Picture this: Malta’s political scene, a bustling market square where ideas are traded like fresh produce. But if you’re looking for female voices among the candidates, you might feel like you’re searching for a specific fish in a sea of blue and red. Why is it that women seem to be the missing piece in Malta’s political puzzle?

Let’s start with the facts. In the 2019 European Parliament elections, only 17% of Malta’s candidates were women. Compare this to the European average of 40%. Locally, it’s a similar story. In the 2019 General Election, women made up just 22% of candidates. These numbers aren’t just statistics; they’re a reflection of the reality on the ground.

Take a stroll down Republic Street in Valletta, the heart of Maltese politics. You’ll see posters of candidates lining the streets, but how many of those faces are women? Not enough, according to Dr. Maria Attard, a political scientist at the University of Malta. “We’re not seeing enough women putting themselves forward, and when they do, they’re not always successful,” she says.

So, why the hesitation? A survey by the Nationalist Party in 2019 found that many women felt they lacked the necessary experience or confidence to run for office. Others cited family commitments as a barrier. But Dr. Attard argues that these are often just symptoms of deeper issues. “There’s a lack of role models, a lack of mentorship, and a culture that still expects women to bear the brunt of domestic responsibilities,” she says.

Then there’s the issue of online harassment. A 2020 study by the Institute for European Studies found that Maltese women politicians were more likely to experience online abuse than their male counterparts. It’s a chilling reminder of the reality that many women face when they step into the public eye.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. There are success stories that give us hope. Consider Miriam Dalli, Malta’s first female Minister for the Environment, or Claudette Buttigieg, the first woman to lead a political party in Malta. Their journeys show that it’s possible to break the mould.

Initiatives like ‘Political Start’, a project aimed at encouraging more women into politics, are also making a difference. Led by the Malta Confederation of Women’s Organisations, it provides training and mentorship to women interested in politics. “We’re not just teaching them about politics,” says project coordinator Maria Vella, “we’re giving them the tools and confidence to succeed.”

Malta’s political scene needs more diversity. It needs more women bringing their unique perspectives to the table. It needs more mothers, sisters, daughters standing up and saying, “I have something to offer, and I won’t be silent.”

So, what can we do? We can support initiatives like ‘Political Start’. We can encourage the parties to adopt gender quotas. We can challenge our own biases and call out online harassment. And most importantly, we can vote for women. Because when we see more women in politics, we’re not just filling a quota, we’re enriching our democracy.

As Dr. Attard puts it, “Malta needs to wake up to the fact that it’s missing out on half its talent. It’s time to change that.”