As the 2007 and 2008 election deadlines approach, a debate resurfaces: that of gender parity, enforced by the law of June 6, 2000. In Nice, many local elected officials have their opinions on the subject. Whether they are from the majority or the opposition, none mince their words.
“The rule on parity is being circumvented!” This is how Robert Injey, the departmental secretary of the French Communist Party and municipal councilor of the opposition, sums up the law’s application. As an example, he points out the disproportion between men and women in the position of deputy mayors. “Indeed, the municipal councilors are as many men as women, but what about their deputies?”
Convinced of the usefulness of the law of June 6, 2000, the elected official laments one point: “it is not strict enough.” For if in its first article it stipulates parity in the lists, some parties prefer to pay financial penalties to avoid it.
A disappointing finding for Patrick Allemand, Vice-president of the Regional Council. According to him, a balance in politics would be beneficial. Firmly, he supports it: “Women bring a completely complementary perspective.”
To address this “legal void,” Robert Injey suggests a possible remedy: to impose a proportional representation system with complete parity during the 2007 legislative elections. “This would allow every citizen to have the same chances of accessing mandates.”
Certainly, in agreement with the principle of parity, Patrick Allemand does not deny the difficulty for political groups regarding its application. To contribute to maximum conformity between texts and practice, a two-stage law would be necessary, in his view. The PS elected official explains: “First, an electoral redistricting of each department must be done. To promote parity, it is essential that the number of constituencies be even. Following this, the Parliament must vote to mandate the equalization of the number of men and women, under penalty of blocking the elections. In politics, ideas are plentiful.”
Seen by a female elected official, this problem takes a different turn. Such is the case with Dominique Estrosi. For this municipal councilor, women’s access to power should not be due to the obligation of parity. Far from disapproving their presence in the political hierarchy, she wants to add a nuance: “If women attain a title, it is clear that it should be due to their abilities, and not solely to counterbalance the scale. Their rise in politics must merit demonstrating what they are capable of achieving. Some have indeed already succeeded on their own.” To prove this, the Ministry of the Interior conducts annual studies on the percentage of women holding elective office. According to this agency, the figures would be encouraging. It remains to be seen if parity will be respected in the next municipal elections.
