Gabriela Rodríguez de Bukele
{{short description|First Lady of El Salvador}}
{{Spanish married name|Rodríguez||Bukele}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Gabriela Rodríguez de Bukele
| image = Gabriela Rodríguez in 2019 (Gabriela Rodríguez de Bukele) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2019
| office = First Lady of El Salvador
| president = Nayib Bukele
| term_label = Assumed role
| term = 1 June 2019
| predecessor = Margarita Villalta de Sánchez
| office1 = First Lady of San Salvador
| 1blankname1 = Mayor
| 1namedata1 = Nayib Bukele
| term_start1 = 1 May 2015
| term_end1 = 30 April 2018
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 =
| office2 = First Lady of Nuevo Cuscatlán
| 1blankname2 = Mayor
| 1namedata2 = Nayib Bukele
| term_start2 = 6 December 2014
| term_end2 = 30 April 2015
| predecessor2 =
| successor2 =
| birth_name = Gabriela Roberta Rodríguez Perezalonso
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1985|3|31|df=yes}}
| birth_place = San Salvador, El Salvador
| party = Nuevas Ideas
| spouse = {{marriage|Nayib Bukele|2014}}
| children = 2
}}
Gabriela Roberta Rodríguez de Bukele{{cite web |url=https://www.diariooficial.gob.sv/diarios/do-2019/09-septiembre/20-09-2019.pdf |title=Número 176 |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=Diario Oficial |access-date=27 December 2019 |quote=Read page 9 |language=Spanish |archive-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227070729/https://www.diariooficial.gob.sv/diarios/do-2019/09-septiembre/20-09-2019.pdf |url-status=dead }} ({{née}} Rodríguez Perezalonso;{{cite web |url=https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/corte-no-envia-a-juicio-civil-a-nayib-bukele/488044/2018/ |title=Corte no envía a juicio civil a Nayib Bukele |last= |first= |date=5 June 2018 |website=El Diario de Hoy |language=Spanish |publisher= |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227070209/https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/corte-no-envia-a-juicio-civil-a-nayib-bukele/488044/2018/ |url-status=live }} 31 March 1985) is a Salvadoran educator, prenatal psychologist and the current First Lady of El Salvador, as the wife of the 81st President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele. She is also a professional ballet dancer and is part of the dance company Fundación Ballet de El Salvador.
Rodríguez was born in San Salvador. She holds a doctorate in prenatal psychology and founded PrePare, the first center for prenatal teaching in El Salvador, in October 2010. She married Bukele in 2014 and served as Secretary for Women during his tenure as Mayor of San Salvador (2015–2018), when she helped to create projects supporting women's rights and culture. Rodríguez founded the San Salvador Ballet group during her time as a Secretary for Women in San Salvador.
After Bukele's victory at the 2019 Salvadoran presidential election, Rodríguez was involved in the selection process for the government's cabinet.
Early life
Gabriela Roberta Rodríguez Perezalonso was born on 31 March 1985 in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador.{{cite web |url=https://www.presidencia.gob.sv/primera-dama/ |title=Primera Dama |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=Presidencia of El Salvador |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211164033/https://www.presidencia.gob.sv/primera-dama/ |archive-date=11 December 2019 |url-status=live }} She is the youngest of four daughters and her husband has claimed she has Sephardic Jewish ancestry.{{cite web |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/his-dad-was-an-imam-his-wife-has-jewish-roots-meet-el-salvadors-new-leader/ |title=His dad was an imam, his wife has Jewish roots: Meet El Salvador's new leader |last= |first= |date= |website=Times of Israel |publisher= |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627001613/https://www.timesofisrael.com/his-dad-was-an-imam-his-wife-has-jewish-roots-meet-el-salvadors-new-leader/ |archive-date=27 June 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/el-salvadors-new-president-is-a-palestinian-and-pro-israel/ |title=El Salvador's new President is a Palestinian and pro-Israel |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=Christians United for Israel |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227054800/https://www.cufi.org.uk/news/el-salvadors-new-president-is-a-palestinian-and-pro-israel/ |url-status=live }} Her father is José Roberto Rodríguez Trabanino, a Salvadoran investor,{{cite web |url=https://www.cnr.gob.sv/documentos/rc/enero_febrero_2010/Carteles%20de%20Matr%c3%adculas%20de%201a%20Vez.pdf |title=Carteles de matrículas |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=Centro Nacional de Registros |language=Spanish |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125032913/http://www.cnr.gob.sv/documentos/rc/enero_febrero_2010/Carteles%20de%20Matr%C3%ADculas%20de%201a%20Vez.pdf |archive-date=25 November 2011 |url-status=live }} while her mother, Arena Perezalonso