Today, women leaders in the world are no longer the exception, and with absolute merit of their own. I remember, when I started writing about this topic, I almost always came across political dynasties, because Sirimavo Bandaranaike, from Sri Lanka, the first woman to head a government in the world, was the widow of a politician, just as Argentina’s Estela Perón, the first president, was. And there were also the daughters of politicians, like the Indian Indira Gandhi or the Pakistani Benazir Bhutto, charismatic, but educated from birth to be powerful.
The Israeli Golda Meir and the British Margaret Thatcher were great examples that there were no limits for women of talent and courage, even without being from influential families.
In Europe, shortly after Thatcher, came the Portuguese Maria de Lourdes Pintasilgo, prime minister by presidential appointment, but with a CV, before, during and after the position, that makes her an inspiring example in a country that has more and more women prominent in all areas of society, even if it has not yet elected a head of government or a president of the Republic. We will get there, that is my conviction.
It is also often said that the United States has not yet had a president (Hillary Clinton came close), and the same can be said of Russia or China. But it is certainly a matter of time, as in Portugal.
Germany had Angela Merkel as chancellor, Brazil already had president Dilma Roussef, Mexico now has Claudia Sheinbaum. And in the G7, the group of richest countries, when presidents and prime ministers sit at the table, Italy is represented by Giorgia Meloni and Japan by Sanae Takaichi. Both are pioneering prime ministers, proof that in most countries, evidently more strongly in democracies, the path made since 1909 is immense, although it continues to be covered, as it is not finished.
As a father of a boy and a girl, I can only hope that society offers the same opportunities for fulfillment and success to both. And let that be the rule in my country. A permanent struggle, along with other struggles, to achieve a more just and prosperous society. I am sure that this is the desire of António José Seguro, who takes office today as President of the Republic, as I trust that it is the will of all those who govern us.
I would also like equality of opportunities for boys and girls to be the rule in the world. As the name of March 8th itself says, it is International Women’s Day. This equality involves, starting with the most basic, equal and quality access to Health and Education. And for equal pay. Let’s think about how there is so much to do. This is a fight to be made by men and women. When voting, on March 8th and every other day.
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