State Audit Office: Women hold 39.2% of seats in Parliament, but only 15% of ministerial positions

The performance audit conducted by the State Audit Office on the topic “Women Leaders: Women in Politics, Parliament and Management Positions in Central Government Bodies” found that the policies and measures undertaken have not been sufficient to increase the role of women in leadership and management positions in central government bodies. The assessment covered the period from 2020 to 2024, while certain issues and developments were monitored up to the reporting date.

The data show that women account for 57.5% of the 110,885 people employed in the public sector. However, leadership positions continue to be entrusted more often to men, indicating that the greater presence of women in public administration does not guarantee equal representation at decision-making levels.

According to the analysis, the legal quota for the underrepresented gender has contributed to increasing women’s participation in Parliament. From 2007 to 2024, the percentage of women MPs rose from 30% to 43%, while in 2024 it reached 39.2%. This level places the country ahead of 83% of European Union member states in terms of women’s representation in parliament, while among countries in the region that are not part of the EU, the country ranks first.

Despite this, from the establishment of the first Parliament in 1991 until 2024, no woman has held the position of Speaker of Parliament. In the current legislature, there is one female deputy speaker, while the 2023 Rules of Procedure establish as a positive measure that at least one of the deputy speakers must belong to the underrepresented gender.

Gender representation is lower in the executive branch. The Law on Government and the Rules of Procedure do not establish criteria to guarantee gender balance when ministers are appointed or nominated. While a legally mandated quota applies in Parliament, the composition of the government depends on the prime minister’s proposals.

During the 2014–2024 period, women accounted for between 14% and 31% of ministers, between 7% and 25% of deputy ministers, and between 6% and 31% of state secretaries. In the government formed for the 2024–2028 term, only 3 of the 20 ministers with portfolios are women, or 15%. In addition, no woman is part of the group of five deputy ministers to the prime minister.

The audit report also identified the absence of a common mechanism for the selection and appointment of leaders of central government bodies. Procedures are conducted on the basis of different laws and, in some cases, selections are made in closed sessions, limiting transparency.

Since 2019, a draft law has been prepared that seeks to regulate the senior management service, the selection process and filling of positions at this level, as well as the accountability of senior managers and the assessment of their performance./Telegrafi/