First Lady of Chile facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Lady of Chile
Flag of Chile
Incumbent Vacant since 16 November 2023
Residence	La Moneda Palace
Inaugural holder	María Mercedes Fontecilla Valdivieso
Formation	1811
Final holder	Irina Karamanos
Website	Official website: http://www.primeradama.gob.cl/

The First Lady of Chile (in Spanish, Primera dama de Chile) is a special title. It is usually given to the wife of the president of Chile. Her main jobs are to lead and organize social activities for the presidency. She also joins the president at important events, like visits to other countries. Even though it is not an official government job, this title is widely used in formal situations. It has even appeared in some official documents.

A Look Back: The History of the First Lady

In the past, during Chile's colonial times, the wives of the leaders were called Presidentas. This was before Chile became an independent country. After Chile became a republic in the 1800s, this title slowly changed. People started using the term First Lady, just like in many other countries.

It is tricky to say who was the very first "First Lady" because the title was not official. Here are some women who could be considered the first:

• María Nicolasa Valdés, whose husband, Mateo de Toro Zambrano, led the first government group in 1810.
• Mercedes Fontecilla, wife of José Miguel Carrera, a key leader from 1811 to 1813.
• Isabel Riquelme, mother of Bernardo O'Higgins, Chile's first independent leader (1818–1823).
• Carmen Gana, wife of Manuel Blanco Encalada, Chile's first President in 1826.

The First Lady's Role in the Past

During the 1800s and early 1900s, the First Lady was a very important person in Chilean high society. As the president's wife, she hosted many events. This became even more true after the president moved into La Moneda Palace in 1845. She was also in charge of decorating the presidential homes.

First Ladies also helped with many charities. They supported different causes. For example, Delfina de la Cruz and Emilia Márquez de la Plata organized events. These events helped soldiers who were hurt in the War of the Pacific. They also helped children and wives who lost family members in the war. By 1925, the First Lady even had her own office and staff. This helped her lead the many charity groups created by the government.

How the Role Grew in the 20th Century

In the 1900s, the First Lady's role became even bigger. Women started to have a stronger voice in politics. First Ladies became more well-known to everyone, not just high society. For example, Juana Rosa Aguirre, whose husband was president from 1938 to 1941, worked to help women get the right to vote. She also helped people affected by the 1939 Chillán earthquake.

Other important groups started by First Ladies in the mid-1900s include the Ropero del Pueblo (1947–1958) and CEMA Chile (1967–1990).

What About a "First Gentleman"?

So far, Chile has not had a male spouse of a president. The title "First Gentleman" (Primer Caballero) has been suggested for this situation. When Michelle Bachelet was president, her son, Sebastián Dávalos, sometimes acted on her behalf. People jokingly called him Primer Damo.

When the Role is Empty

The role of First Lady has been empty six times. This happened once when a First Lady passed away. It happened five other times when the president was not married. In these cases, a close female relative usually took on the duties.

• When Bernardo O'Higgins was leader (1818-1823), his mother, Isabel Riquelme, helped with ceremonies.
• During Carlos Ibáñez del Campo's first time as president (1927-1931), before he got married.
• During Arturo Alessandri's second time as president (1932-1938), after his wife passed away in 1936.
• When Jorge Alessandri was president (1958-1962), his minister's wife, Louise Schäffer, took on the role.
• During Michelle Bachelet's presidencies (2006-2010 and 2014-2018), she was divorced. Her mother, Ángela Jeria, often helped with ceremonies. Other people managed the social foundations.
• During Gabriel Boric's presidency (2022-), his girlfriend, Irina Karamanos, took on the role. They announced the end of their relationship in November 2023.

The Director of the Social-Cultural Area

Michelle Bachelet, who was divorced, created a new official job. It is called the Director of the Social-Cultural Area of the Presidency. This person manages many non-profit groups that used to be run by the First Lady. These groups include:

• Integra (for children's education)
• Promoción y Desarrollo de la Mujer, Prodemu (for women's development)
• Fundación de la Familia (Family Foundation)
• Tiempos Nuevos (New Times)
• Museo Interactivo Mirador (Interactive Museum)
• Matucana 100 Cultural Center
• The Chilean Youth Orchestras
• Artesanías de Chile (Chilean Crafts)
• Todo Chilenter (for technology recycling)

Some Notable First Ladies of Chile

See also

In Spanish: Primera dama de Chile para niños