MP candidate lists reveal lack of women’s representation, warns rights group

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A women's rights group has raised concerns about the lack of gender representation in the MP candidate lists of major political parties ahead of the May 14 elections.

Despite a high number of women candidates in the finalized lists, many are placed in unattainable positions, to the Women's Platform for Equality (EŞİK) said in a press release today (April 21). 

The Green Left Party (YSP) has the highest proportion of women in electable positions at 41.54 percent, while the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has the lowest at 4.00 percent. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), its ally MHP, the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), and its ally İYİ Party do not have any women candidates in 34, 40, 21, and 22 provinces, respectively.

EŞİK predicts that there will be no women representatives in the parliament from 33 provinces, based on its review of the lists. The group estimates that only 117 female representatives will enter parliament, resulting in a proportion of women in parliament of 19.50 percent. In the 2018 election, 17 percent of the elected MPs were women. (EMK/VK)