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France Mandates Gender Parity in Small Communes as PLM Reform Faces Assembly Debate

The gender parity law for rural municipalities is set for 2026 implementation, while the proposed changes to electoral rules in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille remain contentious in the Assembly.

L’Assemblée nationale.
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Overview

  • The French Parliament has passed a law requiring gender parity on candidate lists for communes with fewer than 1,000 inhabitants, effective for the 2026 municipal elections.
  • The new law addresses gender underrepresentation in rural areas, where women currently make up only 37.6% of municipal councilors.
  • Critics, including local officials, warn that the gender parity mandate could make it difficult to form complete candidate lists in smaller communities with limited populations.
  • Meanwhile, the Assembly is debating the PLM reform, which proposes separate ballots for municipal and arrondissement elections in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, along with reducing the electoral bonus from 50% to 25%.
  • The PLM reform has sparked sharp divisions among political parties and city leaders, with Anne Hidalgo opposing the changes and Benoît Payan supporting them.