First Lady of Chile
Incumbent
Vacant
since 16 November 2023
ResidenceLa Moneda Palace
Inaugural holderMaría Mercedes Fontecilla Valdivieso
Formation1811
Final holderIrina Karamanos
WebsiteOfficial website (in Spanish)

The first lady of Chile (Spanish: Primera Dama de Chile) is the title for the wife of the president of Chile, who is traditionally responsible for directing and coordinating activities in the social field of the presidency and also accompany the president in ceremonies or official activities, for example, on state visit. Although not an official title, it is widely used in formal protocol and has been used in some decrees.[1]

History

In colonial times, the wives of the royal governors (known also as "presidents") were called Presidentas. The title was still in use after Chile become a republic in the 19th century; the term, was slowly superseded by the newer First Lady, similar to the one used in other countries.[lower-alpha 1]

Due to the complex evolution of the Head of State of Chile after the emancipation from Spain and the non-official character of the title, it is not possible to define who was the "first First Lady". Potential options include:

During the 19th and early 20th century, the First Lady was considered one of the most influential figures of Chilean high society. As the wife of the President, the first ladies fulfilled the role as hostesses of ceremonies, especially after the President moved to the La Moneda Palace in 1845, and were in charge of the decoration of the presidential residences. Also, they participated in several charities and promoted different causes: Delfina de la Cruz and Emilia Márquez de la Plata, for example, organized events to support injured veterans, orphans and widowers caused by the War of the Pacific. In 1925, the First Lady had their own private office and staff, to support her role as the president of different charitable organizations created by the government.

During the 20th century, the role of the First Lady increased, in line with the empowered role women had in politics and became more visible to the general public, not just for the high society. Juana Rosa Aguirre, wife of Pedro Aguirre Cerda (president between 1938 and 1941), promoted the adoption of women's suffrage and helped the people affected by the 1939 Chillán earthquake. Other foundations created by the First Ladies by the middle of the 20th century included the Ropero del Pueblo (1947–1958) and CEMA Chile (1967–1990).

At the moment, no male presidential spouse has existed. The title of First Gentleman (Primer Caballero) has been proposed for this case, although colloquially the term Primer Damo was used to refer to Bachelet's son Sebastián Dávalos when he acted as her representative.[2]

Vacancy

The role of the First Lady has been vacant in six times, once by the death of the title holder and five times when the President has not been married. Usually in these cases, the role has been assumed by a close female relative.

  • During Bernardo O'Higgins's rule as Supreme Director (1818-1823), his mother Isabel Riquelme acted in ceremonies similarly to a contemporary First Lady.
  • During Carlos Ibáñez del Campo's first presidency (1927-1931), before his marriage with Graciela Letelier in December 1927.
  • During Arturo Alessandri's second presidency (1932-1938), after his wife Rosa Rodríguez Velasco died in 1936.
  • During Jorge Alessandri's presidency (1958-1962), the role was assumed by Louise Schäffer, wife of Sótero del Río, his minister of Interior.
  • During Michelle Bachelet's first presidency (2006-2010), the Director of the Social-Cultural Area of the Presidency was held first by former minister Adriana Delpiano and later by María Eugenia Hirmas, wife of minister Sergio Bitar. During her second presidency (2014-2018), the role was held first by her son Sebastián Dávalos and later by Paula Forttes. However, the ceremonial role of First Lady was unofficially fulfilled by Bachelet's mother, Ángela Jeria.[3]

Although not married, President-elect Gabriel Boric announced that the role of the First Lady will be assumed by his couple and girlfriend Irina Karamanos.[4]

Director of the Social-Cultural Area of the Presidency

Michelle Bachelet, a divorced woman, created an administrative position under her direct appointment, the Director of the social-cultural area of the Presidency, to absorbe the different non-profit foundations of the presidency (Red de Fundaciones de la Presidencia de la República) that were traditionally managed by the First Lady. The foundations included are Integra, Promoción y Desarrollo de la Mujer, Prodemu (Women's promotion and development); Fundación de la Familia; Tiempos Nuevos; Museo Interactivo Mirador; Matucana 100 Cultural Center; the Chilean Youth Orchestras; Artesanías de Chile (Arts and crafts) and Todo Chilenter.[5]

