Branimir Felger, Gordana Lesinger, Ivan Tanta: Discrimination of women in management positions in politics in Croatia - Th e case of political participation in government management between 1990 and 2016 Branimir Felger Ivan Tanta UDK: 323-055.26(497.5) Nova TV Polytechnic “Vern” Preliminary communication Remetinečka cesta 139, Trg bana Josipa Jelačića 3, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia 10000 Zagreb, Croatia Received: February 6, 2017 [email protected] [email protected] Accepted for publishing: February 27, 2017 Phone: +385916008384 Phone: +385914825859 Gordana Lesinger This work is licensed under a Josip Juraj Strossmayer Creative Commons Attribution- University of Osijek NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License Department of Cultural Studies Trg Svetog Trojstva 3, 31000 Osijek, Croatia [email protected] Phone: +385921824393 DISCRIMINATION OF WOMEN IN MANAGEMENT POSITIONS IN POLITICS IN CROATIA - THE CASE OF POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNMENT MANAGEMENT BETWEEN 1990 AND 2016 Abstract Democracy in the contemporary and modern world is inconceivable without the active and equal partici- pation of women in all fi elds of social life, especially at the management level. Th e aim of this study was to investigate to what extent, and if at all, the transition path to modern democracy was accompanied by adequate political participation of women in management positions and the executive branch. Th e ques- tion is whether the proportion of women in the Croatian Government in the period 1990-2016 recorded an increase in relation to men? Since Croatia had a similar political path to declaring its independence like the neighbouring Republic of Slovenia, a comparison was made regarding the proportion of women in the Croatian Government as opposed to the neighbouring Slovenia. To further argue the data obtained from quantitative research, the share of women in the governments of Croatia and Slovenia was compared with the current average share of women in the governments of 28 EU member states. Th e fi rst part describes how women in the world got the right to vote and the development of women’s rights in Croatia. A total of 13 Croatian Governments were analysed with an emphasis on the proportion of women in the executive branch, as well as areas of political interest to women in government. Th e proportion of women in the same period in the Government of the Republic of Slovenia was also analysed, and a comparison was made with the share of women in the Croatian Government. Consequently, an attempt was made to compare the pro- portion of women with the average share of women in the governments of the 28 EU countries. Keywords: Women in politics, management, management functions, political communication, Croatian Government, Government of the EU God. XXX, BR. 2/2017. str. 325-337 325 Branimir Felger, Gordana Lesinger, Ivan Tanta: Discrimination of women in management positions in politics in Croatia - Th e case of political participation in government management between 1990 and 2016 1. Positive regulations in the Republic of the list are obliged to respect the principle of gender Croatia equality and take into account the balanced repre- sentation of women and men on the lists. It shall be Th e position and rights of women in the Republic deemed that the list for the election of representa- Croatia, as well as the prohibition of discrimination tives is in accordance with the principles set out in in all aspects of life, are regulated by numerous laws. paragraph 1 of this article, insofar as the specifi c list Th e most important one is the Gender Equality Law contains at least 40% of both genders, while the lists 1 (Offi cial Gazette No. 82/08) and the Anti-Discrim- with less than 40% representation of both genders 2 ination Act (OG No. 85/08) . Th e Gender Equality shall be considered illegitimate”. Law, Article 5, states: “Gender equality means that women and men are equally present in all aspects However, the Constitutional Court annulled the of public and private life, that they have equal sta- last sentence of that article in its decision U-I- tus, equal opportunities to realize their rights, and 1397/2015, dated 24 September 2015. Th e Decision equally benefi t from the achieved results”. Concern- Summary of the Constitutional Court states that ing the political involvement of women, Article 15 an automatic disqualifi cation of the election list for states: “(1) in determining and proposing lists of disregarding the “gender quota” have a dispropor- male and female candidates for the election of rep- tional eff ect on one’s freedom to run for parliament. resentatives to the Croatian Parliament, the elec- Furthermore, the Anti-Discrimination Act (OG No. tion of members of representative bodies of local 85/08)5 states: (1) Th is Act ensures the protection and regional governments, as well as the election of and promotion of equality as the