“As soon as there is a crisis, it is women who fall by the wayside,” denounces “Dare to be feminist!”

Following the legislative elections, parity is down with 208 women elected to the new National Assembly, seven fewer than in 2022.

“As soon as there is a crisis, in this case a political crisis like this one where a campaign was carried out in an emergency, it is women who fall by the wayside.”denounces Aliénor Laurent, spokesperson for “Dare to be feminist!” on franceinfo on Monday July 8, following the legislative elections. Among the deputies elected on Sunday, parity is down with 208 women elected, seven fewer than in 2022.

Aliénor Laurent emphasizes the fact that “36% of women are elected in this new Assembly” and claims that there is a “continuous decline” since before the dissolution there were 215 and 224 in 2017. “How do you explain it?asks the spokesperson, Firstly, because as soon as there is a crisis, in this case a political crisis like this one where a campaign was carried out in an emergency, it is women who fall by the wayside.”

Aliénor Laurent recalls that in France “A party must present 50% female candidates and 50% male candidates or face a fine”. According to her and the association she represents, “It is wrong to have this parity among candidates”. She believes that “parity should be achieved in the number of elected deputies to prevent political parties from allocating to women the constituencies that are the most difficult to win and to men those that are considered the most winnable”.

“Beyond thatshe continues, During the entire campaign, women’s rights were not discussed, or very little. I would like to remind you that there is only one female president of his party, Marine Tondelier, who was unable to participate in the debate since Jordan Bardella did not want to debate with her.”.

“Dare to be a Feminist!” explains the wish “that women’s rights are a priority”. “Today we see that the New Popular Front has made a more significant effort than the other parties with around 41% of women elected”. However, this is not enough for the association which is waiting “that women’s rights be at the heart of the policy that will be led by the future government but also that in the positions that will be distributed in the different ministries there is parity that is also achieved in the sovereign ministries”.

Despite this situation being considered insufficient, Aliénor Laurent notes progress: “In the 1960s, there were only eight women MPs”. “Parity is important, she explains, But what also matters is once again what we do with these women representatives and with women’s rights policy.”. For her, representation is not everything, there is also “the place that women’s rights will occupy in the policy that we will pursue in the next two or three years and beyond.”