Spanish defense minister gives birth to a boy

In this April 14, 2008 file photo, Spain's pregnant defense minister Carme Chacon reviews troops in Madrid. Josep Maria Lailla, chief obstetrician at San Joan de Deu Hospital, says Chacon has given birth to her first child, Miguel, a 2.8-kilo (6-pound) boy in her hometown of Esplugues de Llobregat near Barcelona. Chacon is Spain's first female defense minister. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

MADRID, Spain—Spain's first female defense minister, who drew attention when she was appointed to the post while seven months pregnant, gave birth to a boy on Monday.

Carme Chacon, 37, had a 6-pound boy in her hometown of Esplugues de Llobregat near Barcelona, said Dr. Josep Maria Lailla, chief obstetrician at San Joan de Deu Hospital.

The doctor said the baby will be named Miquel, the Catalan version of Miguel, after his father Miguel Barroso. Chacon, who is Catalan, and the baby are both fine, the doctor said.

Chacon had been due to testify before Parliament for the first time Tuesday to outline her policy, but the ministry requested a delay after she was admitted to the hospital to give birth.

One of the most immediate questions raised by Chacon's appointment was whether she will take the full 16 weeks of maternity leave to which she is entitled. The ministry declined to comment on Monday.

Chacon was appointed last month by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, who won re-election in March and has made gender equality a hallmark of his administration.

The Cabinet appointments not only gave Spain its first female defense minister but also featured nine women to eight men. That compares with a 50-50 split in Zapatero's first term, when there were 16 ministers.

Photos of a heavily pregnant Chacon reviewing soldiers the day she assumed her post ran on the front page of seven national newspapers and also dominated television news coverage that day.

Some critics noted she had no military experience and said pregnancy or the challenges of new motherhood would handicap her as she tried to learn the ropes of a highly demanding position.

In a matter of days, perhaps in a bid to silence critics, Chacon took off on a whirlwind tour to visit Spanish peacekeeping troops in Afghanistan, Lebanon and Bosnia.