Women and politics, the EU paradox: at the top of institutions, but representation is declining

In Strasbourg, Italian female MEPs account for only 34.2 per cent, significantly lower than the parliamentary average of 38.8 per cent. This lag is confirmed by the 2025 political power index, which ranked Italy 41.2, still below the EU average of 47.3. Yet, the country has made significant progress: in the national Parliament, women now occupy 33.9 per cent of seats, marking extraordinary progress compared to 2005, when female representation stood at 10 per cent. The change is also visible across the country. At the regional level, representation has literally tripled in the last twenty years, reaching 30 per cent, while in municipalities, the presence of women has now steadily exceeded the 30 per cent threshold. However, the European comparison remains an open challenge: the EU average for local councils stands at 34.5 per cent, a target that Italy, despite steady growth, has yet to reach.

However, it is not just a question of numbers, but of “portfolios.” There is a thematic segregation of power: the so-called “heavyweight: ministries remain male strongholds. At the beginning of 2026, there were only five female defence ministers and the same number of female finance ministers in the entire EU. Women are more frequently assigned to socio-cultural sectors such as health, education, or social affairs. This dynamic is reflected in the composition of the EU Council: while meetings on health see female participation close to 50%, those on economic affairs or defence see it reduced to a few units.

The report states that maintaining gender balance is important not only for social justice, but also for the quality of democracy itself. Women in power promote cooperative styles, reduce polarisation, and increase citizens’ trust in institutions. However, new challenges are emerging in 2026: online violence and harassment, to which women in politics are particularly exposed, act as powerful deterrents.

Added to this is the impact of Artificial Intelligence. While it can boost the campaigns of those with fewer resources, women tend to have less confidence in this technology than men. According to the Carnegie California AI Survey, when asked whether AI can help voters become more informed, only 33 per cent said Yes, 41 per cent said No, and 26 per cent said I don’t know. Meanwhile, 41 per cent of men responded ‘Yes’, 36 per cent said ‘No’, and 23 per cent said ‘I don’t know’. According to Parliament, this poses a greater risk for women to be at a  disadvantage in the use of advanced digital tools, as well as being victims of hate campaigns fuelled by algorithms.
The European Parliament has sought to intervene by proposing radical reforms, such as the introduction of mandatory equality criteria in the European Electoral Act and stricter measures against sexual harassment in political life. However, these proposals often remain blocked in the Council, where unanimity among Member States is required. The situation in 2026 reminds us that progress towards equality is neither linear nor guaranteed.