The Parliament’s commission on appointments and immunities approved the bill that provides for the introduction of a women’s representation quota of at least 30% of the election candidates. It also endorsed the bill concerning the women’s representation quota of 40% in the Government. When they are debated in Parliament, the two bills will be merged, IPN reports.
Director of the Center “Casa Marioarei” Elena Burca said the bills will enable the women to take part in the decision-making process and to assert themselves. Director for development, monitoring and evaluation at East Europe Foundation Andrei Brighidin said there are eight countries in the EU that introduced women’s representation quotas for parties.
Expert in electoral strategies Olga Nicolenco noted that the women represent more than half of Moldova’s population (52%), but in Parliament they constitute only slightly over 18%. In the local public authorities they represent 21%. This shows that the interests of women in the state decisional bodies are underrepresented. Most of the women have higher education and the fact that they cannot take part in decision-making represents discrimination.
Democratic MP Sergiu Sarbu believes it is opportune to institute an equal gender quota, of 50%. His proposal will be discussed when the bills are examined in Parliament.
The legislature must adopt the bills by the end of June, which is six months before the parliamentary elections.
