The Impact of Electoral Gender Quota on Women’s Representation Trend in Parliaments of Western Balkan Countries

Although women began to exercise their right to vote many years ago, women’s representation in the national parliaments remains an issue to be addressed by many countries. The right to be elected is guaranteed through national and international legislation. In addition, Western Balkan countries have introduced an electoral gender quota aiming to ensure gender balance in national parliaments. This article aims to identify the trend of women’s representation in parliaments of Western Balkan countries and the impact of electoral gender quota thereon. Relevant legislation, scientific articles and official statistical data on women’s representation in the parliaments of these countries have been analysed and compared. The results demonstrate that the trend of women’s representation in the parliaments of all Western Balkan countries has marked an increase due to quota introduction. Moreover, Kosovo, Albania and North Macedonia went beyond the electoral gender quota in the last elections.