A parity law like in France - this is what women in the German Bundestag are discussing across the political groups. Brandenburg has passed such a law for its state lists. The topic is also being discussed in other federal states.
While there are currently just 30.9 percent of women in parliament in Germany, as they have been since 1998, France boasts a record number of women in the National Assembly and is repeatedly cited as an ideal example in debates. After the election in 2017, women make up 40 percent. Political scientist Catherine Achin has investigated whether the parity law passed in 2000 is the reason for this. In an interview, she explains where Germany should be inspired by the neighboring country - and where there are still gaps in France.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: In Germany, France is considered a model of gender equality in politics. Is that justified?
Catherine Achin: Today. But France was not always a role model for Germany, but the other way round. By the year 2000, we did not even have ten per cent women in the National Assembly. Meanwhile, the proportion of women in the German Bundestag was around 30 percent. Because the parties had internal quotas.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: In 2000, France introduced the parity law. What has changed?
Achin: The Parity Act regulates the equal rights of men and women on the electoral lists on the financing of political parties. If the parties do not alternately occupy their seats on the electoral lists with men and women, they receive less government support. If the gap between male and female candidates exceeds two percent, these sanctions will apply.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Today there are 224 women in the French National Assembly, which is just under 40 percent. How do you explain this increase by twelve percent?
Achin: We owe that to the party of Emmanuel Macron, La République En Marche. The party has filled its electoral list with almost fifty percent of women - in positions in which they could win. And they have. That changed the situation in the government. So it depends to a large extent on the strategies of the parties.
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SPIEGEL ONLINE: And in what way then from the parity law?
Achin: The financial sanctions play without question a very large role. So far, the parties have always taken this financial risk into account. The UMP of Nicolas Sarkozy lost five million euros annually between 2007 and 2012 because his party did not respect the law. Meanwhile, the penalties for the parties have doubled. That's why the right has tried to win more women. The Republicans had in 2017 39 percent women on their electoral lists. Even the Front National made 49 percent women in the same year.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Of these, however, only 25 percent have landed in the government, because the quotas relate solely to the list. How can that be?
Achin: The men who make the lists regulate exactly who's on it. Setting up women is one thing, but putting up women who can win is another! The parity law ensures that there are more women in politics. But there are also some hidden effects.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: That means?
Achin: If you look at the photo of the National Assembly, you might see about the same number of women and men. What you do not see directly is that the women are much younger. Many places are specifically occupied with young, inexperienced women. After one or two mandates, the young women are replaced by new young women, who in turn have little experience. In each election about 60 percent of women are exchanged and only 40 percent of men. Even so, women are rarely in management positions.
SPIEGEL ONLINE: Are there any further gaps in the parity law?
Achin: The law does not regulate the highest levels of the National Assembly. Although all French parliaments are almost equally occupied, the glass ceiling remains thick. Few women lead these parliaments.