Young women conquer municipal councils

During the recent municipal elections no less than 7 500 candidates were elected in Flanders. An analysis of the figures collected by the administration of Minister of Local Government, Geert Bourgeois N-VA, shows that 36% of these candidates were women. This translates as a 3% increase if compared to 2006 and as much as11% up from 2000. This shows that even though there is still considerable ground to cover before the ideal target of equal representation has been reached, the feminisation in municipal politics continues. Equal representation within the municipal councils was the aim at the beginning of this century. Therefore election lists with an equal number of female and male candidates, as well as the zip system of alternating male and female candidates on the list, was set as a target in one of the laws introduced early in this century. 
On the question of why the new election system has not led to equal representation, political scientist Karen Celis of the Brussels Free University VUB, specialised in political representation of women and ethnic minorities, answers that it is not far-reaching enough, saying: “Only the top positions on the roll alternate between males and females.” Moreover, the electorate continues to perceive politics as a male-dominated playing field.” The analysis of the figures exposes yet another, even more obvious phenomenon: most of the elected women are aged between 18 and 29, with representation as much as 49% in this age group. Interestingly enough, this percentage drops in line with increasing age, with only 13% representation in the age group 60+, indicating that representation is most pronounced among the younger women. The younger the members of the council the more they are female, but that doesn’t mean that equal representation is only a matter of time. “Political parties like to put young women on their lists,” explains Celis. “It boosts their image and is beneficial for the result of the election. The same goes for immigrants.” This diversity is however by no means reflected in the distribution of powerful positions. At this point equal representation often falters, with many young women starting in municipal politics but lacking career opportunities afterwards. Celis does not exclude the same thing from happening in Antwerp, where as much as 53% of the elected town councillors are female. “The N-VA has no experience with power in Antwerp. In its search for new candidates for its list, female candidates were obviously included on the list and in the town council. This does not however imply that they will automatically be entitled to positions of power.”