The gender quota mechanism does not detract from the legitimacy and value of the women elected through it, the Labour Party said on Wednesday.
The mechanism allocates up to twelve additional seats in parliament if a certain threshold of the under-represented gender is not met.
The mechanism has been in the spotlight as of late, with European Parliament President and Nationalist Party MEP Roberta Metsola saying that the mechanism, which was introduced ahead of the most recent general election with the intent of having more women present in the Maltese parliament, “has failed.”
Metsola remarked that the mechanism in question had noble aims but that the way it has been implemented means that it has become a tool which actively works against women candidates. PN MP Claudette Buttigieg had also voiced her thoughts on the mechanism, having been reported as saying that she will refuse to be elected through the gender-quota mechanism in the next general election because she feels women are being “used as a token” of equality.
In a statement, the Labour Party said that the increased presence of women in Parliament has helped to make parliamentary work more representative and with a broader vision for the benefit of the people. “This was a necessary – and successful – step towards a fairer and more equal society.”
|It is therefore regrettable to hear comments questioning the legitimacy or capacity of these women. Recent remarks by the President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and PN MP Claudette Buttigieg give the wrong impression that this mechanism has failed – an interpretation that is not only premature, but also based on superficial impressions and not on a serious and objective assessment,” the PL said.
The Labour Party said that Metsola has always been opposed to any form of positive measures, “a well-known position that it expressed long before the gender balance mechanism came into effect.”
|The facts are clear: the representation of women in Parliament increased from 13% to 28% – a historic increase that would never have been achieved without this mechanism.”
Malta has long been mentioned among the worst in the European Union in terms of gender balance in politics, the PL said.
The Labour Party said that it has fulfilled its mission to bring about concrete and structured changes, by introducing a constitutional mechanism with broad consultation of all parties.
“Malta is not alone on this path – more than a dozen countries in the European Union use similar mechanisms. This is the path that many countries have started to achieve equality. However, the mechanism remains temporary and should therefore be accompanied by other complementary measures: including structures such as a parliamentary caucus, a policy of mainstreaming into legislation, and facilities for families.”
“The Labour Party remains committed to pursuing a policy based on social justice. The Labour Party will continue to defend this mechanism and the contribution of women in politics – not only for what they have already delivered, but for what they can still do to make Malta a truly equal country for all.”