2006Mar, 11
Michelle Bachelet is inaugurated as first female president of Chile.
Verónica Michelle Bachelet Jeria (Spanish: [βeˈɾonika miˈʃel βaʃeˈle ˈxeɾja]; born 29 September 1951) is a Chilean politician who has served as United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights since 2018. She also previously served as President of Chile from 2006 to 2010 and 2014 to 2018 for the Socialist Party of Chile; she is the first woman to hold the Chilean presidency and the first elected female leader in South America. After leaving the presidency in 2010 and while not immediately reelectable, she was appointed the first executive director of the newly created United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. In December 2013, Bachelet was reelected with over 62% of the vote, bettering the 54% she obtained in 2006. She was the first President of Chile to be reelected since 1932.Bachelet, a physician who has studied military strategy at university level, was Health Minister and Defense Minister under her predecessor, Ricardo Lagos. She is a separated mother of three and describes herself as an agnostic. She speaks English fluently, as well as some German, French, and Portuguese.
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Events on 2006
- 4Jan
Ariel Sharon
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel suffers a second, apparently more serious stroke. His authority is transferred to acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert. - 21Mar
Twitter
The social media site Twitter is founded. - 11Apr
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announces Iran's claim to have successfully enriched uranium. - 5Jun
State Union of Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia declares independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. - 29Jun
Guantanamo Bay detention camp
Hamdan v. Rumsfeld: The U.S. Supreme Court rules that President George W. Bush's plan to try Guantanamo Bay detainees in military tribunals violates U.S. and international law.