de Rodríguez,{{cite web |url=https://republica.gt/2019/08/15/nace-layla-hija-del-presidente-nayib-bukele/ |title=Nace Layla hija del Presidente Nayib Bukele |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=República |language=Spanish |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914001224/https://republica.gt/2019/08/15/nace-layla-hija-del-presidente-nayib-bukele/ |archive-date=14 September 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/es-xl/noticias/mundo/gabriela-rodr%C3%ADguez-de-bukele-todo-sobre-la-primera-dama-de-el-salvador/ss-AAGQVar?li=AAggFp6 |title=Gabriela Rodríguez de Bukele: todo sobre la primera dama de El Salvador |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=MSN |language=Spanish |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226084730/https://www.msn.com/es-xl/noticias/mundo/gabriela-rodr%25C3%25ADguez-de-bukele-todo-sobre-la-primera-dama-de-el-salvador/ss-AAGQVar%3Fli%3DAAggFp6 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |url-status=live }} is a Nicaraguan who served as a member of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in El Salvador.{{cite web |url=http://biblioteca.utec.edu.sv/hemeroteca/svdca/1986/EDH19860111-001.pdf |title=Cámara Comercio contra 'paquete' |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date=11 January 1986 |website=El Diario de Hoy |publisher= |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226235616/http://biblioteca.utec.edu.sv/hemeroteca/svdca/1986/EDH19860111-001.pdf |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.camarasal.com/sobre-camarasal/centro-de-documentacion?view_doc=folder&cat=41&name_cat=Memorias%20de%20labores |title=Memoria de labores 2014 |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=Cámara de Comercio e Industria de El Salvador |access-date=26 December 2019 |quote=Download 'Memoria de Labores 2014' |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191018192256/http://camarasal.com/sobre-camarasal/centro-de-documentacion?view_doc=folder&cat=41&name_cat=Memorias%20de%20labores |archive-date=18 October 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://cinc.ansp.gob.sv/textocompleto/LPG1992/Agosto/01-08-92a_JPG.PDF |title=Inaugúrase 'Consuma 92' con nueva imagen en tiempos de paz |last= |first= |date=1 August 1992 |website=La Prensa Gráfica |language=Spanish |publisher= |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226235616/http://cinc.ansp.gob.sv/textocompleto/LPG1992/Agosto/01-08-92a_JPG.PDF |url-status=dead }} She showed an interest in ballet at an early age and joined the dance company Fundación Ballet de El Salvador.
Career
Rodríguez holds a doctorate in prenatal psychology, and is the first person in El Salvador with that title.{{cite web |url=https://ultimahora.sv/gabriela-de-bukele-unicef-sera-un-aliado-estrategico-para-cumplir-nuestras-politicas-socials/ |title=Gabriela de Bukele: UNICEF será un aliado estratégico para cumplir nuestras políticas sociales |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= 12 September 2018|website= |publisher=Última Hora |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915074055/http://ultimahora.sv/gabriela-de-bukele-unicef-sera-un-aliado-estrategico-para-cumplir-nuestras-politicas-socials/ |archive-date=15 September 2018 |url-status=live }} She founded PrePare in October 2010, the country's first center of prenatal teaching, of which she is the director.{{cite web |url=http://www.prepare.com.sv/conocenos.html |title=PrePare: Conócenos |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=PrePare |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181102024721/http://www.prepare.com.sv/conocenos.html |archive-date=2 November 2018 |url-status=live }} Rodríguez is also the regional representative to the Association For Prenatal And Perinatal Psychology And Health (APPPAH).{{cite web |url=https://issuu.com/marioeoporto/docs/laprensadelosangelesmayo2019 |title=¿Quién es Nayib Bukele? |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= 27 June 2019|website= |publisher=La Prensa de Los Ángeles |access-date=26 December 2019 |quote=Read page 8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226090045/https://issuu.com/marioeoporto/docs/laprensadelosangelesmayo2019 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |url-status=live }}
= Involvement in politics =
