Home > 4.3 Regional and federate elections > Report on Proportional Electoral Systems: The Allocation of seats inside the lists (open/closed) lists
 
 
 
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Paragraph 27
 

In Spain, the Organic Law No. 5/1985 sets a guarantee of representation that could play in favour of both genders. Article 44 bis of the Law establishes that electoral lists cannot include more than 40% of the same gender candidates. When the number of seats to be covered is less than five, the ratio between women and men shall be as close as possible to an equal balance. This rule is applicable to the elections to the National Congress, municipalities, the European Parliament and parliaments of autonomous communities. Electoral commissions cannot proclaim results for electoral lists that do not respect the proportion of women to men. Moreover, parties that do not respect the mandatory rule cannot run for elections.