This study explores how political parties select female candidates for parliamentary elections in proportional systems. It examines why some parties place women in viable list positions while others do not.

🔍 Candidate Selection

The research focuses on the role of incumbency and gender, analyzing these factors across diverse European party systems.

📊 Key Variables

* Incumbency status significantly impacts nomination chances for both men and women;

* Female gender remains a relevant factor but explains less candidate selection than expected;

* Party ideology also plays a role in selecting novice female candidates.

💡 Implications

The findings suggest that understanding descriptive representation requires focusing on incumbency bias as the primary driver, with other factors like party politics and broader societal trends accounting for variations.