Spain's first female defence minister found dead in Madrid aged 46
Carmen Chacón, who became Spain's first female defence minister under the Socialist government of Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, died on Sunday at the age of 46.
Chacón was discovered dead in her Madrid flat on Sunday night when medics broke down her door after a neighbour raised the alarm.
"Dismayed by the premature departure of Carmen Chacón. Today all Socialists mourn out of pain and helplessness," the opposition party said on its Twitter page.
Consternados por la prematura marcha de Carmen Chacón. Hoy todos y todas los socialistas lloramos de dolor e impotencia. pic.twitter.com/F1vvF9uGvF
— PSOE (@PSOE) April 9, 2017
The cause of death has not been confirmed, although Spanish news outlets reported that she had been suffered from a congenital heart defect.
Chacón, who was from Llobregat, Barcelona and joined the Socialist Youth at the age of 18 began served as a local councillor between 1999 to 2007.
She went on to become the first female defence minister from 2008 to 2011 under Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, a role she took up when she was seven months pregnant.
She famously visited Spanish troops in Afghanistan when heavily pregnant.
Chacón reviewing troops in Afghanistan when seven months pregnant. Photo: AFP
Chacón made a bid to replace Zapatero as head of the PSOE after the party was heavily defeated in Spain’s 2011 general election but narrowly lost.
She went to become general secretary for international relations between 2014 and 2016 when she resigned.
According to media reports she had been advised since childhood to lead a calm life because of her heart condition. But she ignored the advice repeatedly - including the suggestion that it would be risky to have children.
“I have a pulse rate of 35 beats a minute and my heart is reversed, I have a complete atrioventricular heart block,” she told the La Vanguardia newspaper in late 2015. “That makes me think that every day is a gift.”
Tributes flooded in from across the political spectrum and a wake was held at PSOE headquarters in Madrid on Monday afternoon.
Mr Zapatero said he was "heartbroken at the death of my comrade and friend".
El expresidente Zapatero, sobre Carme Chacón: "Fue una gran amiga y una ejemplar servidora pública" https://t.co/yxDAHs5ftl pic.twitter.com/Mo817mR3S6
— 24h (@24h_tve) April 10, 2017
He said "we feel emptiness, because of the enormity of this loss, for Spanish democracy and for all socialists".
The current Popular Party (PP) defence minister, Dolores de Cospedal, said "I deeply mourn the ex-minister". "My heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and the Socialist Party. RIP."
Lamento profundamente la muerte de la exministra Carme Chacón. Mi más sentido pésame a su familia, amigos y al PSOE. DEP
— Mª Dolores Cospedal (@mdcospedal) April 9, 2017
She was separated and her son, Miquel, is now eight years old.
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Chacón was discovered dead in her Madrid flat on Sunday night when medics broke down her door after a neighbour raised the alarm.
"Dismayed by the premature departure of Carmen Chacón. Today all Socialists mourn out of pain and helplessness," the opposition party said on its Twitter page.
Consternados por la prematura marcha de Carmen Chacón. Hoy todos y todas los socialistas lloramos de dolor e impotencia. pic.twitter.com/F1vvF9uGvF
— PSOE (@PSOE) April 9, 2017
The cause of death has not been confirmed, although Spanish news outlets reported that she had been suffered from a congenital heart defect.
Chacón, who was from Llobregat, Barcelona and joined the Socialist Youth at the age of 18 began served as a local councillor between 1999 to 2007.
She went on to become the first female defence minister from 2008 to 2011 under Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, a role she took up when she was seven months pregnant.
She famously visited Spanish troops in Afghanistan when heavily pregnant.
Chacón reviewing troops in Afghanistan when seven months pregnant. Photo: AFP
Chacón made a bid to replace Zapatero as head of the PSOE after the party was heavily defeated in Spain’s 2011 general election but narrowly lost.
She went to become general secretary for international relations between 2014 and 2016 when she resigned.
According to media reports she had been advised since childhood to lead a calm life because of her heart condition. But she ignored the advice repeatedly - including the suggestion that it would be risky to have children.
“I have a pulse rate of 35 beats a minute and my heart is reversed, I have a complete atrioventricular heart block,” she told the La Vanguardia newspaper in late 2015. “That makes me think that every day is a gift.”
Tributes flooded in from across the political spectrum and a wake was held at PSOE headquarters in Madrid on Monday afternoon.
Mr Zapatero said he was "heartbroken at the death of my comrade and friend".
El expresidente Zapatero, sobre Carme Chacón: "Fue una gran amiga y una ejemplar servidora pública" https://t.co/yxDAHs5ftl pic.twitter.com/Mo817mR3S6
— 24h (@24h_tve) April 10, 2017
He said "we feel emptiness, because of the enormity of this loss, for Spanish democracy and for all socialists".
The current Popular Party (PP) defence minister, Dolores de Cospedal, said "I deeply mourn the ex-minister". "My heartfelt condolences to her family, friends and the Socialist Party. RIP."
Lamento profundamente la muerte de la exministra Carme Chacón. Mi más sentido pésame a su familia, amigos y al PSOE. DEP
— Mª Dolores Cospedal (@mdcospedal) April 9, 2017
She was separated and her son, Miquel, is now eight years old.
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