The Government of Spain is making progress in the effective representation of women in political and economic decision making

The Council of Ministers has approved the Draft Organic Law on equal representation and balanced presence of men and women. The initiative builds on the Organic Law for the effective equality of men and women with the aim of guaranteeing women's representation in the decision-making spheres of political, economic and civil life.

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports, and Government Spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, highlighted the fact that the first regulation promoted by the coalition Executive seeks to guarantee real equality and the rights of all citizens. "With this law we are clearly making a fairer and more egalitarian country, and therefore a better country," said Alegría.

Commitment to real equal opportunities

The Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo, stressed that this bill is being presented "at a particularly difficult time" for sex-based violence in Spain, where 55 women have already been murdered this year, and 1,237 since records began to be kept. Redondo indicated that the new law also aims to "remove this structural machismo" from Spanish society.

The Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo, during her speech at the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa / José Manuel Álvarez

The law, the minister added, "demonstrates the Government of Spain's firm commitment to real equality of opportunity and to removing all obstacles" that prevent it, "as our Constitution mandates". Ana Redondo defended that it is a "fair" rule because it incorporates half of the population at all levels of decision-making and "efficient" because "there is no advanced democracy or solid economy that can do without fifty per cent of the talent". She also described it as "ambitious", as it "breaks the glass ceilings that still exist".

The Minister for Equality recalled that the initiative had already been presented in May, but ran out of time due to the dissolution of the Parliament and the general election, and stated that it is a "declaration of intent" of the objectives of the new legislature. "A mandate in which we are going to deepen rights and freedoms for all, in which we are going to enlarge Spanish democracy," she said.

Electoral legislation and the public sphere

The regulation, in which several ministries have participated due to its cross-cutting nature, has the favourable reports of the State Council, the Court of Auditors and the National Securities Market Commission. Therefore, said Ana Redondo, it is a "solvent project" which, moreover, does not merely transpose a European Union directive, but places Spain once again at the forefront of equality and makes progress in complying with the 2030 Agenda regarding the access of women and girls to all levels of social, political and economic activity.

In the electoral field, the text amends the legislation to establish the obligatory nature of the so-called 'zip lists'. Nominations must be made up of people of both sexes, in alternating order, in local, regional, national and European elections. The Central Electoral Board will oversee compliance with this legislative mandate.

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports, and Government Spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, and the Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo, during the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa / José Manuel Álvarez

In the public sphere, the principle of balanced representation - no sex should have a presence of less than 40% - will be required first and foremost of the Government. The Minister for Equality pointed out that the current government is "profoundly feminist" and an example in this sense, as it has 12 female ministers and 10 male ministers. The rule will also be imposed in the case of senior officials of the General State Administration, with an adaptation period of five years.

The obligation shall be extended to constitutional bodies or bodies of constitutional relevance - Constitutional Court, Court of Auditors, State Council, Economic and Social Council, Public Prosecutor's Council, General Council of the Judiciary - from the next renewals of their members. It must also be complied with in the composition of panels and tribunals that decide on awards and decorations of the General State Administration, as well as in public interest entities that have more than 250 employees or a turnover of more than 50 million euros or assets of more than 43 million euros.

Professional associations and listed companies

Balanced participation must also be achieved in the governing boards of professional bodies by 30 June 2026. The Minister for Equality pointed out that in some of them there is a deficit of female presence and that, in cases where the target is not reached, the causes and the plan to achieve it as soon as possible will have to be reported.

As for the corporate sector, the obligation will be in force for the boards of the largest companies, those listed on the Ibex-35, from 30 June 2024. Companies with a market capitalisation of more than 500 million will have until 30 June 2025 to comply. And listed companies with a market capitalisation of under 500 million euros, until 30 June 2026. Supervisory powers shall be vested in the National Securities Market Commission.

Ana Redondo explained that all breaches of this regulation will be considered serious and that the law establishes sanctions ranging from "significant fines to even the suspension of the company's listing". "It is about the fact that meritocracy without parity is not possible," she concluded.

Energy efficiency and training for the tourism sector

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports, and Government Spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, during her speech at the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa / José Manuel Álvarez

The Council of Ministers has approved the distribution of 108 million euros among the autonomous communities and cities to improve energy efficiency in tourism companies. The aim of this type of investment is to roll out more than 3,425 projects before the end of 2025, the government spokesperson said.

Also in relation to the tourism sector, the Executive has earmarked 54 million euros to improve training and digital skills of employees in the tourism sector. More than 19,300 workers will be able to benefit from these training actions.

Contribution to international cooperation

The Government has approved allocating 33 million euros in cooperation funds for various international organisations, programmes and funds, a sign of Spain's commitment "to defending human rights", according to Pilar Alegría.

The spokesperson detailed that 25 million of this money is going to international humanitarian aid organisations currently working in Gaza.

Grand Cross of Isabella the Catholic to Concha Velasco

The Minister for Education, Vocational Training and Sports, and Government Spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, and the Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo, during the press conference after the Council of Ministers | Pool Moncloa / José Manuel Álvarez

The Council of Ministers has posthumously awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic to Concha Velasco, who died in Madrid on 2 December.

"If there were one artist who has been loved by this country, by all Spaniards and by all Spanish women, it was Concha Velasco", said Pilar Alegría, who reminisced on the actress and singer's artistic career, which lasted more than 60 years.

Non official translation