As EU member states submit their nominations for European Commissioners, Ursula von der Leyen’s push for gender parity is facing obstacles. Von der Leyen has requested that countries put forward both a male and a female candidate for consideration, but so far no country has complied with this request. Nine member states have confirmed their nominees, with six introducing new candidates who have yet to adhere to the gender parity rule. The remaining three countries have re-nominated their current Commissioners and are exempt from fielding both genders.
Despite the push for gender balance, some countries, such as Ireland and the Czech Republic, have only selected male contenders. Others, like Croatia, Finland, Spain, and Sweden, have nominated only women. Von der Leyen’s aim is to have an equal representation of men and women in the Commission, following her promise to promote women’s rights and address gender disparities during her second term. With the deadline for nominations approaching at the end of August, it remains to be seen if more countries will comply with her request for gender-balanced candidates. Von der Leyen’s efforts to foster inclusivity and diversity within the EU’s governing body will continue to be a focal point as the selection process unfolds.
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