Michelle Bachelet Jeria Biography

Becomes the first woman to serve as President of Chile.

Takes office as Chile’s first woman president.

Promulgates legislation establishing access-to-information duties and transparency rules for public institutions.

Promulgates a pension reform creating a solidarity pension system.

Promulgates the General Education Law, replacing the previous constitutional education framework with new national standards.

Declares emergency measures after a major earthquake and tsunami strike central and southern Chile.

Promulgates a major tax reform intended to increase public revenue and help finance education and social policy.

Returns to office as President of Chile for a second non-consecutive term.

Promulgates legislation establishing civil unions for same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

Replaces the binomial congressional electoral system with a proportional representation system.

Promulgates legislation permitting abortion in three narrowly defined circumstances.