Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero (C) poses with all the female ministers of his cabinet on the step of the Moncloa Palace before their first cabinet meeting April 14, 2008. (L-R) Science and Innovation Minister Cristina Garmendia, Development Minister Magdalena Alvarez, Education Minister Mercedes Cabrera, Defence Minister Carme Chacon, Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Public Administration Minister Elena Salgado, Equality Minister Bibiana Aido, Housing Minister Beatriz Corredor and Environment, Agriculture and Fisheries minister Elena Espinosa.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    MADRID, April 14 (Xinhua) -- Carme Chacon was sworn in Monday as Spain's first woman defense minister, with 16 other ministers headed by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

    Chacon, 37, with a seven-month pregnancy, had served as housing minister in Zapatero's first government, and was described by the prime minister as "one of the major new stars of the Socialist Party."

    The Socialist Party won 169 seats in the 350-seat lower house of parliament in last month's elections. Chacon succeeds Jose Antonio Alonso, who has been named speaker of the lower house.

    With Chacon included, the new cabinet led by Zapatero has nine female ministers. "It is the first government in which a woman has the defense portfolio and the first government in which there are more women than men," said Zapatero.