MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Saturday announced a gender equality law that would require more equal representation of women and men in politics, business and other areas of public life.
The Equal Representation Act will apply gender equality measures to electoral rolls, boards of directors of large companies and governing boards of professional associations.
Sanchez made the announcement during a Socialist Party rally ahead of International Women’s Day on March 8. It will be approved at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday before going to parliament for debate.
He said the government was “taking steps not only in favor of feminism, but in favor of Spanish society as a whole”.
It is the latest in a series of equality measures announced by the left-wing coalition government. In December, lawmakers passed a transgender rights bill, as well as a landmark law covering sexual and reproductive health that, for the first time in a European country, includes government-funded support for women with painful periods. A walking holiday was offered.
“If they represent half of society, women should have half of the political and economic power,” Sanchez said on Saturday.
The equal representation law requires women to hold 40% of the management of any listed company with more than 250 workers and an annual turnover of 50 million euros ($53 million).
In politics, the law will require parties to field an equal number of male and female candidates during elections, with the aim of increasing gender equality in parliament. Women currently make up 44% of Congress and 39% of the Senate.
It would require professional associations to have at least 40% women on their boards, as well as juries for any awards funded with public money.
