boyd Knights, Dominica

Former human Right's Advocate.

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2001-05 Vice-President Sandra Sumang Pierantozzi, Palau (Balau)
1989-96 Minister of Administration and Budget as her country's first female minister, 1992 she was candidate for Vice-President and from 1996 senator and Floor Leader. In 2001 she again became Minister of Administration and Budget again, and was later appointed Minister of Health. In 2000 opponent as Vice-Presidential candidate was her nephew, Senator Alan Seid. In 2004 she failed to be reelected for second term.

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2001-2003 and 2004-2007 Deputy Head of State Nino Burjanadze, Georgia
Elected Chairperson of the Parliament and Deputy Head of State, after her predecessor resigned amid serious political upheaval when President Eduard Shevardnadze sacked his entire cabinet. She was Acting President after Shevardnaze was forced to resign 2003-04 and again from 2007. (b. 1964-).

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2002 1st. Vice-President Lineth Saborío Chaverri, Costa Rica
She has held various Cabinet Positions. At 23rd. of June 2003 President Abel Pacheco de la Espriella (b. 1933-) went on one week's sick-leave and surrendered his power temporarily to her. She has since acted on many occations since then, when she has been "Presidenta en ejercicio de la República de Costa
Rica". (b. 1962-)

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2002-06 2nd Executive Vice-President Armida Villela de López Contreras, Honduras
She was lawyer prior to her election to the post of vice-President. She is also in charge of various social programs.

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2002-07 Vice-President Truong My Hoa, Vietnam
Trương Mỹ Hoa was President of the National Committee for the Advancement of Women Ca. 1995-2002 and Vice-President of the National Assembly of Viet Nam until 2002. (b. 1945-).


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2002- Deputy Head of State, President of the Senate Dr. Linda Baboolal, Trinidad and Tobago
Chairperson of Peoples National Movement 1996-2002. Minister of Social Welfare and Consumer's Affairs 1991-95 and Minister of Health 1995. Only a couple of days after her election to Senate President, she became Acting President of the Republic during the travels abroad of President Robinson (10-17.04).

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2002- Deputy Head of State Dr. Szili Katalin, Hungary
As President of The Országgyülés she is also Deputy Head of State. Dr. Szili was Political State Secretary of Environmental Protection 1994-98 and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 1998-2002.

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2002-06 Deputy Head of State Ingrîda Ûdre, Latvia
As Chairperson of the Saeima she was Deputy to the President. From 1998 Co-Chairperson and 1998-99 Vice-Chairperson of the Saeima Fracion of the New Party and in 1999 Minister of Economics and Presidential Candidate. 2004 Designated as European Commissioner. (b. 1958-).

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2003 Vice-President Ruth Metzler-Arnold, Switzerland
(2004 Designate Federal President)
Ruth Metzler was considered a future hope of Swiss politics but was was narrowly defeated for re-election in 2003 as the first Councillor of State not to be reelected for 131 years, because the parliament preferred a 18 years older man from her party, who then took over the post of Federal President, which would have occupied, had she remained in office. She was Sächelmeisterin, Councillor of Finance 1996-99 and Vice-President of the Government 1998-99 of the Kanton Appenzell-Innerhoden . (b. 1964-).

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2003- Vice President Teima Onorio, Kiribati
Also known as Teimwa Onorio, she is her country's only female MP and the first female cabinet member for 26 years as Minister Education, Youth and Sport Development. (b. 1963-).

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2003 Deputy Head of State Anneli Jäätteenmäki, Finland
As Prime Minister she was also also Deputy Head of State. In 1991-94 and 1999-2000 Deputy Parliamentary Leader and since 2000 leader of Suomen Keskusta/Centern i Finland, 1994-95 Minister of Justice. (b. 1958-)


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2003-06 and 2007- Deputy Head of State Ene Ergma, Estonia
As Chairperson of the Riigikogu 2003-06 and from 2007 she was also Deputy Head of State. D.Sc. in physics and mathematics, Professor since 1988 and Vice-President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences 1999-2003, Parliament Vice-President from 2006 and Candiate in the August Presidential Elections. (b. 1944-).

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2004- Vice-President Ana Vilma Alvanez de Escobar, El Salvador
Ana Vilma de Escobar was member of the Cabinet and President of the Salvadoran Institute of Social Security 1999-2003. She and the Presidential candidate of the ARENA-party won 57% in the first round. The new government will take office 1/7-04.

