1 Dr. Andreea PAUL (Vass) Participation of Women in Romanian Political Life 1 9 November, 2009 European Parliament, Brussels

2 Woman active participation in Romanian politics – 4 factsheets 1. Presidential elections 2. Government 3. Parliament 4. Local administration

3 1. Romanian Presidential elections  NO women President or PM in the whole history of Romania  2000: Gratiela Birla is the first woman candidate and the single one - INDIPENDENT– 1% votes  Lia Roberts, a Romanian-born politician asserted in the United States Republican Party - announced her intention to run in 2004, but withdrew from the race a month before the official start of campaigning.

4 2. Romanian Government  2007 and 2008 – no women Minister 28% of Secretary of State and Secretary General were held by women 42% - 2 nd decisional level (directors)  % of Ministers are women (3 women) 12 out of 19 ministries have no women in the next 2 decisional levels: 25% women in the 1st; 46% in the 2nd EU average: 25% women, 75% men

5 3. Romanian Parliament Women 2004 – – 2012  Senate 9.5% 5.8%  Chamber of Deputies 10.5% 11.4% EU Parliaments average: 24% vs. RO: 9.7% (2008) European Parliament : 31% : 35%

6 4. Romanian Local Administration 2004 –  County Councils 15.4% 12.6%  Local Councils 11.5% 10.8%  Prefect 9.5% 4.7%  Sub-Prefect 12% 10.7%  Mayors: 114 women out of 3,184 in %

7 Conclusion  Romania shows a low level of women’s representation with: positive trends at the ministry level negative trends at the local administration levels  2 political parties has adopted a voluntary quota: PSD and PDL – left only on the paper  The parliamentary electoral system reform in 2008 in favour of proportional selection in single-member district (PR in SMD) shows no significant change in women representation  Romania claims the 70 s place in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index 2009 out of 134 states, losing ground year by year: rank 126 in political empowerment in 2009; rank 34 in economic participation and opportunity in 2009.

8 Hope for the future  The Conservative Party (~3%), has the first woman as a President: Daniela Popa  The Democrat-Liberal Party (DLP) nominated in 2008 the first woman on the third high ranking state representative: Roberta Anastase – President of the Chamber of Deputies  Romania has the first EPP Woman Organisation President: Sulfina Barbu  The Liberal Party sent 5 women out of 6 members in the European Parliament (2009)  The National Agengy for Gender Equality adopted a valuable National Strategy for Gender Equality and a reliable Action Plan, but not a decisive legislation initiative.National Strategy for Gender Equality Action Plan  In the DLP we have the first draft of a Political Party Strategy for Women Promotion

9 My vision  Economic recovery after the worst ever crisis in a world led by men requires the best of talent, ideas and innovation, morality and social ethics. It is therefore more important now than ever before for Romania to pay attention to one of the fundamental cornerstones: the skills and talent of our female human resources.  Without rethinking, redesigning and rebuilding: the electoral system in favour of gender quotas and the mentalities in favour of women engagement, empowerment and contribution we will keep on lagging behind the countries with high human development index, authentic democracy, economic development and low corruption.  Let´s start by voting during elections an by getting over the reluctance to enter in politics!