The Impact of the Voting System on the Election of French Women to the European Parliament: A Dynamic Phenomenon Combining Legal Rules and Political Strategies

This paper considers the relatively high proportion of French women elected to the European Parliament between 1979 and 2004 compared to the French national parliament, arguing that the effects of the voting system must be considered. Moreover, the analysis must necessarily relate first to the European Parliament’s position in the French political arena and second with political and social struggles in France during the same period. For those aiming to gain access to the European Parliament, gender appears to be a profitable political resource. This situation contributes to favoring women even if they are not fully socially prepared for professional careers in politics.