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2004- Vice-President Joyce Mujuru, Zimbabwe
A General during the anti-colonial under the name of Teurai-Ropa Nhongo. Also ZANU-Party Secretary of Education. 1980 Minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation, 1980-85 Minister of Community Development and Women's Affairs, 1985-88 Minister of State by the Prime Minister, 1988-92 Minister of Community Development, Cooperatives and Women’ Affairs, 1992-96 Resident Minister and Governor of Mashonaland Central, 1996-97 Minister of Information, Post and Telecommunication Since 1997 Minister of Rural Resources and Water Development and in 2001 Acting Minister of Defence
Former Secretary and from 2004 Vice-President of ZANU-P. (b. 1955-).

Biden, Palin set for Oct. 2 VP Debate


Sen. Joe Biden from Delaware and Gov. Sarah Palin of Alaska, the vice presidential nominees of the Democratic and Republican parties, respectively, will debate each other at 8 p.m. (CDT) Oct. 2 in the Washington University in St. Louis Athletic Complex, according to the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD).

This is the first time the University will host a vice presidential debate. It's the fifth consecutive presidential election that the University has been selected by the CPD, the event's sponsor, to serve as a debate host.

The CPD, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization established in 1987, is responsible for selecting the venues and producing the presidential debates. The CPD's three 2008 presidential debates locations and dates are: the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., Sept. 26; Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., Oct. 7; and Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., Oct. 15.

Washington University again is offering the same facilities that were made available for the 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 debates. They include the Field House — which is the actual debate site — Francis Gymnasium, the Rec Gym and other areas of the Athletic Complex. Francis Gym and Francis Field were the sites of the 1904 World Olympic Games, the first Olympics played in the Western Hemisphere.

The debate will be moderated by Gwen Ifill, a longtime correspondent and moderator for nationally televised public broadcasting news programs. Ifill, who serves as moderator and managing editor of PBS' "Washington Week" and senior correspondent for "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," also moderated the CPD's 2004 vice presidential debate between Vice President Dick Cheney and Sen. John Edwards, held Oct. 5 at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland.

Biden was nominated for vice president Aug. 27 at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo. A week later, on Sept. 4, Palin was nominated for vice president at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

Biden, 65, is a 36-year veteran of the U.S. Senate. He was elected in 1972 when he was 29. He is known for his leadership in foreign policy, terrorism, crime and drug policy. He ran unsuccessfully for the presidential nomination of his party in 1988 and in 2008.

Biden is the former chairman and long-time member of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Over the years he has been influential in crime and drug policy legislation. His Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994, frequently referred to as the Biden Crime Bill, increased police numbers by 100,000 nationwide and brought more federal support for criminal justice.

The 2007 Biden Crime Bill addresses burgeoning crime problems such as online child exploitation, computer hacking and teenage prescription drug abuse.

Palins vice presidential nomination marks the first time that the Republican Party has nominated a woman for the position. On Dec. 4, 2006, she also made history when she became the first woman governor of Alaska.

Palin, 44, has overseen increases in Alaska state savings, education funding and implemented the Senior Benefits Program that provides support for low-income older Alaskans. Her administration has passed an overhaul of the states ethics laws and developed a process to construct a gas pipeline.

Palin is chair of the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, a multistate government agency that promotes the conservation and efficient recovery of domestic oil and natural gas resources while protecting the environment.

Before becoming governor of Alaska, she served two terms on the Wasilla City Council and two terms as mayor/manager of Wasilla. Palin also has served as chair of the Alaska Conservation Commission, which regulates Alaska's oil and gas.

Local sponsors for the vice presidential debate are AT&T, Emerson and Wachovia Securities. For information on these firms, go to: http://debate.wustl.edu/sponsors.html.

Washington University is the only institution to host more than two debates.

In 1992, the university hosted the first nationally televised three-candidate presidential debate in CPD history, was selected to host a presidential debate in 1996 that eventually was canceled, hosted the third and last presidential debate of the 2000 campaign season and the second of three presidential debates before the 2004 election.

For more information about CPD guidelines for debate site selection, debate formats and selection criteria used to determine the candidates to be invited to participate in the debates, please visit the CPD's Web site, debates.org.