American Expatriate Costa Rica

Electoral court expands gender equality in candidates lists

The ex-minister of Women Issues and representative Maureen Clarke praises the decision by the Electoral Supreme Tribunal (TSE for its acronym in Spanish) to compel political parties to place women on the top positions of candidates lists.

Before the decision, parties only had to comply by appointing women to 50% of candidacies.

Clarke submitted the case last year, asking for an interpretation of a clause in the Electoral Code.

The decision upholds the principle of horizontal gender equality of political candidacies. Clarke said that parties must comply this rule by the upcoming elections.

With the decision, women would have more chance to access some positions that generally have been won by men.

Source: Diario Extra.