European affairs and Equality Minister Helena Dalli described gender quotas as a “necessary evil” to be used on for temporary basis in order to create balance at decision-making levels.

In comments to The Malta Independent, Dalli said:

“It [gender quotas] is not something that is desired, but when you look at each country that has a good representation of women at decision-making levels, at some point in their history, these countries introduced quotas.”

Gender quotas refer to the practice of imposing a minimum number of women within a particular structure, whether it is at board level, on a whole company level, within Parliament or within the government cabinet.

Dalli went on to say that in Malta “we are not different and must learn from other countries.” She cautioned that it must be introduced as a temporary measure if we want to see balanced representation at decision-making levels within a reasonable time-frame.”

Quotas according to gender have courted significant controversy, with critics arguing that it imposes decisions upon the democratic process and perpetuates the idea that 21st century women need extra help to achieve success, while proponents insist it is necessary, albeit radical, measure to ensure better gender representation on a parliamentary level. MEPs Marlene Mizzi (PL) and RebortaMetsola (PN) have expressed concern that the introduction of quotas would call into question the merits of why a woman is in a particular position.

The MEPs were speaking at a discussion held on 2 March entitled ‘Women in Politics and Women in the Media’, which was hosted by European Parliament Office in Malta and the University of Malta’s Gender Studies department. Other MEPs such as Miriam Dalli expressed their views in favour of gender quotas.

Dalli is currently overseeing an initiative entitled LEAD, which is aimed at bringing a gender-balanced list of candidates offered by the Labour Party for the 2027 general election. It forms part of its wider initiative of bringing about gender equality in all facets of local society.

MEPs Metsola and Mizzi have both shown reluctance to the move for fear that women’s credentials and credibility may be called into question.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has expressed his views in favour of introducing gender quotas at the decision-making levels of government and its various entities.