PL MP Proposes Gender Quota for Third-Party MEPs

MP Calls for Gender Balance in Third-Party Appointments

Imagine this: you’re walking down Republic Street, Malta’s bustling thoroughfare, and you spot a familiar face on a political poster. But something’s different. The gender balance has shifted. This isn’t a dream; it’s a vision that’s one step closer to reality, thanks to a proposal by a PL MP.

Current State of Affairs

Malta’s political scene is vibrant, with a mix of parties vying for your vote. But when it comes to who represents us in the European Parliament, it’s been a different story. Since 2004, Malta has elected six MEPs, and not a single one has been a woman. This isn’t a reflection of our society – Malta’s gender balance is more equal than that. So, what’s going on?

Currently, our MEPs are appointed through a system involving political parties. The party with the most votes gets the first MEP, the second party gets the second, and so on. But here’s the catch: if a party doesn’t meet a certain threshold, their candidate doesn’t make the cut. This has led to a situation where only the ‘big two’ parties – Labour and PN – have had MEPs.

A Tweak for Balance

Enter Dr. Josianne Cutajar, PL MP and Chairperson of the European Parliament’s Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality. She’s proposing a tweak to the system. Instead of the current first-past-the-post method, she suggests a system of proportional representation. Here’s how it would work: each party’s votes would be divided by the number of MEPs they’re entitled to, and the remainder would be distributed among the candidates. This way, even if a party doesn’t meet the threshold, their candidate could still make it to Brussels.

But here’s the breakthrough: Dr. Cutajar is also proposing a gender balance clause. Parties would have to ensure that their candidates are at least 40% women. If not, they’d lose out on some of their votes. It’s a carrot-and-stick approach, encouraging parties to up their game on gender equality.

So, the next time you’re strolling down Republic Street, you might just see more women on those political posters. But remember, this is just the first step. It’s up to all of us to keep pushing for a more balanced political scene.