The Spanish Lead the Way With More Women in Cabinet

The Socialist Government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has made history by establishing a new government administration with women outnumbering men in a cabinet. As reported in Spain’s media the Prime Minister expressed his pride in having more females than males by underscoring the fact that it was “…a modern and strong government…” The first female Minister of Defence Carme Chacon and a highly expectant mother attracted the most attention by virtue of her seven month pregnancy and her pacifist background.

There are historical parallels here with respect to the South African history of putting women in the forefront of upper echelons of political power. It should come as no surprise because the President of South Africa Mr. Thabo Mbeki appointed a female Deputy Defence Minister Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge back in 1999. Many could not contain their skepticism at the time on account of the fact that besides being a non-military material Nozizwe was a pacifist a fact bolstered by her marriage to her Quaker husband Jeremy Routledge. Moreover she was a feminist and this only added salt to injury in the minds of many. However Nozizwe turned out to be the best appointment for the job.

The new Minister of Defence Carme Chacon should stay strong and take a page from the former South African Deputy Minister of Defence Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge as a sister that has traversed this difficult path before her. I would like to say in Spanish “la lucha continua. No rendirse y nunca jamas.”