Source: AllAfrica
As Tunisia prepares for the October 26th legislative elections, the small number of women at the head of the electoral lists is drawing criticism.

According to thinker and human rights activist Amel Grami, "the left meets the right" when it comes to the role of women in politics.

"Here, ideological affiliations become absent," she said. "Gender takes prevalence over other criteria such as competence, energy, and integrity."

During the ratification of the new Tunisian constitution in February, Ennahda rejected voting in favour of what is known as "horizontal sharing", that is, the number of male heads of electoral lists should be equal to the number of female heads.

Meanwhile, liberal and leftist parties are waging a battle for women's right to equality with men in decision making positions. However, it appears that the progressive parties have rejected women from the first election event.

"If sharing had not been enforced since the last electoral law during the 2011 elections, the electoral scene would have been devoid of women," said Saida Garache, a Nidaa Tounes member and representative of the Democratic Women's Association.

Nidaa Tounes gave only two top slots to women.

Maya Jribi, the head of the Republican Party, told Magharebia, "Women exist in all political struggles, but their presence at the head of parties or electoral lists is very weak, sometimes because of a refusal to head the lists, as is the case of our party."

"The scene in the next parliament will not be like the current council, which includes about 66 women," she said. "The number of women in parliament will not exceed 40."

She blamed the male-dominated mentality of the parties in spite of women competencies.

"The weak presence of women on electoral lists applies to all political parties," Ennahda party leader and Constituent Assembly Vice President Mehrezia Labidi said.

"Women within parties should fight for their place and I call for finding internal mechanisms in the charters of parties, forcing them to include women and young people in leadership positions similar to the Scandinavian countries," she said.

She explained that parties with male leaders would have a young person and a woman as deputies "to open the door of opportunity for all".

For some Tunisian voters, the issue is bigger than just the number of women on electoral lists.

"What matters is that women's participation be effective," said company executive Yosra Werfelli, 33.

• Tunisia