Brave New World at the Crossroads: Gender and Anti-Gender Politics in the Romanian Parliament

The Romanian Parliament has emerged as a critical arena where gender and anti-gender politics intersect, signifying a juncture where progressive and regressive policies coexist and collide. Acknowledging the imperative role of gender equality and women's inclusion for democracy (Dahlerup 2018; Ballington, Karam 2015; Phillips 1991) and recognizing anti-gender politics as a marker of de-democratization and a new illiberal political order (Paternotte 2023, Bogaards, Pető 2022; Verloo 2018; Kuhar, Paternotte 2017), this study explores the intricate dynamics of the 2016–2024 legislative periods. In the backdrop of a surge in domestic anti-gender campaigns in 2016, the Romanian Parliament and political parties assumed distinct roles at the nexus of gender and anti-gender politics (Paternotte 2023; Băluță 2023, 2020). The 2016–2020 legislature witnessed an increase in women's descriptive representation, reaching 19.5%, a peak without gender quotas (Băluță 2017). Substantive representation initiatives bolstered gender equality, notably in addressing gender-based violence. Progressive legislation, including the ratification of the usually contested Istanbul Convention in 2016 (Krizsán, Roggeband 2021), underscored the multifaceted political discourse. The 2020 elections marked a shift with the ascent of a radical right party opposing "gender ideology", a new player in anti-gender politics alongside mainstream parties (Norocel, Băluță 2021). The clash between gender and anti-gender politics intensified during the last two legislatures, revealing support for both progressive and regressive policies. This latter backing is visible in efforts to dismantle and eradicate existing policies, while concurrently devising and implementing new policy agendas (Paternotte 2023, 15). The central argument emphasizes the dynamic interaction between progressive and retrogressive forces within the Parliament, challenging the unidirectionality of gender equality progress or retrogressive policies. The examination of gender and anti-gender political initiatives spanning two legislative periods (2016-2024), aims to reveal the factors influencing their advancement, coexistence or clash, potential limitations or decline of initiatives and topics. It addresses two questions: What factors contribute to the dynamic interaction of progressive and retrogressive forces in legislative initiatives, and how does this interaction influence gender-related policy outcomes? The qualitative methodology includes textual analysis of parliamentary documents, complemented by interviews with politicians advancing gender equality initiatives and feminist activists.