Gender imbalance faces serious challenge

Four years ago Malta elected six men to represent the country and their respective parties in the European Parliament, making Malta the only country within the EU not to have any women representatives.

However, next week this could change as the three seats vacated by Louis Grech, Edward Scicluna and Simon Busuttil, who were elected in the Maltese Parliament, could be filled by three women in the casual elections.

Currently Malta languishes at the bottom of table of female participation in the European Parliament. But if three women are elected as MEPs, they would make up 50% of Malta's representation: shooting up to third in the EU27 league, behind Finland and Sweden and on a par with Estonia.

The two Labour MEP seats vacated by deputy prime minister Louis Grech and finance minister Edward Scicluna could be filled by Marlene Mizzi, Maria Camilleri, Claudette Abela Baldacchino and Sharon Ellul Bonnici, who all fared well in the 2009 election.

However, other candidates could throw their hat into the ring, with the newly appointed foreign affairs ministry director of communications Glenn Bedingfield, Steve Borg, Kirill Micallef Stafrace and Joseph Zammit all in the running.

PN deputy leader Simon Busuttil's seat can be taken up by either Roberta Metsola Tedesco Triccas or Marthese Portelli, who were among the top performers within the PN ranks besides the elected duo of Busuttil and David Casa.

With Portelli also in the running for the casual elections to replace the vacated seats in the general election, Tedesco Triccas could be the only woman vying for the PN seat together with other candidates such as the GRTU chief Vince Farrugia, marine biologist Alan Deidun, former PN official and owner of the St Philips' Hospital Frank Portelli, former EU official Edward Demicoli, lawyer Alex Perici Calascione and medical professional Rudolph Cini. 

Unless the administrations of both major political parties want to send out a strong message to redress the gender disparity, the female candidates would have to face stern competition from their male counterparts, which could impede greater female representation.

Across the member states of the EU the percentage of women holding seats in the European Parliament, at 34%, is higher than that of the member states' national parliaments, with the exception of Spain, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Czech Republic, Poland and Malta.

Women in the Maltese Parliament

The eight women who were elected to Parliament on 9 March make up 11.6% of all MPs, up from 8.7% in the previous legislature. This figure could possibly increase to 17.3% if PN executive committee president Marthese Portelli and new PN candidates Kristy Debono, Shirley Farrugia and Gabriella Galea are elected in the casual elections to be held on Wednesday to fill in the seats vacated by MPs elected from two districts.

Family minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, social dialogue minister Helena Dalli and MPs Justyne Caruana and Marlene Farrugia were elected on the PL ticket alongside Deborah Schembri who filled in the seat vacated by education minister Evarist Bartolo in Thursday's casual elections.

On the other side of the fence, former Gozo minister Giovianna Debono was the only women elected on the PN ticket, however she will be joined on the Opposition benches by new PN candidates Paula Mifsud Bonnici and Claudette Buttigieg through the Constitutional amendment on proportionality which granted the PN four additional seats.

These could be joined by Marthese Portelli, Kristy Debono and Gabriella Galea if they are successful in their bid to get elected in Wednesday's casual elections.

Malta is considered to be the worst performer in contrast with the other EU countries where slightly less than one in four members of national parliaments are women (24%). Sweden and Finland are the only EU countries with more than 40% women in parliament.

Casual elections

The casual elections for seats vacated by Nationalist Party MPs elected on two districts will be held on 3 April.

Outgoing PN leader Lawrence Gonzi will vacate his seat on the second district while deputy leader Simon Busuttil and Robert Arrigo will vacate their seats on the ninth district, former environment minister George Pullicino on the 10th, former health minister Joe Cassar on the 11th and former finance minister Tonio Fenech will vacate his seat on the 12th district.

The favourites to fill in Gonzi's seat are former MP and Gonzi's cousin Stephen Spiteri and former MP Frans Agius, with Ingrid Brownrigg having an outside chance.

Marthese Portelli and Kristy Debono are favourites to take the two seats on the 9th district, with former MPs Karl Gouder and Joseph Falzon leading the chasing pack.

Gouder stands a better chance of getting elected on the 10th district although he faces a tough challenge by newcomer Albert Fenech.

Joe Cassar's seat on the 11th district could be filled by veteran MP Edwin Vassallo who will face a tough battle against Mosta mayor and family doctor Shirley Farrugia and former MP Charlo Bonnici.

Father and daughter, Censu and Graziella Galea are favourites to take the seat vacated by Tonio Fenech on the 12th district.