List of first ladies

DatesNamePresidentParents
1810María Nicolasa Valdés y CarreraMateo de Toro y Zambrano y UretaDomingo Valdés y González-Soberal and Francisca de Borja de la Carrera y Ureta
1811–1813María Mercedes Fontecilla ValdiviesoJosé Miguel Carrera VerdugoDiego Antonio Fontecilla Palacios and Rosa Valdivieso Portusagasti
1818–1823Isabel Riquelme y Meza [lower-alpha 2]Bernardo O'Higgins RiquelmeSimón Riquelme de la Barrera y Goycochea and María Mercedes de Meza y Ulloa
1823–1826Manuela Caldera MascayanoRamón Freire SerranoFrancisco de Paula Caldera y Fontecilla-Palacios and Micaela Mascayano Larraín
1826Carmen Gana LópezManuel Blanco EncaladaAgustín Gana Darrigrande and Dolores López Guerrero
1826–1827María Teresa de Larraín y GuzmánAgustín Manuel de Eyzaguirre y ArechavalaAgustín de Larraín y Lecaros and of Ana Josefa de Guzmán Peralta y Lecaros
1827–1829Luisa GarmendiaFrancisco Antonio Pinto DíazIgnacio Garmendia y Aguirre and María Elena de Aldurralde y Villagrán
1829Mariana de Aguirre y BozaFrancisco Ramón Vicuña LarraínJosé Santos de Aguirre y Díez de Aséndegui and Antonia de Boza de Lima y Andía-Irarrázaval
1830–1831Rafaela Bezanilla BezanillaJosé Tomás Ovalle y BezanillaFrancisco Bezanilla y De la Bárcena y Juana Bezanilla y Abós-Padilla
1831María del Carmen Sotomayor ElzoFernando de Errázuriz y Martínez de AldunateFrancisco Sotomayor Serrano and María de la Concepción de Elzo y Ureta
1831–1841Manuela WarnesJosé Joaquín Prieto VialManuel Antonio Warnes y Durango and Ana Jacoba García de Zúñiga y Lizola
1841–1851Enriqueta Pinto GarmendiaManuel Bulnes PrietoEx presidente Francisco Antonio Pinto and the ex-First Lady Luisa Garmendia Aldurralde
1851–1861Rosario MonttManuel Montt TorresFiliberto Montt y Prado and Luz Goyenechea Sierra.
1861–1871Tránsito FloresJosé Joaquín Pérez MascayanoAntonio Flores y Toro Zambrano and Micaela de la Cavareda y Trucíos
1871–1876Eulogia Echaurren García-HuidrobroFederico Errázuriz ZañartuJosé Gregorio de Echaurren y Herrera and Juana García de Huidobro y Aldunate
1876–1881Delfina de la Cruz ZañartuAnibal Pinto GarmendiaJosé María de la Cruz Prieto and Josefa Zañartu Trujillo
1881–1886Emilia Márquez de la PlataDomingo Santa María GonzálezFernando Márquez de la Plata y Calvo de Encalada and María del Carmen Guzmán y Fontecilla
1886-1891Emilia de ToroJosé Manuel Balmaceda FernándezDomingo José Francisco Rafael de Toro y Valdés and María Mercedes Guzmán y Lecaros
1891–1896Leonor FrederickJorge Montt ÁlvarezJonathan Frederick Winthon and Nieves Ledesma Varas
1896-1901Gertrudis Echenique MujicaFederico Errázuriz EchaurrenJuan José Echenique Bascuñán and Jesús Mujica Echaurren
1901–1906María Errázuriz EchaurrenGermán Riesco ErrázurizEx presidente Federico Errázuriz Zañartu and the ex-First Lady Eulogia Echaurren García-Huidrobro
1906-1910Sara del Campo YávarPedro Montt MonttEvaristo del Campo Madariaga and Antonia Yávar Ruiz de Cabrera
1910–1915Mercedes Valdés CuevasRamón Barros LucoFrancisco de Borja Valdés Aldunate and Alejandra Cuevas Avaria
1915–1920Ana Echazarreta Pérez-CotaposJuan Luis Sanfuentes AndonaeguiJuan Manuel Echazarreta Irigoyen and Mercedes Pérez-Cotapos Recabarren
1920–1925Rosa Rodríguez VelascoArtuto Alessandri PalmaJosé Antonio Rodríguez Velasco and Antonia Velasco Pérez-Cotapos
1925–1927Leonor SánchezEmiliano Figueroa LarraínTeodoro Sánchez Foulkner and Teresa Vicuña Vicuña
1927–1931Graciela Letelier VelascoCarlos Ibáñez del CampoRicardo Letelier Silva and Margarita Velasco Urzúa
1931–1932Graciela FehrmanJuan Esteban Montero RodríguezEduardo Fehrman Zúñiga and Adelaida Martínez Prado
1932Herminia ArrateCarlos Dávila EspinozaMiguel Arrate Larraín and Delia Ramírez Molina
1932–1938Rosa Rodríguez VelascoArturo Alessandri PalmaJosé Antonio Rodríguez Velasco and Antonia Velasco Pérez-Cotapos
1938-1941Juana Rosa Aguirre LucoPedro Aguirre CerdaJosé Joaquín Aguirre Campos and Mercedes Luco Gutiérrez
1942-1946Marta Ide PereiraJuan Antonio Ríos MoralesCarlos Jorge Ide Schulz and Juana Pereira Ahuer
1946–1952Rosa Markmann ReijerGabriel González VidelaLadislao Markmann Villagrán and Ana Reijer Silva
1952–1958Graciela Letelier VelascoCarlos Ibáñez del CampoRicardo Letelier Silva and Margarita Velasco Urzúa
1958–1964None[lower-alpha 3]Jorge Alessandri Rodríguez
1964–1970María Ruiz-TagleEduardo Frei MontalvaAlfredo Ruiz-Tagle Adriasola and Claudia Jiménez Pérez de Arce
1970-1973Hortensia Bussi SotoSalvador Allende GossensCiro Bussi Aguilera and Mercedes Soto García
1973–1990María Lucía Hiriart RodríguezAugusto Pinochet UgarteOsvaldo Hiriart Corvalán and Lucía Rodríguez Auda
1990–1994Leonor Oyarzún IvanovicPatricio Aylwin AzócarManuel Oyarzún Lorca and Ana Ivanovic Roccatagliata
1994–2000Marta Larraechea BolívarEduardo Frei Ruiz-TagleVasco de Larraechea Herrera and Victoria Bolívar Le Fort
2000–2006Luisa Durán de la FuenteRicardo Lagos EscobarHernán Durán Morales and Luisa de la Fuente Tavolara
2006–2010None[lower-alpha 4]Michelle Bachelet
2010–2014Cecilia Morel MontesSebastián Piñera EcheniqueEduardo Morel Chaigneau and Paulina Montes Brunet
2014–2018None[lower-alpha 5]Michelle Bachelet
2018–2022Cecilia Morel MontesSebastián Piñera EcheniqueEduardo Morel Chaigneau and Paulina Montes Brunet
2022–Irina Karamanos Adrían[lower-alpha 6]Gabriel Boric FontJorge Karamanos and Sabine Adrian

