| Post: | First Lady |
| Body: | Chile |
| Insignia: | Flag of Chile.svg |
| Insigniasize: | 150px |
| Insigniacaption: | Flag of Chile |
| Incumbent: | Vacant |
| Residence: | La Moneda Palace |
| Incumbentsince: | 16 November 2023 |
| Formation: | 1811 |
| Inaugural: | María Mercedes Fontecilla Valdivieso |
| Last: | Irina Karamanos |
| Website: | Official website |
The first lady of Chile (Spanish; Castilian: Primera dama de Chile) is the title for the wife of the president of Chile, who is traditionally responsible for directing and coordinating activities in the social field of the presidency and accompanying the president in ceremonies or official activities, for example, on state visits. Although not an official title, it is widely used in formal protocol and has been used in some decrees.[1]
In colonial times, the wives of the royal governors (known also as "presidents") were called Presidentas. The title was still in use after Chile become a republic in the 19th century; the term, was slowly superseded by the newer First Lady, similar to the one used in other countries.
Due to the complex evolution of the Head of State of Chile after the emancipation from Spain and the non-official character of the title, it is not possible to define who was the "first First Lady". Potential options include:
During the 19th and early 20th century, the First Lady was considered one of the most influential figures of Chilean high society. As the wife of the President, the first ladies fulfilled the role as hostesses of ceremonies, especially after the President moved to the La Moneda Palace in 1845, and were in charge of the decoration of the presidential residences. Also, they participated in several charities and promoted different causes: Delfina de la Cruz and Emilia Márquez de la Plata, for example, organized events to support injured veterans, orphans and widowers caused by the War of the Pacific. In 1925, the First Lady had their own private office and staff, to support her role as the president of different charitable organizations created by the government.
During the 20th century, the role of the First Lady increased, in line with the empowered role women had in politics and became more visible to the general public, not just for the high society. Juana Rosa Aguirre, wife of Pedro Aguirre Cerda (president between 1938 and 1941), promoted the adoption of women's suffrage and helped the people affected by the 1939 Chillán earthquake. Other foundations created by the First Ladies by the middle of the 20th century included the Ropero del Pueblo (1947–1958) and CEMA Chile (1967–1990).
At the moment, no male presidential spouse has existed. The title of First Gentleman (Primer Caballero) has been proposed for this case, although colloquially the term Primer Damo was used to refer to Bachelet's son Sebastián Dávalos when he acted as her representative.[2]
The role of the First Lady has been vacant in six times, once by the death of the title holder and five times when the President has not been married. Usually in these cases, the role has been assumed by a close female relative.
Michelle Bachelet, a divorced woman, created an administrative position under her direct appointment, the Director of the social-cultural area of the Presidency, to absorbe the different non-profit foundations of the presidency (Red de Fundaciones de la Presidencia de la República) that were traditionally managed by the First Lady. The foundations included are Integra, Promoción y Desarrollo de la Mujer, Prodemu (Women's promotion and development); Fundación de la Familia; Tiempos Nuevos; Museo Interactivo Mirador; Matucana 100 Cultural Center; the Chilean Youth Orchestras; Artesanías de Chile (Arts and crafts) and Todo Chilenter.[6]
| width=7% | Dates! | width=23% | Name! | width=18% | President! | width=53% | Parents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | María Nicolasa Valdés y Carrera | Domingo Valdés y González-Soberal and Francisca de Borja de la Carrera y Ureta | |||||
| 1811–1813 | María Mercedes Fontecilla Valdivieso | Diego Antonio Fontecilla Palacios and Rosa Valdivieso Portusagasti | |||||
