The powerful female leaders of Europe

New French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne She is one of nearly 10 female political leaders in Europe – where Ursula von der Leyen became the first president of the European Commission in December 2019.

Across Europe, many other women are also occupying important political positions:

Denmark

Social Democratic Party leader Mette Frederiksen became Denmark’s youngest-ever prime minister in June 2019. She was elected Prime Minister of Denmark at the age of 41.

Denmark’s first female prime minister was Helle Thorning-Schmidt, also of the Social Democratic Party, who served from 2011 to 2015.

Estonian

Former EU auditor Kersti Kaljulaid, 52, became the first female president of the Baltic state of Estonia in October 2016. This position is mainly ceremonial.

Meanwhile, Kaja Kallas became Estonia’s first female prime minister in January 2021. Her father, Siim Kallas, was prime minister from 2002 to 2004.

Finland

In December 2019, Ms. Sanna Marin, a member of the Social Democratic Party, became the world’s youngest incumbent prime minister at the age of 34.

She is the third female prime minister of Finland.

Greek

Katerina Sakellaropoulou was elected the first female president of Greek in January 2020. The presidency is a predominantly ceremonial role in Greece, Sakellaropoulou.

Hungary

Katalin Novak, a close ally of Prime Minister Viktor Orban and a former home policy minister, was elected Hungary’s first female president in March 2022. The Hungarian president is a largely ceremonial role.

Lithuania

Former Lithuanian finance minister Ingrida Simonyte, 47, was appointed prime minister of a centre-right government in December 2020.

Lithuania has a strong tradition of female leadership, with the “Iron Lady of the Baltic” Dalia Grybauskaite having enjoyed a decade in power from 2009 to 2019.

Slovakia

Liberal lawyer and anti-corruption campaigner Zuzana Caputova, 48, took office in June 2019 as Slovakia’s first female president.

In Slovakia, the president has less power than the prime minister but can veto laws and appoint senior judges.

Switzerland

As a country that supports gender equality but Switzerland There has never been a woman prime minister before Magdalena Andersson – a member of the Social Democrats, who won the position in November 2021.

Magdalena Andersson, an economist who served as finance minister for seven years, has had a rough start. Hours after becoming Sweden’s first prime minister, she resigned after her budget was rejected by parliament and the Greens withdrew from her coalition. Four days later, Magdalena Andersson was re-elected.

Elsewhere in Europe

Elsewhere in Europe The other women in power are: Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, Moldovan President and Prime Minister Maia Sandu and Natalia Gavrilita, Prime Minister Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg and Scottish Premier Nicola Sturgeon.