President Bronislaw Komorowski signed a bill into law Friday which introduces 35-percent gender parity on electoral rolls in a major step forward for equal opportunities in the political sphere, say observers.

According to the new law, at least 35 percent of the names submitted on electoral rolls ahead of this year’s parliamentary elections (except the Senate), EU parliamentary elections and municipal elections must be female.

Specific regulations say that if there are three candidates on a roll at least one of them has to be a woman.

The law on gender parity was initially drafted by the Women’s Congress, which argues that women should have an equal representation in politics.

The gender parity bill, giving women or men 35 percent of places on electoral rolls, was originally submitted on 12 December 2009 after having been signed by 120,000 people.

During local elections last year women constituted around 31 percent of all candidates and 22 percent of them managed to get a seat in local government. (mg)


Source: IAR