12 Women Elected To Parliament Through Gender Quota Mechanism

Twelve women have secured seats in Malta’s parliament through the gender corrective mechanism, with both major parties receiving six additional seats each.

The Labour Party candidates elected through the mechanism are Cressida Galea, Fleur Abela, Francesca Zarb, Yana Borg Debono Grech, Deborah Schembri and Romilda Zarb.

Meanwhile, the Nationalist Party candidates elected through the same mechanism are Bernice Bonello, Julie Zahra, Norma Camilleri, Annabelle Cilia, Marilena Gauci and Miriana Calleja Testaferrata De Noto.

The gender corrective mechanism. introduced in 2021, was done to increase female representation in parliament when the proportion of elected MPs from one gender falls below 40%.

Under the system, additional parliamentary seats are allocated to candidates from the underrepresented gender, ensuring a more balanced composition of the House of Representatives.

The latest additions will see parliament expanded further, with the mechanism once again activated following the election results.

The system has remained a subject of political debate since its introduction, with supporters arguing it is necessary to address longstanding gender imbalances in Maltese politics, while critics have questioned the expansion of parliament through additional seats.

Regardless of where one stands on the issue, the mechanism has once again altered the final composition of Malta’s parliament by bringing 12 more women into the House.

What do you make of the new MP’s?

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Gabriel Falzon

Gabriel Falzon is a social media executive at Lovin Malta, with a keen interest in digital media, local businesses, and the natural world. Outside of work, you’ll often find him baking up a storm, diving into video games, or exploring the endless corners of YouTube.