Mechanizm kwotowy w wyborach do Sejmu Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej w 2011 roku
The Mechanism of Gender Quotas in the Elections to the Polish Sejm in 2011

Summary/Abstract: The content of the article focuses on the issues related to the mechanism of gender quotas in Poland. The quotas are mechanisms by which governments try to increase the number of women represented in the national parliaments. In Poland, the solution was adopted with the passing of a new electoral law in 2011. It was an important achievement of the followers of increased participation of women in politics. The authors attempted to examine the correlations between the quota mechanism and the attitudes towards them by the political parties, especially on the election lists. The study contributes to some surprising conclusions, including little support by women for parties which declared the fight for women rights in their programs. At the same time, the representation of women on the electoral lists was reflected in the number of women in the parliamentary clubs. The Party, which provided women with the best places on electoral lists, was the Civic Platform. They won the elections and continued the government. On the other hand, paradoxically, one should note left-wing parties among the parties with the lowest participation of women in the mandates. Elections to the Polish Sejm in 2011 were the first, in which the described solution was implemented. The complete picture of the impact of the changes on the number of women in the lower house of parliament in Poland will be possible to obtain after analyzing the next elections.

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