Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1091272
8 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 10 MARCH 2019 KURT SANSONE A quota law to ensure gen- der parity in parliament if this does not happen naturally in an election, would enjoy wide- spread support, a MaltaToday survey found. The figures show that 69.2% of voters agree with a quota law to increase the respective number of men and women in parliament to reach a balance between the two sexes. Opposition to the idea runs at 24.2%, while 6.6% are unsure. The government is consider- ing a proposal to introduce a quota system to increase the representation of women in Parliament. No details have been put for- ward yet but MaltaToday has reported that a post-election adjustment mechanism could be considered to increase the number of MPs from the under-represented gender to reach a 40% quota. The survey did not ask about a specific mechanism but whether people agreed with the principle of increasing the number of MPs from the un- der-represented gender to en- sure an equal number of men and women. The results showed that women were stronger believers with 81% agreeing with a quota system and 13.4% opposed. Men were less enthusiastic but still an absolute major- ity (58.7%) supported it, while 33.7% disagreed. Support for the quota system cut across all age groups but the strongest believers in the idea were the young and the elderly. Among those aged between 18 and 35, 72.8% agreed with a parliamentary quota as did 71.5% of those aged 65 and over. Support among those aged between 36 and 65 ran at more than 64%. A gender quota for parlia- ment will enjoy support across all regions. Voters in the South-Eastern region were the strongest believers with 79.1% agreeing with the suggestion, while Gozitans reserved the coolest reception for the idea with support running at 53.8%. Although there does appear to be cross-party agreement with a quota system, Labour NEWS MALTATODAY SURVEY Majority support parliamentary quotas to ensure gender parity 65+ Primary Secondary Post Sec Tertiary Gozo Northern Northern Harbour South Eastern Southern Harbour Western 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 78.5% 13.4% 8.1% 75.5% 9.7% 14.7% 78.5% 12.3% 9.3% 75.8% 13.9% 10.3% 76.0% 15.5% 8.5% 73.8% 17.6% 8.6% 80.3% 13.3% 6.4% 75.3% 13.4% 11.3% 93.5% 69.4% 13.2% 17.4% 72.6% 18.9% 8.5% Yes No Don't Know What women respondents said: More women in parliament needed ALL Female 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 76.9% 13.0% 10.0% 86.9% 5.2% 7.9% Yes No Don't Know Gender parity in candidates' lists ALL Female 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 54.6% 37.8% 7.6% 66.3% 28.0% 5.6% Yes No Don't Know Agree with parliamentary quotas ALL Female 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100% 69.2% 24.2% 6.6% 81.0% 13.4% 5.5% Yes No Don't Know