Female Representation

Just been re-reading the 1986 Royal Commission on the Electoral System which recommended MMP. Was surprised to read that at the time MMP was recommended, women made up only 13% of the NZ Parliament (which was horribly low) but in Germany which had MMP, they were only 10% of the Federal Parliament.

I guess it is a useful reminder that the electoral system by itself won’t determine how diverse the Parliament is.

In fact in 1986 NZ had higher female representation in Parliament than the UK, US and Canada (FPP), Australia (PV), Malta and Ireland (STV), Israel, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Austria and Switzerland (Party List) and Germany (MMP).

The only countries cited as having greater female representation in 1986 were Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland.