国际政坛近年劲吹“巾帼风”，不说不知道，原来世界上有那么多女总统、女外相、女部长……
Today’s world seems to be ruled mainly by males. But there have always been female rulers. Some Egyptian Queens are believed to have governed from around 3000 BC. However， it was not until after World War I that the first few women became members of democratic governments. Nevertheless， the development was slow and it was not until the end of the 20th century that female ministers stopped being a rarity(罕见).
Let’s meet just some of the many talented women leaders：
近日菲律宾国内局势紧张，倒阿罗约运动愈演愈烈。 这位身材娇小的女总统能否经得住暴风骤雨的政治考验？
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo，
President of the Philippines (2001～ )
Arroyo is serving her second term as President. Even though her father served as president of the Philippines， Arroyo didn’t enter politics until 1992， twenty-seven years after her father left office. Arroyo’s career has never been easy or quiet， but she has proven herself a tough politician.
Arroyo has studied in the U.S. and was a classmate of former U.S. President Bill Clinton.
Linda Mūrniece，
Minister of Defence， Latvia(拉脱维亚) (2006～ )
在参观白宫时，父亲鼓励11岁的她长大后要当美国总统。她回答说：“早晚我会在那座房子里工作的。”她就是美国国务卿赖斯。
Condoleezza Rice，
Secretary of State， the United States (2005～ )
Rice is one of the people closest to U.S. President George W. Bush. She is the second Secretary of State in the administration(政府) of President Bush. She is the first African American woman to serve in this post.
Rice has risen to become one of the most outstanding female officials in U.S. history. Her supporters believe that Rice could be the first female American President.
Rice grew up during segregation(种族隔离时期)， which taught her determination(决心) against hard conditions and the need to be “twice as good” as non-minorities(非少数种族).
Tarja Halonen，
President of Finland (2000～ )
— “The Finland of the 21st century can thrive only if women of learning - in common with their male counterparts - are guaranteed the opportunity to use their creative potential to the full.”
Michelle Bachelet Jeria，
Elected-President of Chile
(She will take office on March 11)
默克尔：不要把我与英国的撒切尔夫人相提并论，我用政绩说话
Angela Merkel,
Chancellor of Germany (2005~ )
Angela Merkel was sworn in(宣誓就职) as Germany’s first female chancellor at the end of last year. She graduated with a doctorate(博士学位) in physics. She is conservative and honed(磨练) her skills at covering up her feelings. Some said Merkel is more of a scholar than a politician. Many of the others compared Merkel to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
Soon after swearing in the Chancellor Merkel swiftly visited several European countries and later nicely handled foreign affairs like rescuing a German hostage(人质) in Iraq. All these suggest that she’s a strong politician as well as a respectable former scientist.
利比里亚“铁娘子”瑟利夫：从囚犯到总统
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf，
President of Liberia (2006～ )
From Liberian cabinet(内阁) minister to senior UN administrator and now Africa’s first elected female leader， Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s career has never stood still. The “Iron Lady” was sentenced to ten years in prison because of her brave speech criticizing former President Samuel Doe. During her exile(海外流亡) Sirleaf gained considerable banking experience as she worked for organizations like the World Bank. People believe the 67-year-old Harvard-educated economist can save Liberia’s economy.
Sirleaf is a divorced mother of four boys and grandmother to six children.
Michaelle Jean，
Governor General of Canada (2005～ )
— “Independence is not given, it is taken!”