highest value of members of the European Parliament, political par- the Croatian constitutional system, it creates the ties and other authorized proponents are obliged prerequisites for achieving equal opportunity and to respect the principle of gender equality and take protects against discrimination on grounds of race account of the balanced representation of men and or ethnicity or skin colour, sex, language, religion, women on electoral lists in accordance with Article political or other opinion, national or social origin, 12 of this Act.” property, trade union membership, education, so- (2) In order to implement paragraph 1 of this Arti- cial status, marital or family status, age, health, dis- cle, political parties and other entities authorized to ability, genetic heritage, gender identity, expression submit election lists shall introduce specifi c meas- or sexual orientation. ures to ensure that the representation of men and (2) Placing of any person, or a person related to that women on the lists for the election of representa- person by kinship or other relationship, in a less fa- tives to the Croatian Parliament, members of repre- vourable position on the grounds referred to in par- sentative bodies of local and regional governments agraph 1 of this Article shall be, within the meaning and members of the European Parliament is not of this Act, deemed to be discrimination. signifi cantly unbalanced, in accordance with Article (3) Placing of a person in a less favourable posi- 12, paragraph 3 of this Act. In accordance with Ar- tion based on a misconception of the existence of ticle 12, paragraph 1 of this Act, “a gradual increase the grounds referred to in paragraph 1 of this Ar- of the underrepresented gender shall be achieved ticle shall also be, within the meaning of this Act, not later than after the implementation of the third deemed to be discrimination. regular elections after this Act comes into force.” On 13 February 2015 the Croatian Parliament 2. Relevant parts of international regulations passed the Law on Amendments to the Law on Election of Members of the Croatian Parliament. Th e European Parliament in its Resolution on EU (OG No. 19/15)3 According to this Law, political Strategy for equality between women and men post parties are, amongst other things, obliged to re- 2015 (2014/2152 (INI))6 pointed out that the gender spect the equal representation of both genders on quotas in political decision-making have proven to the candidate lists. Th e Law on Election of Mem- be a most eff ective tool in addressing discrimination bers of the Croatian Parliament (OG No. 120/11)4 and power imbalances between men and women was amended by Article 21a: “In determining and and for the improvement of democratic representa- proposing party lists and independent lists for the tion in political decision-making bodies. For exam- election of Members of Parliament, proponents of ple, the largest increase in the percentage of women 326 God. XXX, BR. 2/2017. str. 325-337 UDK: 323-055.26(497.5) / Preliminary communication on boards of companies is registered in countries political parties, out of 61 that took part in the elec- that have already enacted laws on compulsory gen- tion, as many as 21 parties were among the above der quotas, while companies in countries, in which mentioned 7. It is important to point out that two of those mandatory measures have not been imple- those seven belong to the two biggest coalitions that mented, are still far from achieving an acceptable won the most votes and parliamentary seats. Th is is gender balance (Art. 40). Th e European Parliament a negative factor that has certainly had an impact on also stressed the importance of gender-balanced the fi nal ratio of the unbalanced gender structure of candidate lists, headed alternately by candidates of the new session of the Croatian Parliament8. diff erent gender; highlights the importance of quo- Th e eighth session of the Croatian Parliament fi nal- tas for increasing the presence of women in political ly selected 23 women and 128 men or 15.2% women decision-making (Art. 41). and 84.8% men. After a part of the elected put their In its Resolution on women in political decision mandate on hold because of the other duties they making - quality and equality (2011/2295 (INI))7 perform, their places were occupied by their male the European Parliament has stressed that political or female deputies. Th e 24 representatives, whose parties bear responsibility for selecting, ranking and mandate was put on hold (all men), were replaced nominating candidates for leading positions. Fur- by deputies, eight of whom were women. Th is fi - thermore, they play a central role in ensuring equal nally gives the initial composition of the 8th sitting representation of women and men in politics and of the Croatian Parliament: 31 female MPs and 120 should therefore endorse good practices, such as male MPs, or 20.5% women and 79.5% men9.