Rodríguez has worked closely with her husband during his political career. Bukele described her in 2016 as his partner and said, "Whoever votes for me for a public office knows that she comes with the package. That is how we are, a team, since twelve years ago, when we first met". During Bukele's mayoralty of San Salvador with the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) from 2015 to 2018, Rodríguez served ad honorem{{cite web |url=https://elmundo.sv/familiares-de-bukele-sin-dar-su-patrimonio/ |title=Familiares de Bukele sin dar su patrimonio |last= |first= |date= |website=El Mundo |language=Spanish |publisher= |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217151300/https://elmundo.sv/familiares-de-bukele-sin-dar-su-patrimonio/ |archive-date=17 February 2019 |url-status=live }} as the Municipal Secretary for Women. While in this role, she helped create the first Culture Secretariat of the Mayoralty of San Salvador, the San Salvador Ballet group{{cite web |url=https://ultimahora.sv/ballet-de-san-salvador-se-presenta-gratis-hoy-en-el-muna/ |title=Ballet de San Salvador se presenta gratis hoy en el MUNA |last= |first= |date= 21 May 2019|website= |publisher=Última Hora |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226092157/https://ultimahora.sv/ballet-de-san-salvador-se-presenta-gratis-hoy-en-el-muna/ |archive-date=26 December 2019 |url-status=live }} and the Secretariat for Women.{{cite web |url=http://porttada.com/carta-de-nayib-bukele-a-jose-roberto-dutriz-y-lpg |title=Carta de Nayib Bukele a José Roberto Dutriz y LPG |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=Porttada |language=Spanish |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170610091314/http://porttada.com/carta-de-nayib-bukele-a-jose-roberto-dutriz-y-lpg |archive-date=10 June 2017 |url-status=live }}
After being expelled from the FMLN on 10 October 2017,{{cite web|title=FMLN expulsa a Bukele del partido|url=http://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/406553/fmln-expulsa-a-nayib-bukele/|access-date=27 December 2019|language=Spanish|website=El Diario de Hoy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171011082540/http://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/406553/fmln-expulsa-a-nayib-bukele/|archive-date=11 October 2017|url-status=live}} Bukele founded a new political party called Nuevas Ideas,{{cite web |url=https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/nuevas-ideas-sera-inscrito-como-partido-politico-por-el-tse/511445/2018/ |title=Nuevas Ideas será inscrito como partido político por el TSE |last= |first= |date=21 August 2018 |website=El Diario de Hoy |language=Spanish |publisher= |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191227064838/https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/nuevas-ideas-sera-inscrito-como-partido-politico-por-el-tse/511445/2018/ |url-status=live }} and ran for the presidency of El Salvador as a candidate of the Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA).{{cite web |url=https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2019/02/03/elecciones-el-salvador-salvadorenos-eligen-presidente-nuevo/ |title=Nayib Bukele gana las elecciones en El Salvador |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= 4 February 2019|website= |publisher=CNN en Español |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102194405/https://cnnespanol.cnn.com/2019/02/03/elecciones-el-salvador-salvadorenos-eligen-presidente-nuevo/ |archive-date=2 November 2019 |url-status=live }} With Nuevas Ideas, Rodríguez founded and became the director of the program Bienestar Social in 2018.{{cite web |url=https://ultimahora.sv/programas-de-bienestar-social-de-nuevas-ideas-son-aplaudidos-por-la-poblacion/ |title=Programas de Bienestar Social de Nuevas Ideas son aplaudidos por la población |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= 10 December 2018|website= |publisher=Última Hora |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226091837/https://ultimahora.sv/programas-de-bienestar-social-de-nuevas-ideas-son-aplaudidos-por-la-poblacion/ |archive-date=26 December 2019 |url-status=live }} After Bukele's victory at the 2019 Salvadoran presidential election, Rodríguez became involved in the selection of the Cabinet, mostly for the social, health and education portfolios. She was also responsible for the education bills proposed by the government. During and after the electoral campaign, Rodríguez refused to give interviews to the national media.{{cite web |url=https://elfaro.net/es/201906/el_salvador/23362/Amigos-socios-y-parientes-en-el-nuevo-Gobierno.htm |title=Amigos, socios y parientes en el nuevo Gobierno |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= |website=El Faro |publisher= |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127143506/https://elfaro.net/es/201906/el_salvador/23362/Amigos-socios-y-parientes-en-el-nuevo-Gobierno.htm |archive-date=27 November 2019 |url-status=live }} Her government positions and those of Bukele's relatives, have been criticized by Salvadoran publications such as La Prensa Gráfica and El Faro, which have accused the president of nepotism.{{cite web |url=https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/Senalamientos-de-nepotismo-en-gabinete-de-presidente-Bukele-20190607-0452.html |title=Señalamientos de nepotismo en gabinete de presidente Bukele |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= |website=La Prensa Gráfica |publisher= |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715133553/https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/Senalamientos-de-nepotismo-en-gabinete-de-presidente-Bukele-20190607-0452.html |archive-date=15 July 2019 |url-status=live }}
