The equality of women in the right to passive suffrage has been parallel to the process of equality in the right to active suffrage. But the fact that female presence in eligible positions continues to be proportionally lower than men has lead to it being considered suitable to include positive action measures in favour of increasing the number of women elected in some regulations.
In some cases, mere internal agreements are adopted by one or several of
the competing political parties, or action is instigated by political groups proposing the support of female candidates or lists where they have a higher presence. But there are examples, in limited areas, where the aim has been to favour a proportionally larger presence of women by introducing minimum female quotas (in the recent Italian Electoral Law, what has come to be called a list of parity has been established, i.e., political groups must present their lists by alternating male and female candidates).
Discussions on these affirmative actions arise from arguments focused on the principle of equality. Those who are opposed to them, set out from a strict interpretation, preventing one or some groups of citizens from being favoured. On the other hand, supporters of gender equality oppose reasons of material equality compared to the inequality that the system of formal equality brings about.
