Additional information about gender quotas

In 2011, the electoral law was amended to include a 30 per cent quota for either gender (OSCE/ODIHR Limited Election Observation Mission 2012: 5). In the 2012 parliamentary elections, the 30 per cent quota regulation was implemented for the first time, resulting in a significant increase in the number of female candidates, from 14.7 per cent in the previous elections, to 31 per cent of all candidates in the 2012 parliamentary elections. The quota requirements were met but as the order of the candidates is not specified in the law, only 14 (17 per cent) women were elected.

In 2014, an amendment was introduced to the electoral law, stipulating that when the term of office of an MP of the less represented gender ends, the next candidate on the electoral list of the less represented gender is to be elected to replace the MP. In 2016, the law was further amended and no changes were made to the substance of the articles referring to the legsilated candidate quotas. However, "Non-compliance with the quotas prescribed by the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament will further deepen the existing inequality of women in politics", said the President of the Assembly Danijela Đurović. (mina news - June 8th 2023)