Women's Position in Belgian Local Politics and the Effect of Quotas

This article examines the gender quotas in Belgian parties. In the 2006 municipal elections many more local party sections had implemented such measures than in the preceding elections in 2000, which indicates a tendency to integrate the notion of equality. However, the local sections exhibit less enthusiasm when it comes to quotas improving the gender balance in higher party offices. Our analysis shows that local sections have more offices at their disposal are more likely to implement quotas. Quotas are accepted more easily when equality is an important issue within the party's respective ideology, or when the way towards equality has already been paved by women.