Footnotes

  1. The term Presidenta has been adopted in current times as the female version of Presidente, the title of President in Spanish (for example, when Michelle Bachelet assumed as the first female President of Chile in 2006).
  2. O'Higgins was single. The role of First Lady was assumed unofficially by his mother.
  3. Alessandri was single; role was assumed by Louise Schäffer, wife of minister Sótero del Río.
  4. Michelle Bachelet was divorced. The role of First Lady was unofficially held by her mother, Ángela Jeria, in ceremonies. However, the role of Director of the social-cultural area of the Presidency was assumed by Adriana Delpiano (2006-2007) and María Eugenia Hirmas (2007-2010).[5][6]
  5. Michelle Bachelet was divorced. The role of First Lady was unofficially held by her mother, Ángela Jeria, in ceremonies. However, the role of Director of the social-cultural area of the Presidency was assumed by her son Sebastián Dávalos (2014-2015) and later by Paula Frottes (2015-2018).[7]
  6. Boric and Karamanos are not married.

References

  1. Presidency of the Republic of Chile. "Resolución 2059 Exenta: Aprueba disposiciones generales de participación ciudadana en la Presidencia de la República". Library of the National Congress of Chile (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2016-01-19. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  2. La Segunda, March 17, 2004, Sebastián Dávalos se instaló en La Moneda y comienza a ejercer rol de «primer damo» Archived 2014-03-18 at the Wayback Machine (Sebastián Dávalos is working at La Moneda and begins his job as "male first lady".)
  3. "Cuando no hay primera dama, está la familia". La Verdad. Archived from the original on 2015-01-04. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  4. "Irina Karamanos confirmó que asumirá cargo de Primera Dama: "Es un desafío que podemos aprovechar"". Pagina 7 (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-01-18.
  5. 1 2 "Bachelet designa a esposa de Sergio Bitar en funciones de Primera Dama". El Mostrador. 2007-01-26. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-26.
  6. Emol.com, Adriana Delpiano asumirá rol que ocupaba Luisa Durán Archived 2014-05-22 at the Wayback Machine, 16 March 2006.
  7. Chilevisión, Sebastián Dávalos Bachelet se hará cargo de siete fundaciones sin recibir sueldo Archived 2014-03-17 at the Wayback Machine, 17 March 2014.
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