This study explores how political parties select female candidates for parliamentary elections in proportional systems. It examines why some parties place women in viable list positions while others do not.
🔍 Candidate Selection
The research focuses on the role of incumbency and gender, analyzing these factors across diverse European party systems.
📊 Key Variables
- Incumbency status significantly impacts nomination chances for both men and women;
- Female gender remains a relevant factor but explains less candidate selection than expected;
- Party ideology also plays a role in selecting novice female candidates.
💡 Implications
The findings suggest that understanding descriptive representation requires focusing on incumbency bias as the primary driver, with other factors like party politics and broader societal trends accounting for variations.
