Do electoral laws affect women’s representation in parliament? The case of Albania

• Pages: 64-72

Vol. 7 No. 2

July, 2021

Academic Journal of Business, Administration, Law and Social Sciences

IIPCCL Publishing, Graz-Austria

ISSN 2410-3918

Acces online at www.iipccl.org

64

Do electoral laws aect women’s representation in parliament? The case of

Albania

Dr. Nadia Rusi

University of Tirana, Albania

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ilda Melo (Kovaci)

University of Tirana, Albania

Abstract

The importance of women representation in decision-making processes has long been a

controversialtopicinAlbanianpoliticreality.Althoughwomen’sparticipationinparliamentary

level is seen by many scholars and studies crucial to improving the representative nature,

accountability and quality of Albanian democracy, still Albanian parliament remain a long

wayfromparitybetweenwomenandmen.Theaimofthispaperistoanalyzehowthechanges

ofAlbanian electorallegislation during2001-2020has impactedwomen’s representationin

AlbanianParliament.Specically,itinvestigates whetherthe introductionof genderquotas

andgendersensitiveprovisionsinelectorallawhasinuencedtheincreaseofwomenelected

representatives.

Comparing the data and results of six electoral processes in parliamentary level and the legal

framework under which they are organized we demonstrate that there is a link between

problemsandgapsidentiedinAlbanianelectoralCodeandtherepresentationofwomenin

parliament during the same period. Moreover, our analysis reveal that the political forces in

Albaniahavedemonstrated insucientunderstandingand lackofacceptanceofthegender

equality concept and its advantages for society. For this reason, we suggest that both the

inclusion of ranking orders of candidates in the electoral lists and sanctions of non-compliance

for electoral subjects are of great importance in increase of women’s representation in

Parliamentuntil the political cultureand electoral subject’swillingnesschange in favorof

promotion of gender equality in political representation and gender balanced parliaments.

Keywords: gender equality, political representation, electoral reforms, gender quotas.

1. Introduction

Truly democratic institutions should reect the diversity of the population and

address the needs of all. Balanced participation of women and men in political

andpublicdecision-makingisa keyindicatorofgenderequality andwomen’sfull

enjoyment of their human rights, a condition for equality, social justice and cohesion. 1

Inclusivenessiswidelyregardedasoneofthekeyvaluesofdemocraticpolicies,so

thatallmajorsocialcleavageshaveavoiceinthepolicymakingprocess,whetherthe

politicallyrelevant groupsaredened bygender, ethnicity, region,socioeconomic

 1 CoE factsheet (2017) Gender Equality Strategy: Achieving balanced participation of women and

men in political and public decision-making: a gender equality and democratic requirement accessible

at https://www.coe.int/en/web/genderequality/balanced-participation#{%2216805331%22:[1]} ,

accessed June 2021.