It’s not what you’d expect from Spain, that they’d have the first majority-female cabinet in Europe. But then, ask yourself what you really know about the Spanish sexes. The men like to chase bulls. Ergo, they must be incredibly masculine. I think this has really warped our impression of Spanish chauvinism.

The women’s movement in Spain, in fact, kicks ass. In March last year the Spanish Congress, marshalled by Prime Minister Zapatero, passed an incredibly far-reaching equality bill that required medium-to-large companies to employ 40 per cent women at top-ranking positions.

It also required the same of political parties in larger boroughs across the country. Given that only one in five top executives in Spain was female at the time, it is really hard to overstate what an incredible difference this makes.

Just look at the cabinet, for pete’s sake. They’re like knotweed, these females; or mice in Victorian houses. If you see one, before you know it, you’ll have nineteen.

And yet, when this law was passed, the women’s lobby, headed on this matter by the feminist Susana Camarero, accused Zapatero of being an “armchair feminist”, on the basis that if these measures only applied to top-level positions, they did nothing for the average woman on the street. I mean, on the one hand, maybe she has a point. But on the other, come on, sister. Throw the guy a damn bone.

Anyway, back to this incredible cabinet, with nine out of a possible 17 positions occupied by women, one of whom is only 31 and another of whom is actually pregnant.

If I can stop referring to these trailblazing women as mice and just be serious for a mere second, clearly, it has not all been plain sailing. The rightwing press, perplexingly, referred to them as an army of seamstresses. Predictably, questions have also been asked about whether a woman can cut it as defence minister.

I wonder if people think the occupants of these ‘top’ positions have to fight the wars themselves, like gladiators in the ancient times. Would that were the case... I think it suffices to say bravo, to the Spanish premier. You can feminise in my armchair anytime.