Fewer women in the new Parliament of Greece

Novelties were registered in these fast-track elections of September, where in a matter of a few days only, parties were faced with an election campaign, almost without programmes and with candidates who would not get the cross of preference according to the electoral law, since the elections took place in less than 18 months from the previous ones. The list of candidates was decided by the parties, or rather the leaders of the parties.

What is the picture of the new Parliament, then, and who are the 300 Members of Parliament after the final results were published? SYRIZA won 145 seats, Nea Demokratia 75, the criminal fascist organisation 18, Democratic Co-operation (of PASOK and Democratic left) won 17 seats, the Communist Party 15, Potami 11 seats, Independent Greeks won 10 seats and the Centre Union won 9 seats.

Thus, in the 300 Members of the Greek Parliament, we have now the… astronomic number of 57 women, i.e. 19% of the total, in relation with 70 women and 23,33% of the previous Parliament, and 21% of the Parliament of 2012-2015. We rolled, that is, back, in the percentage of the 2010 elections. It seems that the third Memorandum and the lack of preference cross harmed seriously the women, since the party hierarchies and bureaucracies keep of course the percentage of 1/3 imposed by the law, but, by coincidence, the women find themselves in the lowest stairs of every list. Admittedly, Nea Demokratia increased lightly women’s participation, PASOK also, the Communist Party decreased the percentage of women as did Potami. The Independent Greeks decreased the percentage also, in order to follow their government partner in the new ethos.

The parties, according to their percentage and the women in each:

SYRIZA has 145 MPs (35,5% of the vote and the 50 seats bonus foreseen by the electoral law), of who 33 are women, a percentage of 22,7% as compared with 30,2% in the elections of January.

Nea Dimokratia has 75 MPs, of who 11 are women, a percentage of 14,6%, in relation with 13,5% of January.

The criminal fascist organisation has (unfortunately) 18 MPs, of who 2 women, a percentage of 11,11% in relation with 11,76% of January.

Democratic Co-operation (PASOK – Democratic Left) has 17 MPs of who 3 are women, a percentage of 17,54%, in relation with 15,38% of January. Here we mention that is the only party with a woman as a leader, and this woman acted in the same patriarchal way concerning the formation of the lists with men first.

The Communist Party has 15 MPs, of who 3 women, a percentage of 20%, in relation with 26,6% of January.

Potami has 11 MPs, of who 2 women, a percentage of 18,18%.

The Independent Greeks have 10 MPs in total, among who 2 women, a percentage of 20%, in relation with 23,07% in January.

The new party of the Centre Union which entered Parliament, has a total of 9 MPs, of who 1 woman, a percentage of 11,1%.

A natural consequence, in order for the women not to become …too bold and not to occupy men’s chairs, was the composition of the new government:

In the 44 seats of ministers and alternate ministers, there is not one woman at the head of a ministry, as was in the previous government, while 7 women have the seats of alternate minister. The percentage is 15,90%, slightly better than the previous of January, but unthinkably low in relation with other governments of the European Union.

We conclude again, as we did for the January elections, that the people may be sunk in the patriarchal mentalities, but the party leaderships are sunk much deeper. Therefore, the results of women’s representation and much more the efforts for a change in conditions, laws and social practices are also lower than it would be if people’s verdict was interpreted directly and without the parties’ mediation. When we can go forward, even a little, a fence is placed in front of us.

The editorial Committee of Mov