MADRID, Spain: 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.
MADRID, Spain: 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.
For the first time ever, women outnumber men in Spain's cabinet. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero chose nine women and eight men to lead the country, including a highly pregnant 37-year-old defense minister. King Juan Carlos swore in the cabinet on Monday, April 14, two days after Zapatero's inauguration as prime minister for a second four-year term. "I'm very proud that there are more female than male ministers," Socialist politician Zapatero said. "This is a modern and strong government." For the most part, however, the premier has left key ministries untouched, with Miguel Angel Moratinos as foreign minister, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba as interior minister and Pedro Solbes as finance minister. Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega remains deputy premier.
King Juan Carlos swore in the cabinet on Monday, April 14, two days after Zapatero's inauguration as prime minister for a second four-year term.
"I'm very proud that there are more female than male ministers," Socialist politician Zapatero said. "This is a modern and strong government."
For the most part, however, the premier has left key ministries untouched, with Miguel Angel Moratinos as foreign minister, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba as interior minister and Pedro Solbes as finance minister. Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega remains deputy premier.