| 1818–1823 | Isabel Riquelme y Meza | Simón Riquelme de la Barrera y Goycochea and María Mercedes de Meza y Ulloa | |||||
| 1823–1826 | Francisco de Paula Caldera y Fontecilla-Palacios and Micaela Mascayano Larraín | ||||||
| 1826 | Carmen Gana López | Agustín Gana Darrigrande and Dolores López Guerrero | |||||
| 1826–1827 | María Teresa de Larraín y Guzmán | Agustín de Larraín y Lecaros and of Ana Josefa de Guzmán Peralta y Lecaros | |||||
| 1827–1829 | Ignacio Garmendia y Aguirre and María Elena de Aldurralde y Villagrán | ||||||
| 1829 | Mariana de Aguirre y Boza | Francisco Ramón Vicuña Larraín | José Santos de Aguirre y Díez de Aséndegui and Antonia de Boza de Lima y Andía-Irarrázaval | ||||
| 1830–1831 | Rafaela Bezanilla Bezanilla | José Tomás Ovalle y Bezanilla | Francisco Bezanilla y De la Bárcena y Juana Bezanilla y Abós-Padilla | ||||
| 1831 | María del Carmen Sotomayor Elzo | Fernando de Errázuriz y Martínez de Aldunate | Francisco Sotomayor Serrano and María de la Concepción de Elzo y Ureta | ||||
| 1831–1841 | Manuel Antonio Warnes y Durango and Ana Jacoba García de Zúñiga y Lizola | ||||||
| 1841–1851 | Enriqueta Pinto Garmendia | Ex presidente Francisco Antonio Pinto and the ex-First Lady Luisa Garmendia Aldurralde | |||||
| 1851–1861 | Rosario Montt | Filiberto Montt y Prado and Luz Goyenechea Sierra. | |||||
| 1861–1871 | Antonio Flores y Toro Zambrano and Micaela de la Cavareda y Trucíos | ||||||
| 1871–1876 | Eulogia Echaurren García-Huidrobro | José Gregorio de Echaurren y Herrera and Juana García de Huidobro y Aldunate | |||||
| 1876–1881 | Delfina de la Cruz Zañartu | José María de la Cruz Prieto and Josefa Zañartu Trujillo | |||||
| 1881–1886 | Fernando Márquez de la Plata y Calvo de Encalada and María del Carmen Guzmán y Fontecilla | ||||||
| 1886-1891 | Domingo José Francisco Rafael de Toro y Valdés and María Mercedes Guzmán y Lecaros | ||||||
| 1891–1896 | Jonathan Frederick Winthon and Nieves Ledesma Varas | ||||||
| 1896-1901 | Gertrudis Echenique Mujica | Juan José Echenique Bascuñán and Jesús Mujica Echaurren | |||||
| 1901–1906 | María Errázuriz Echaurren | ||||||
| 1906-1910 | Sara del Campo Yávar | Evaristo del Campo Madariaga and Antonia Yávar Ruiz de Cabrera | |||||
| 1910–1915 | Francisco de Borja Valdés Aldunate and Alejandra Cuevas Avaria | ||||||
| 1915–1920 | Ana Echazarreta Pérez-Cotapos | Juan Manuel Echazarreta Irigoyen and Mercedes Pérez-Cotapos Recabarren | |||||
| 1920–1925 | José Antonio Rodríguez Velasco and Antonia Velasco Pérez-Cotapos | ||||||
| 1925–1927 | Teodoro Sánchez Foulkner and Teresa Vicuña Vicuña | ||||||
| 1927–1931 | Ricardo Letelier Silva and Margarita Velasco Urzúa | ||||||
| 1931–1932 | Eduardo Fehrman Zúñiga and Adelaida Martínez Prado | ||||||
| 1932 | Herminia Arrate | Miguel Arrate Larraín and Delia Ramírez Molina | |||||
| 1932–1938 | José Antonio Rodríguez Velasco and Antonia Velasco Pérez-Cotapos | ||||||
| 1938-1941 | Juana Rosa Aguirre Luco | José Joaquín Aguirre Campos and Mercedes Luco Gutiérrez | |||||
| 1942-1946 | Carlos Jorge Ide Schulz and Juana Pereira Ahuer | ||||||
| 1946–1952 | Rosa Markmann Reijer | Ladislao Markmann Villagrán and Ana Reijer Silva | |||||
| 1952–1958 | Ricardo Letelier Silva and Margarita Velasco Urzúa | ||||||
| 1958–1964 | None | ||||||
| 1964–1970 | Alfredo Ruiz-Tagle Adriasola and Claudia Jiménez Pérez de Arce | ||||||
| 1970-1973 | Hortensia Bussi Soto | Ciro Bussi Aguilera and Mercedes Soto García | |||||
| 1973–1990 | María Lucía Hiriart Rodríguez | Osvaldo Hiriart Corvalán and Lucía Rodríguez Auda | |||||
| 1990–1994 | Leonor Oyarzún Ivanovic | Manuel Oyarzún Lorca and Ana Ivanovic Roccatagliata | |||||
| 1994–2000 | Marta Larraechea Bolívar | Vasco de Larraechea Herrera and Victoria Bolívar Le Fort | |||||
| 2000–2006 | Luisa Durán de la Fuente | Hernán Durán Morales and Luisa de la Fuente Tavolara | |||||
| 2006–2010 | None | Michelle Bachelet | |||||
| 2010–2014 | Cecilia Morel Montes | Eduardo Morel Chaigneau and Paulina Montes Brunet | |||||
| 2014–2018 | None | Michelle Bachelet | |||||
| 2018–2022 | Cecilia Morel Montes | Eduardo Morel Chaigneau and Paulina Montes Brunet | |||||
| 2022–2023 | Irina Karamanos Adrían | Jorge Karamanos and Sabine Adrian | |||||