How Europe’s democracy fails women

BRUSSELS — Democracy in the European Union is failing women, who are disproportionately targeted by online threats, less likely to be elected than in the past, and more reluctant to vote than they used to be. 

These are among the key findings of an official review of the most recent European Parliament elections, which were held a year ago across 27 countries with a total of 360 million eligible voters. 

Other findings in the European Commission study, a draft of which was seen by POLITICO, included a marked drop in turnout among younger voters, even though several countries lowered their voting age to 16, and confirmation of a rise in Russian-linked interference seeking to undermine the campaign.

The report, which is due to be published on Friday, calls on EU countries to do more to promote the participation of women and young people and to remain vigilant against foreign threats. 

“Elections are at the core of democracy and the elections to the European Parliament are among the world’s largest democratic exercises,” the report says. “They should follow the highest democratic standards.”

Turnout among women fell by one percentage point in the Parliamentary elections of June 2024 compared to the previous elections in 2019. While female representation in the Parliament has more than doubled since the first direct elections in 1979, the share of women fell by 0.9 percentage points last year from the last election. 

It was the first time that the share of women in the Parliament had fallen. Women now make up only 38.5 percent of all MEPs, with the proportion ranging from 62 percent in Sweden to zero in Cyprus. 

The study cites concerns that the campaign environment was more hostile for women standing for election than for men. In some countries, female candidates were not given equal TV media space, while women were “particularly at risk” of violence, harassment and intimidation during the campaign. 

In some countries, female candidates were not given equal TV media space. | Oliver Matthys/EPA

“In the run-up to the elections, a rise in online gender-based disinformation about female EU leaders and candidates was observed. Such challenges can force women out of the political sphere altogether, impacting democracy and women’s participation in the political arena,” the report said.

The study noted that more needed to be done to achieve gender equality in politics “at both EU and national level,” including better protection against online threats. 

When it comes to Russian attacks, the report confirmed there had been “a handful” of “major” Kremlin-linked operations intended to manipulate or interfere in the elections, for example the “Doppelganger” campaigns in which legitimate media websites were impersonated. Overall, EU officials detected 42 incidents linked to Russian interference, manipulation and influence operations. These “escalated in the weeks leading up to the vote, peaking between 6 and 9 June, and continuing well beyond that.” 

Overall, turnout remained “stable” in 2024 at around 50 percent. “Thanks to thorough preparedness and strengthened cooperation at all levels, the elections took place without major disruptions,” the report concludes.