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Changing Chile

Chilean press hails Bachelet win

The woman taking Chile's top job (BBC News)

“Chile's first woman president, Michelle Bachelet, is breaking many political traditions.

Not only is she a woman, but she calls herself a socialist and she is a single parent with a 12-year-old daughter and two other grown children.

Giving a victory speech to cheering supporters in Santiago, Ms Bachelet said: "Who would have thought, just five years ago, that Chile would have a woman president?"

Outgoing President Ricardo Lagos has hailed her election as an "historic triumph".

Chilean society is often portrayed as ultra-conservative, dominated by men and the Roman Catholic Church.

Only 4% of senators are women and divorce was only introduced last year.

But Ms Bachelet believes this is only part of the picture and Chile is changing - as reflected by her election victory.

"We have a mature, democratic society that believes men and women can hold responsibility," she said.”

and perhaps, someday soon, here too!