Personal life
Rodríguez is a professional ballet dancer and part of the dance company Fundación Ballet of El Salvador.{{cite web |url=https://laverdadnoticias.com/estiloyvida/Quien-es-Gabriela-Rodriguez-de-Bukele-y-por-que-vas-a-querer-conocerla-20190725-0103.html |title=¿Quién es Gabriela Rodríguez de Bukele y por qué vas a querer conocerla? |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=La Verdad |language=Spanish |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226083357/https://laverdadnoticias.com/estiloyvida/Quien-es-Gabriela-Rodriguez-de-Bukele-y-por-que-vas-a-querer-conocerla-20190725-0103.html |archive-date=26 December 2019 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://ultimahora.sv/periodico-estadounidense-whashington-hispanic-destaca-participacion-de-ballet-san-salvador/ |title=Periódico estadounidense Washington Hispanic destaca participación de Ballet San Salvador |last= |first= |date= 16 September 2017|website= |publisher=Última Hora |language=Spanish |access-date=27 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171021200400/http://ultimahora.sv/periodico-estadounidense-whashington-hispanic-destaca-participacion-de-ballet-san-salvador/ |archive-date=21 October 2017 |url-status=live }} She began dating Bukele in 2004{{cite web |url=https://www.notimerica.com/politica/noticia-quien-gabriela-rodriguez-bukele-nueva-primera-dama-salvador-20190204213247.html |title=¿Quién es Gabriela Rodríguez de Bukele, la nueva primera dama de El Salvador? |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= 4 February 2019|website= |publisher=Notimérica |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517085926/https://www.notimerica.com/politica/noticia-quien-gabriela-rodriguez-bukele-nueva-primera-dama-salvador-20190204213247.html |archive-date=17 May 2019 |url-status=live }} and they married on 6 December 2014 in a private ceremony in El Boquerón, San Salvador.{{cite web |url=http://elblog.com/noticias/registro-19222.html |title=Fotos: Boda de Nayib y Gabriela|language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher=El Blog |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224191931/http://elblog.com/noticias/registro-19222.html |archive-date=24 December 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://www.newsmillenium.com/2014/12/medios-destacan-boda-bukele-rodriguez/|title=Medios destacan boda Bukele-Rodríguez|language=Spanish|last=|first=|date=|website=|publisher=News Millenium|access-date=26 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226090945/https://www.newsmillenium.com/2014/12/medios-destacan-boda-bukele-rodriguez/|archive-date=26 December 2019|url-status=live}} She announced her pregnancy days before Bukele won the presidential elections.{{cite web |url=https://www.mujerhoy.com/celebrities/corazon/201902/20/gabriela-bukele-primera-dama-el-salvador-20190215122819.html |title=Gabriela de Bukele, una primera dama 'millenial' para El Salvador |last= |first= |date=20 February 2019 |website= |publisher=Mujer Hoy |language=Spanish |access-date=1 January 2020 |archive-date=17 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517085926/https://www.mujerhoy.com/celebrities/corazon/201902/20/gabriela-bukele-primera-dama-el-salvador-20190215122819.html |url-status=live }} Their child, Layla, was born on 15 August 2019.{{cite web |url=https://elmundo.sv/presidente-bukele-anuncia-el-nacimiento-de-su-hija-layla/ |title=Presidente Bukele anuncia el nacimiento de su hija Layla |language=Spanish |last= |first= |date= |website=El Mundo |publisher= |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190922221358/https://elmundo.sv/presidente-bukele-anuncia-el-nacimiento-de-su-hija-layla/ |archive-date=22 September 2019 |url-status=dead }} The couple's second child, Aminah, was born on 8 November 2023.{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/presidente-bukele-anuncia-nacimiento-de-su-segunda-hija|title=Presidente Bukele Anuncia Nacimiento de su Segunda Hija|trans-title=President Bukele Announces the Birth of His Second Daughter|language=es|date=8 November 2023|access-date=8 November 2023|work=El Mundo|first1=Magdalena|last1=Reyes|archive-date=8 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231108144124/https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/presidente-bukele-anuncia-nacimiento-de-su-segunda-hija|url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.prepare.com.sv/ PrePare's website] (in Spanish)
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{{s-bef|before=Margarita Villalta de Sánchez}}
{{s-ttl|title=First Lady of El Salvador|years=2019–present}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rodriguez de Bukele, Gabriela}}
Category:People from San Salvador Department
Category:People from San Salvador
Category:First ladies of El Salvador
Category:21st-century Salvadoran women politicians
Category:21st-century Salvadoran politicians
Category:Salvadoran people of Nicaraguan descent
Category:Salvadoran psychologists
Category:Salvadoran women psychologists