Michelle Bachelet
Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria (Spanish: [βeˈɾonika miˈʃel βaʃeˈle ˈxeɾja]; born 29 September 1951) is a Chilean politician who served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights from 2018 to 2022. She previously served as President of Chile from 2006 to 2010 and from 2014 to 2018 for the Socialist Party of Chile. She is the first woman to hold the Chilean presidency. After leaving the presidency in 2010 and before becoming eligible for re-election, she was appointed as the first executive director of the newly established United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. In December 2013, Bachelet was re-elected with over 62% of the vote, surpassing the 54% she received in 2006. She was the first President of Chile to be re-elected since 1932. Bachelet, a physician who has studied military strategy at the university level, previously served as the Health Minister and Defense Minister under her predecessor, Ricardo Lagos. She is a separated mother of three and identifies as an agnostic. In addition to her native Spanish, she speaks English fluently and has some proficiency in German, French, and Portuguese.
Michelle Bachelet | |
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Bachelet during her role at the U.N., 2020 | |
7th United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights | |
In office 1 September 2018 – 31 August 2022 | |
Deputy | Kate Gilmore |
Secretary-General | António Guterres |
Preceded by | Zeid Raad Al Hussein |
Succeeded by | Volker Türk |
33rd and 35th President of Chile | |
In office 11 March 2014 – 11 March 2018 | |
Preceded by | Sebastián Piñera |
Succeeded by | Sebastián Piñera |
In office 11 March 2006 – 11 March 2010 | |
Preceded by | Ricardo Lagos |
Succeeded by | Sebastián Piñera |
President pro tempore of the Pacific Alliance | |
In office 1 July 2016 – 30 June 2017 | |
Preceded by | Ollanta Humala |
Succeeded by | Juan Manuel Santos |
Executive Director of UN Women | |
In office 14 September 2010 – 15 March 2013 | |
Deputy | Lakshmi Puri |
Secretary General | Ban Ki-moon |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Lakshmi Puri (acting) |
President pro tempore of UNASUR | |
In office 23 May 2008 – 10 August 2009 | |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Rafael Correa |
Minister for National Defense | |
In office 7 January 2002 – 1 October 2004 | |
President | Ricardo Lagos |
Preceded by | Mario Fernández Baeza |
Succeeded by | Jaime Ravinet |
Minister for Health | |
In office 11 March 2000 – 7 January 2002 | |
President | Ricardo Lagos |
Preceded by | Álex Figueroa |
Succeeded by | Osvaldo Artaza |
Personal details | |
Born | Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria 29 September 1951 Santiago, Chile |
Political party | Socialist |
Other political affiliations | Concertación (1988–2013) Nueva Mayoría (2013–2018) |
Spouse |
Jorge Dávalos Cartes
(m. 1978; separation 1984) |
Children | 3 |
Parents |
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Education | University of Chile (MD) |
Profession | Paediatrician / Public Health Physician |
Signature | |
Website | michellebachelet |