Source: Universities – Science Po in English

People of foreign origin continue to be underrepresented in national parliaments across Europe, according to a comparative study conducted in Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Laura Morales, a researcher at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics (Sciences Po / CNRS), contributed to this study. In particular, individuals with immigrant backgrounds remain underrepresented relative to their share of the general population. This is also the case in France, according to earlier research by Laura Morales. Discover the main findings in this article. 

Members of parliament with immigrant backgrounds remain underrepresented in the national parliaments of major European countries, according to the recent REPCHANCE Europe study, funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung. Covering five European democracies—Germany, Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, and Switzerland—between 2012 and 2021, the study defines individuals of immigrant origin as those born abroad with foreign nationality, or with at least one parent meeting that condition. The study shows that, despite progress over the past decade, the proportion of individuals of immigrant origin among national parliamentarians remains lower than their share in the population of each country. This observation also applies to France, which Laura Morales examined in a separate project funded by Sciences Po, InclusiveParl. 

Disparities in the Representation of Social Diversity Over Time and Space

As of 2021, the Netherlands leads with the highest proportion of MPs of immigrant origin (19%), though this is still below the percentage of immigrants in the general population (24.6% according to StatLine). The same is true for all other countries studied, including Switzerland (14% in the National Council, compared to 39.5% in the population according to the BFS) and Germany (11% in the Bundestag, compared to 27.2% according to Destatis). 

For Spain, France, and the UK, only the proportion of those born abroad or with foreign nationality is known. These figures—drawn from OECD statistics for comparability—thus underestimate the population of foreign descent, yet they still exceed or at best equal the share of immigrant-origin MPs: Spain’s Congress of Deputies includes 2% immigrant-origin MPs (versus 15.4% foreign-born residents), France’s National Assembly 9.8% (versus 13.3%), and the UK’s House of Commons 15% (versus 14%). The discrepancies would be even larger if descendants of foreign-born individuals with foreign nationality were considered in the general population.

Parliamentary representation of individuals with immigrant backgrounds has improved over time, but progress has varied greatly by country (see chart below).

In comparison with these five countries, the proportion of foreign-origin MPs in France’s National Assembly was 7.5% during the 14th legislature (2012–2017) and 9.8% during the 15th (2017–2022). These figures place parliamentary diversity in France at a level similar to Germany during the same period. 

“These contrasting developments in diversity within European parliaments are partly due to differing immigration timelines and levels in each country—a longer migration history in the UK, more intense immigration in Switzerland—but also to the degree of attention political parties pay to diversity in their ranks and candidate selections,” explains Laura Morales, university professor at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics and lead researcher of the study for Spain and the UK. “The role of political parties is evident in the non-linear increase in diversity in the Dutch and Swiss parliaments and the lack of real progress in Spain, despite growing social diversity in all of these countries.”

Persistent Obstacles

Another part of the REPCHANCE Europe study is based on interviews with elected officials of immigrant origin at national, regional, or local levels. These interviews help to understand how such individuals become politically engaged and what barriers they face. For example, people of immigrant origin more often run under left-wing parties, particularly in Germany and Switzerland, and to a lesser extent in the UK and the Netherlands. Decisions to run for office are often influenced by growing up in politically active families, but mobilization by party officials also plays a crucial role. Whether they are actually elected depends on factors such as the constituency assigned or list placement in proportional voting systems. 

Once in office, foreign-origin MPs often face discrimination (with women experiencing both sexism and racism), hate speech, or tokenism—being used to give the appearance of diversity—according to the study. Furthermore, these MPs are often expected (or limited) to focus on migration and integration issues, even without prior expertise in these areas.

Towards Greater Political Inclusion

In their report, the researchers propose concrete measures to achieve more balanced representation of people of immigrant origin. These recommendations include extending voting rights for certain elections (e.g., local or regional), educational initiatives, but most importantly, measures targeted at political parties: more active recruitment of immigrant-origin individuals, stronger anti-discrimination policies, and a focus on training, which would benefit all newcomers to politics. 

Ferdinand Mirbach, an expert at the Robert Bosch Stiftung, emphasizes that “increasing the political representation of people of immigrant origin is essential for the proper functioning of democracy. Political parties, civil society, and institutions must actively create opportunities and remove obstacles to ensure a diversity of voices are heard in decision-making.”
 

> To learn more, access the comparative research report REPCHANCE Europe. 

Translation from French to English by Hannah Ashburn