MP Calls for Gender Balance in Third-Party Politics

MP Pushes for Gender Balance in Third-Party Politics

Imagine standing in the bustling Republic Street, Malta’s capital city, teeming with life and diverse opinions. Now, picture that scene reflected in our political scene. That’s exactly what Partit Laburista MP, Jason Azzopardi, is advocating for – a more balanced representation of genders in third-party politics.

Current State of Play

Malta’s political scene is dominated by two main parties, Partit Laburista (PL) and Partit Nazzjonalista (PN). However, third parties have been gaining traction, with parties like Alternattiva Demokratika and Partit Demokratiku making their voices heard. Yet, the gender balance within these smaller parties remains a concern. Azzopardi believes that tweaking the current mechanism could encourage more women to step into the political arena.

Proposed Tweaks

Azzopardi is suggesting changes to the way third-party candidates are elected. Currently, candidates are elected based on the number of votes they receive. Azzopardi proposes a system that ensures a balance of genders, similar to the system used for electing PL and PN candidates. This would mean that if a party has more male candidates than female, the female candidates would be prioritized to ensure a balance.

“We need to encourage more women to participate in politics,” Azzopardi told Hot Malta. “By tweaking the mechanism, we’re sending a clear message that we value diversity and balance.”

This proposal comes amidst a global push for gender equality in politics. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, women make up only 24.7% of national parliamentarians worldwide. In Malta, the figure stands at 33%, still leaving room for improvement.