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For the upcoming municipal elections scheduled for May 2024, a proposal to adopt gender equality quotas might be implemented. Put forth by the association Fifty-Fifty, the bill advocating for gender quotas — in favor of women — in municipal elections has been adopted by five Lebanese political parties. It will undergo further review in subsequent stages by parliamentary committees tasked with deliberating on the matter.
Ten MPs, including four women and six men from various political backgrounds (except for the Lebanese Forces and Hezbollah), have agreed to implement a gender quota system promoted by the association Fifty-Fifty. This system aims to actively involve women in municipal elections. The MPs who have supported this bill are: Samy Gemayel and Elias Hankach (Kataeb Party), Bilal Abdallah, Raji Saad and Hadi Aboul Hosn (Progressive Socialist Party), Nada Boustani and Simon Abi Ramia (Free Patriotic Movement), Inaya Ezzeddine (Amal Movement) and Najat Saliba and Halima Kaakour (independents).
In an interview with This Is Beirut, the president of Fifty-Fifty, Joelle Abou Farhat, stated that while the Lebanese Forces (LF) and Hezbollah show some reluctance towards such a proposal, they do not outright oppose it. She further clarified, “The leader of the Lebanese Forces believes that the process should unfold in an ‘organic’ manner. However, since 1953, the year Lebanese women gained the right to vote and participate in political life, women’s involvement in politics has been frequently controversial due to the patriarchal, feudal and sectarian system.” Abou Farhat stated that the LF might reassess its position once the bill is presented to parliamentary committees.
The same applies to Hezbollah. Abou Farhat relayed that MP Mohammad Raad stated that his party is not ready to endorse such a proposal but will not oppose it once it is presented to the assembly. She added that one of the arguments put forth by the pro-Iranian group is their ongoing effort to develop a strategy supporting the role of women within the party.
Bill 30-50
According to the bill proposed by Fifty-Fifty, the 30% gender equality quota would be applied to municipal councils that include 9 and 12 members. Abou Farhat explains that this would befit “villages and regions where the patriarchal mindset prevails, which proves discouraging for women planning to run for elections.”
As for municipal councils encompassing 15, 18, 21 or 24 seats, the 50% gender equality quota would be applied.
Another provision in the proposed bill is to ensure that both the presidency and vice-presidency of the council be held by citizens of different genders. Simply put, if a woman is elected to lead the municipality, a man would hold the vice-presidency of the council and vice versa.
Among the 17 Arab countries, Lebanon ranks 15th in terms of the role women play in the political arena. Abou Farhat observes that this denotes a “decline in a country that is supposed to be a model of democracy and freedom.” It is worth stressing that the current political system, coupled with the political parties’ reluctance to promote women’s access to key positions within their organizations, makes it challenging for women to join the political sphere. However, with the adoption of this proposal, the potential for change is becoming increasingly evident.
