Women Running for Mayors in Autumn
Politically active women in Macedonia are seriously preparing to run for mayors in autumn local elections. They will aggressively lobby for their mass involvement in public life, in decision-making and power control. Their political strengthening is taking place through Macedonian women's lobby in Stability Pact and this will contribute to the increase of the degree of democratisation and equality of the sexes.
AIM Skopje, July 4, 2000
If one looks at figures, one will easily note that Macedonian politics is “male”, in other words that members of the gentle sex are the most marginal group in Macedonia. Among 123 municipalities in Macedonia there is not a single one that has a woman as the mayor, among 1,720 municipal councilmen in local self-administration only 105 are women, and their participation in central leadership of political parties in the country varies between 16 and 20 per cent of the total number of female members in the ruling parties. In state assembly, out of 120 deputies, nine are women, and only two hold ministerial posts in 27-member government. No matter how discouraging these figures may seem, it must be admitted that a step forward has been taken in women's participation in the authorities. Indeed, in the last composition of the assembly there were only four women deputies, and in the previous two cabinets only two women were ministers among twenty members of the cabinet.
Analysts assess that the increase of the number of women in politics is the result of the changed election model. In the last elections the authorities changed the mixed system – 85 deputies were elected by the majority, and 35 by the proportional election system. Political parties nominated 614 candidates 35 of which were women to be elected by majority system and 595 candidates 99 of which were women (by proportional). However, only the Socialist Party and the movement for Cultural and Civil Tolerance had women as their main candidates on the lists. The second on the list of candidates of Coalition for Changes was also a woman, and other parties had women between the third and the 35th place on election lists.
Women will have to win the battle within political parties. Local self-administration is a school of democracy and, if there is no women there, there will be none in the parliament and the government either. “If in the forthcoming elections the proportional election system is applied, women will have big possibilities to get involved in politics but only if they hold top positions on election lists of candidates for councilmen, if they will not be mere decoration but real leading candidates”, says Prof. Gordana Siljanovska from the law school in Skopje. “Women first have to identify their own political interest, whether they truly wish to take part in political power, to make decisions on numerous strategic issues and to be part of the political game”, she adds. “Only then will they be able to become true political protagonists blazing the trail towards one goal – from being political minority to becoming political majority”.
Members of the gentle sex claim that although political engagement is in a way connected with the traditional historical and cultural environment, their way of thinking is felt in all spheres of life. Women will start the announced struggle for mayors' and councilmen's posts on a broad front. Women who are members of parliament are considering foundation of an informal women's group of deputies which could successfully promote the role of women in politics. Apart from the demand for reinforcement of the department for promotion of equality of sexes which operates as part of the ministry for labour and social policy, by amendments of the law on state administration, establishment of a special agency will be demanded which would act under jurisdiction of the president of the Republic or prime minister.
“We are announcing the campaign for including more women on election lists for local elections and, in general, political developments in the country will reach a different level of communication by participation of a considerable number of women – politicians”, stresses Ljiljana Popovska, coordinator of women's lobby in Macedonia.
“For the women who have decided to participate in local elections, a training will be organised consisting of a few phases; party leadership will be asked to introduce quotas for participation of women as well as extension of election lists with members of the gentle sex”, stresses Savka Todorovska, president of the league of organisation of women of Macedonia.
AIM JUNIOR SKOPJE
ALEKSANDRA GRCEVA