If it is not equal it is not democracy

Speech by Daniela Carlà at the final meeting of AMMPE

(Rome – Campidoglio, 17 September 2022)

Noi Rete Donne is an informal network, totally without funding but which, however, has been carrying out its activity for more than a decade and enjoys recognized authority. Authoritativeness that we owe, in the first place, to our co-founder: the partisan Marisa Cinciari Rodano who has provided throughout her life a great contribution to the construction of democracy in our country and that we now have the fortune and honor to have with us in Noi Rete Donne. Our network is aimed at Parity Democracy. «If it is not equal it is not Democracy» is the mantra we coined, now widely spread and become the heritage of all. Obviously in the network a decisive role is played by journalist friends and writers, present numerous, Marcia, Loredana, Tiziana, Patricia and many others who actively contribute to the elaboration and to the Noi Rete Donne.

There are those who, mistakenly, think that orienting the network towards Parity Democracy implies the assumption of an abstract goal, distant from people’s real lives. It’s not like that. It is instead the most concrete of purposes, especially in the phases of upheavals and changes that require decisions imbued with the imprints and looks of women. Women must be where decisions are taken. Parity Democracy does not concern only one of the powers of the State but involves them all, modifies their intertwining and guarantees their balance, crosses the dynamics between the levels of government. In short, Equal Democracy is not reduced to the «count» at the time of the elections (which is also a very important aspect), but concerns participation in political elections and their effects, the government, public administration, the presence in the judiciary and in the guarantee bodies, the role of women in the press. Just recently, the European Parliament, with regard to one of the Member States, has said that, although elections have taken place, we are not dealing with a democracy. The country concerned is Hungary.

Elections are a fundamental element of democracy, but they are not enough. Women are aware of this, political democracy and free elections are essential, but voting is not enough.Women have never been so naïve as to envisage a vision of democratic participation contracted and reduced to the right to vote, while acknowledging its importance. And it is also for this reason that Parity Democracy is essential not only for women, but for the evolution and credibility of democracy for all, precisely because it corresponds to a mature evolution of democracy itself and coincides with its development. Contemporary democracy cannot take root and evolve at all levels and in various areas, permeating powers, if it is not truly equal.

All this concerns the concrete life of people,  men and women, crosses generations and redefines their relationships. Women therefore have a historic responsibility to defend and strengthen democracy. Development of democracy, equal presence of women in institutions and gender rebalancing in all powers are intertwined with people’s freedoms and rights. It is not a gamble to support it. It is an awareness, however, already present since the origins of democracy in the representation of it. It is now up to us to draw all the consequences in politics and in the conception of civil life and to dissolve its implications.

I recall the statements of Pericles reported in Thucydides’ speech on democracies, still illuminating. At the time, democracy had a vulnus, it was not about women: now we can instead develop all its implications by implementing Parity Democracy. Pericles had defined  the Democrat as both «the government that is based on the majority», but Pericles himself «linked the democratic model to the way of life». It is a concept of extraordinary modernity. Always Pericles, in his speech to the fallen and in paying homage to them, adds: «it is our lifestyle that has allowed us this democratic model, to pay homage to tolerance and freedom of individual behavior». He even concludes: «we are not scandalized if our neighbor behaves as he likes best and if in private life … Personal habits can be different, we must not humiliate those who behave differently». In Pericles’ conception, political democracy and individual freedoms are mutually connected.

Precisely at this difficult and unprecedented moment, there is a need to rebuild the social and political fabric by bringing this lofty vision of democracy to life in individual relationships and institutions. After the pandemic, while the world and even Europe are crossed by wars, while inequalities and poverty increase, women must defend democracy for themselves and for everyone as a political model that allows decisions in the interests of the majority, but also consistent with a lifestyle that welcomes and values all differences.

How can we fail to grasp all the connections between the democratic conception of institutions and individual freedoms and rights? It is to these connections that we must draw attention. In Hungary, to which the European Parliament referred in considering that there is no democracy, it was established that women before having an abortion have the obligation to feel the heartbeat of the unborn. This is a very serious but also emblematic fact. When democracy is threatened, women’s freedoms are also attacked. There is no automatism, of course, but an almost ineluctable interweaving that history gives us.

COMMITMENT TO EQUAL DEMOCRACY

It is also from here that the historical value of the commitment to Parity Democracy springs. An epochal battle like this cannot be reduced to the dilemma of yes or no gender quotas, that is, to the question of whether predetermined percentages of women should be foreseen in positions of power. They are not quotas but necessary anti-discrimination instruments, within the framework of a plurality of interventions. But, above all, they are not a means of making concessions to women. Anti-discrimination policies, of quotas themselves, are instead a vehicle to free energy and talents for all, to recognize skills and merits for men and women.

In Italy in a few days there will be political elections. Obviously, we do not know the outcome. The level of political debate is not high, but many aspects are discussed. There is an important novelty: a woman, young, and secretary of a right-wing political party that the polls present as the winner. A discussion has developed which I find completely misleading and wrong. In fact, there are those who even argue that if she were to be a woman of the right Prime Minister for the first time in Italy, the glass ceiling would not have been broken.

Obviously, I do not know who will win the elections and I do not know if it will be a woman who will lead the Council of Ministers, but I think that the reality of the facts must prevail over prejudices. It must be clearly stopped that if she were a woman, of any political party, it would still be a positive and new fact for our country, especially for young people. Do we want to say that facts matter? In Italy there has never been a Prime Minister, if it were to happen, we will be faced with an unquestionably positive fact. The new President should show awareness of the importance of the history of women’s and feminist movements and should be grateful to the battles for Equal Democracy. That too is a fact.

Often women who reach positions of power at various levels think they are stronger by not recognizing the importance of women’s commitment and feminism to achieve results that have never been easy Once again, facts matter. Just as it is important that women occupy positions of power regardless of political affiliation, it is equally crucial that women themselves are aware that this is possible today thanks to the commitment of many, of those who preceded us and of those who still continue to fight just battles and for all.

Gratitude between women is not a weakness but must be a source of mutual strength. Women must learn to be friends with women, to build and strengthen the feeling of gratitude. We must do so not only to recognise what has been achieved, but above all for those that are still to be achieved. We cannot stop.Parity Democracy does not yet exist in any country in the world.

After the pandemic, the situation is even more difficult. There are very high risks at all levels, climate disasters loom and increasingly strident inequalities are emerging, threatening even achievements that seemed to have been achieved and those who instead prove fragile. Events like today’s are very important. I have no conclusive words to give you, we all participate in a common journey that we will continue by strengthening collaboration, meetings and friendship. Thank you again.