In 2006 Michelle Bachelet made history in 2006 when she became the first female President of Chile. She held this position until 2010. She was voted in as President for a second time in 2014.

Michelle became involved in politics at a young age, joining the Socialist Youth in her first year of college. She fought for the return of democracy to the country throughout the 90s. In 2000 she was named the Minister for Health. She was tasked with reducing waiting lists in public hospitals. In her first 100 days in office she reduced the waiting list by 90%. She also sanctioned the use of the morning after pill for victims of sexual assault in Chile.

Two years later she was named the Minister of National Defense. This was a historic moment as she was the first woman to earn this position in a Latin-American country. During her time in this position she reformed the pension system for military personnel. She was also responsible for promoting reconciliation between victims of the dictatorship and the military.

Michelle was elected President in 2006, the first woman to hold this position. In her first two years in office she faced some challenges including student protests and strikes by miners. To counteract these challenges she brought in a number of social policies. These policies included pension reform, a stimulus package to create jobs and reduce poverty as well as improving early childhood education. The constitution of Chile prevented her from serving a second term consecutively. In 2010 she stood down as President.

-Michelle O’Brien
Junior Girl
Girl Museum Inc.

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