Women dominate Spain's new cabinet

Spain's King Felipe VI has sworn in a new Socialist government with a record number of 11 women in 17 cabinet posts. The cabinet of Spain's re-elected socialist government was sworn in on Monday with women forming a majority for the first time.

José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Prime Minister, consolidated his position as an avowed feminist with a round of new appointments stating: "I feel very proud that there are more women ministers than men."

The nine women in the 17-strong cabinet include Carme Chacon, 37, who is seven months pregnant and Spain's first female defence minister.

She immediately pledged to boost the number of women in Spain's armed forces, which first allowed female members in 1988.

"The fact that a woman has taken over the defence ministry shows that Spanish society has identified with the armed forces," said Mrs Chacon.

She said she would "improve the preparation and motivation" of the armed forces, and ensure that troops on international missions "defend peace and the respect of international law".

Mrs Chacon was first elected to parliament in 2000, and chosen as vice-president of the Congress of Deputies four years later before being elevated to the cabinet last July as housing minister.

Mr Zapatero, who has vowed to make gender equality one of the hallmarks of his second four-year term, has created a new equality ministry, to be headed by Bibiana Aido, 31, the youngest minister in Spain's history.

Pictured above, from left, are science and innovation minister Cristina Garmendia; transport and development minister Magdalena Alvarez; education, social affairs and sports minister Mercedes Cabrera Calvo; Mrs Chacon; deputy prime minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega; Mr Zapatero; public administration minister Elena Salgado; Miss Aido; housing minister Beatriz Corredor; and agriculture and environment minister Elena Espinosa.