CHILE: Ms Michelle Bachelet yesterday became the first woman to be appointed Defence Minister in Latin America, as she took up her post in Chile's centre-left coalition government.
"My father would have been proud," said Ms Bachelet, who studied political science and military strategy in the US. Ms Bachelet, a physician, was Health Minister until her new appointment.
Ms Bachelet's father, Alberto Bachelet, was an army general during President Salvador Allende's socialist government. Arrested for "treachery" after the coup led by Gen Augusto Pinochet in 1973, Bachelet was tortured and died of a heart attack.
When President Ricardo Lagos assumed office two years ago he wished to appoint Ms Bachelet to her current post but feared the reaction of the armed forces, still smarting from the detention and extradition of Gen Pinochet.
Ms Bachelet will preside over an institution which does not admit women in the ranks, a ruling she is expected to challenge. Ms Bachelet is also expected to challenge compulsory military service laws and a constitutional provision which grants the armed forces 10 per cent of annual profits earned by Chile's copper business.
The appointment is part of a major cabinet shuffle aimed at giving "fresh wind" to Mr Lagos's political programme, stung by opposition gains in last month's congressional elections.
Chilean newspapers speculated that the shuffle was a hasty attempt by Mr Lagos to gain political momentum as two of the seven ministers failed to arrive on time for their swearing-in ceremonies. Mr Osvaldo Artaza, who replaced Ms Bachelet as Health Minister, stopped off at a shop en route to buy a tie.
The Chilean air force commander, Gen Patricio Ríos, acknowledged that Ms Bachelet's appointment was part of the healing process within Chilean society.
Gen Ríos said he had "great respect" for Ms Bachelet, who spent two years advising the outgoing Defence Minister, Mr Mario Fernández.