New Spanish cabinet includes first woman defense minister

[frigidmagi]

International Herald

Spain's first woman defense minister was among 17 members of the Cabinet sworn into office Monday.

Carme Chacon, 37 — who is seven months pregnant — is one of nine women in Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero's new government.

Chacon, from the Catalan town of Esplugues de Llobregat, served as a city councilor in 1999 and as deputy parliamentary speaker in 2004. She was promoted to housing minister in Zapatero's first government and was accredited with the Socialist party's success in the powerful northeastern region of Catalonia in the March 9 elections.

Zapatero's Socialists won 169 seats in Spain's 350-seat lower house in last month's elections.

Five key Zapatero allies retained their posts: Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega as deputy prime minister, Pedro Solbes in economy, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba as interior minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos in foreign policy and Mariano Fernandez Bermejo in justice.
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Zapatero created two new ministries: the Equality Ministry, headed by Bibiana Aido; and the Science and Innovation Ministry, headed by molecular biologist Cristina Garmendia. Aido, at 31, is Spain's youngest ever Cabinet minister.

Counting Zapatero, the Cabinet is split equally between men and women. Zapatero has pushed for gender parity in Spanish politics since taking office in 2004.

A cooling economy and resurgent armed Basque group are the two main challenges facing Zapatero in his next four-year term.

Two things, I'm not seeing why her being pregnant is a big deal. Yes, she's pregnant, it is a condition know to happen to women from time to time, it goes away and is replaced with a new condition called motherhood. It has no bearing on her abilities.

Sad to say I am about to question those abilities. I am sure she is a good representative to her voters and a decent well educated human being don't get me wrong but I see no military experience or education. What exactly prepares her for the duty of Defense Minister, which would require understanding the abilities and requirements of the Spanish military. Seriously would it be that much of a sin to someone with some actual military experience?

(Yes I am aware the Gates isn't carrying the stain of military experience either, given that he is an improvement over Rummy... )

[Hadrianvs]

While I am in full favour if gender equality, I think the Defence Ministry is best headed by someone who actually knows something about the subject. On the other hand, it's great to see an actual scientist heading the Science Ministry, though that's probably par the course in Spain.

I also note that the woman's pregnancy seems a bit irrelevant. It's not like she's expected to actually fight a war. Though I note that women can and have taken-up arms despite pregnancies.

[Dartzap]

Our defence minister doesn't seem to have a huge amount of knowledge about the military, really. One day, we're to have some more ships, yes we are...honest..maybe....possibly.