Occupation Teacher Alma mater University of Louvain Role Rafael Correa's wife | Full Name Anne Malherbe Name Anne Gosselin Preceded by Maria Beatriz Paret Religion Roman Catholic | |
Education Universite catholique de Louvain Children Sofia Correa, Anne Dominique Correa, Rafael Miguel Correa Parents Paul Malherbe, Chantal Gosselin Similar People Rafael Correa, Carlos Vera Rodriguez, Alfredo Palacio, Lucio Gutierrez, Alvaro Noboa | ||
Voto de esposa del Presidente de Rafael Correa, Anne Malherbe Gosseline
Anne Malherbe Gosselin (born Anne Malherbe on December 16, 1968) is the wife of President Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador since January 2007. She was born in Namur, Belgium, as the daughter of Paul Malherbe and Chantal Gosselin. She met Rafael while both were attending courses in the Catholic University of Louvain, in Belgium. Some time later they got married and set up residency in Ecuador.
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Public statements
Since President Correa's inauguration she opted to keep a low public profile and to be completely focused on her duties as a mother and wife. The only public statement of a political nature was during the first weeks of President Correa's term in office, made concerning the perceived duties of the First Lady; she alleged that "we, women are all equal" giving reassurances to all people that hold the belief of a self intrinsic value as individuals and not for their spouse's position. It is important to highlight that she received a total unyielding support from her husband in this decision.
Anne Malherbe won sympathy from the Ecuadorian people (who until then knew very little of her) by a public statement on 31 July 2007 when during a telephone interview with EFE she referred to the case of an Ecuadorian child, Angélica Loja Cajamarca, who together with her mother had been detained in Belgium for not carrying a photo ID and were held at a center for undocumented migrants. The First lady said she was ashamed of what her country did to a child who was only eleven years old. After this interview she returned to her daily routine away from the public eye.
Anne Malherbe has actually never been referred or presented as "First Lady of Ecuador" this is due to the socialist believes of President Correa whom accordingly thinks in an "equal socialist society there should not be a first lady as all its citizens men and women are the same" This is the main reason she's remained aside at all times. She is currently living in her native Belgium, not in Ecuador. The responsibilities traditionally held by the First Lady have been reassigned, initially to Patronato San José, and subsequently integrated into the Ministry of Social Inclusion.