Top Female Leaders Around the World

On Sept. 15 Helle Thorning-Schmidt led her political alliance to victory in Denmark, paving the way for her to become the country's first female Prime Minister. In honor of female politicians kicking through glass ceilings, TIME takes a look at 13 women who have made it to the top

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, President of Argentina

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner

Natacha Pisarenko / AP

Elected President in November 2007 (thereby succeeding her husband Néstor Kirchner), Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has proved she is her own woman. Dismissively referred to as Cristina by some members of Argentina's macho political elite, Fernández has survived a standoff with the country's powerful farming lobby, a fallout with the U.S. over a suitcase allegedly containing illegal campaign contributions and a series of high-profile economic-policy spats that culminated in the ousting of the governor of Argentina's Central Bank earlier this year. With her striking appearance and polarizing rhetoric, she inevitably draws comparisons to former First Lady Eva Perón.

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