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| Podemos’ Rita Bosaho becomes Spain's first female black MP | Podemos’ Rita Bosaho becomes Spain's first female black MP |
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| As Spanish politicians gear up for what could be weeks of political wrangling, the unprecedented election result has ushered in another first for the country, with Podemos’ Rita Bosaho becoming the first black person to win a seat in Spain’s parliament. | As Spanish politicians gear up for what could be weeks of political wrangling, the unprecedented election result has ushered in another first for the country, with Podemos’ Rita Bosaho becoming the first black person to win a seat in Spain’s parliament. |
| “It’s about time, isn’t it?,” Bosaho told El País. In Spain immigrants make up about 15% of the population but represent less than 1% of the country’s lawmakers. | “It’s about time, isn’t it?,” Bosaho told El País. In Spain immigrants make up about 15% of the population but represent less than 1% of the country’s lawmakers. |
| Related: 'We are in uncharted waters': readers react to the Spanish general election | |
| Born in Equatorial Guinea, 50-year-old Bosaho moved to Spain more than three decades ago, working as a nurse before she made the jump to politics. Motivated by what she calls an “obsession” for human rights and worried about what kind of world she was leaving behind for her child, she decided to add her name to the list of Podemos candidates in the coastal city of Alicante. “It’s a window that’s open to the future,” she said of her party. | Born in Equatorial Guinea, 50-year-old Bosaho moved to Spain more than three decades ago, working as a nurse before she made the jump to politics. Motivated by what she calls an “obsession” for human rights and worried about what kind of world she was leaving behind for her child, she decided to add her name to the list of Podemos candidates in the coastal city of Alicante. “It’s a window that’s open to the future,” she said of her party. |
| The amount of attention she has received in recent weeks has surprised her, she told Spanish news agency Efe. “Why is it so striking that a black woman could end up in parliament? What does that say about us all being integrated?” | The amount of attention she has received in recent weeks has surprised her, she told Spanish news agency Efe. “Why is it so striking that a black woman could end up in parliament? What does that say about us all being integrated?” |
| The dearth of diversity in Spain’s institutions, she said, comes down to a lack of opportunities. “It’s a structural problem that needs to be put in context, looking at the social panorama of Spain.” | The dearth of diversity in Spain’s institutions, she said, comes down to a lack of opportunities. “It’s a structural problem that needs to be put in context, looking at the social panorama of Spain.” |
| Known in Alicante for her activism in gender issues, one of her goals is to push the central government to do more to address violence against women and raise the profile of women in government. “We talk about rights and equality and the constitution protects us,” said Bosaho. “But what happens with institutional representation or women in business? Why aren’t our voices being heard there?” | Known in Alicante for her activism in gender issues, one of her goals is to push the central government to do more to address violence against women and raise the profile of women in government. “We talk about rights and equality and the constitution protects us,” said Bosaho. “But what happens with institutional representation or women in business? Why aren’t our voices being heard there?” |
| Sunday’s election saw a record number of women voted into the country’s lower parliament, with about 138 female MPs as compared with the 125 women elected in the 2011 general election. Gender parity, however, remains a way off for Spain’s parliament, with women only making up 39.4% of MPs. | Sunday’s election saw a record number of women voted into the country’s lower parliament, with about 138 female MPs as compared with the 125 women elected in the 2011 general election. Gender parity, however, remains a way off for Spain’s parliament, with women only making up 39.4% of MPs. |
| Related: Spain needs broad consensus to go forward after messy election result | |
| Podemos, who alternated female and male candidates on their electoral lists, came closest to achieving gender parity, with women making up 49.28% of its elected members. The Socialists came next with 45.56% of their seats held by women. Ciudadanos ranked last of the major parties, with women obtaining just 8 of its 40 seats. | Podemos, who alternated female and male candidates on their electoral lists, came closest to achieving gender parity, with women making up 49.28% of its elected members. The Socialists came next with 45.56% of their seats held by women. Ciudadanos ranked last of the major parties, with women obtaining just 8 of its 40 seats. |
| In 2008, the Socialists made headlines around the world when José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the then prime minister, announced he would have a cabinet made up of more women than men. The nine women appointed to the 17-member cabinet included Carme Chacón, who was seven months pregnant when she was named the country’s first-ever female minister of defence. | In 2008, the Socialists made headlines around the world when José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, the then prime minister, announced he would have a cabinet made up of more women than men. The nine women appointed to the 17-member cabinet included Carme Chacón, who was seven months pregnant when she was named the country’s first-ever female minister of defence. |