Understanding the Legal Gender Quota: Perspectives from Political Parties

The legal gender quota aims to increase the representation of women in leadership roles across various sectors. As discussions intensify in the lead-up to the 2025 Bundestag elections, the potential decline in the proportion of women in parliament has become a focal point of debate.

Recent projections indicate that the percentage of women in the newly elected Bundestag could decrease to approximately 31.5%, down from 35.7%. This anticipated decline has raised concerns and sparked a renewed discussion about the effectiveness and necessity of gender quotas.

Established in 2016, the legal gender quota mandates that at least 30% of supervisory board positions in large companies must be held by women. Furthermore, since 2021, companies with boards of more than three members are required to include at least one woman. These measures aim to promote gender equality in the workplace and address systemic barriers faced by women.

The debate surrounding the gender quota is multifaceted. Advocates argue that it serves as a crucial tool for fostering equal opportunities, dismantling structural disadvantages, and leveraging the skills of well-qualified women. Conversely, opponents claim that it undermines meritocracy, unfairly disadvantages men, and may lead women to feel they have been appointed solely due to the quota.

In the context of the upcoming elections, the gender quota has become a topic of interest, albeit not the central focus. Concerns over the declining number of women in parliament have prompted discussions among political parties. While parties like the Greens and the Left are advocating for mandatory quotas, the CDU and the AfD face criticism for their low representation of women on candidate lists. Despite this, broader economic and security policy issues continue to dominate the electoral discourse.

Several political parties in Germany have adopted formal gender quotas within their organizational frameworks:

• Alliance 90/The Greens: A 50% quota applies to all electoral lists and internal party positions, ensuring that every second candidate is a woman.
• The Left: Similar to the Greens, this party also enforces a 50% quota for electoral lists, mandates, and party roles.
• Social Democratic Party (SPD): A binding gender quota of 40% is established for electoral lists and party functions.
• Christian Democratic Union (CDU): Beginning in July 2025, a gradual implementation of a 50% gender quota will apply to board positions and electoral lists from the local level upwards.

As discussions around the gender quota continue, the effectiveness and future of such measures remain under scrutiny. The path towards achieving gender equality in political representation and leadership positions is a complex and ongoing challenge.