Anne Malherbe Gosselin

Anne Malherbe Gosselin (born Anne Malherbe on December 16, 1968) is the wife of Rafael Correa, President of Ecuador from January 2007 until May 2017. She was born in Namur, Belgium, as the daughter of Paul Malherbe and Chantal Gosselin.[1] She met Correa while both were attending courses in the University of Louvain (UCLouvain), in Belgium. They later married and, during Correa's presidency, set up residency in Ecuador. After it, the couple moved to Belgium.[2]

This article uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Malherbe and the second or maternal family name is Gosselin.

Anne Malherbe Gosselin
First Lady of Ecuador
In role January 15, 2007 – May 24, 2017
President	Rafael Correa
Preceded by	María Beatriz Paret
Succeeded by	Rocío González Navas
Personal details
Born	Anne Malherbe Gosseline (1968-12-16) December 16, 1968 Namur, Belgium
Spouse(s)	Rafael Correa ( m. 1992)
Children	Sofía Anne Dominique Rafael Miguel
Residence	Quito, Ecuador (private) Palacio de Carondelet (official)
Alma mater	University of Louvain
Occupation	Teacher

Public statements

Since Correa's inauguration, Malherbe opted to keep a low public profile, remaining 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.[3] It is important to highlight that she received a total unyielding support from her husband in this decision.

Malherbe won sympathy from the Ecuadorian people, who until then knew very little of her, after 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.[4] After this interview she returned to her daily routine away from the public eye.

Malherbe has actually never been referred or presented as First Lady of Ecuador, due to the socialist beliefs of Correa whom accordingly thinks that in an "equal socialist society there should not be a first lady as all its citizens men and women are the same." The duties of the First Lady were transferred to Patronato San José first, and now are part of the Ministry of Social Inclusion.

References

1. "Orígenes de Anne Malherbe, en la base de datos de Mauricio Alvarado-Dávila" (in Spanish). GeneaNet. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
2. "Ex-Ecuador president Correa denies planning coup attempt from exile". Reuters. 2019-10-09. Retrieved 2019-11-10.
3. "¿Tenemos primera dama?" (in Spanish). Hoy. 6 August 2007. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2013.
4. "La primera dama de Ecuador se avergüenza de ser belga" (in Spanish). Hoy. Retrieved 27 June 2013.

Honorary titles
Preceded by María Beatriz Paret	First Lady of Ecuador 2007 – 2017	Succeeded by Rocio Gonzalez