**France's New Law Boosts Female Candidates in Local Elections, But Men Still Dominate** Nigerians may have heard about the strides France is taking in promoting gender equality in politics. The country's recent changes to its law have led to a significant increase in the number of female candidates in local elections. According to preliminary results from France's municipal elections, half of the 460,000 municipal councillors elected will be women. This achievement can be attributed to the new parity law, which requires all municipalities to present gender-balanced candidate lists. This law, which was passed in May 2025, builds on the groundwork laid by pioneering women like Yvette Roudy and Gisèle Halimi in the 1980s. They were instrumental in shaping France's strong laws on gender parity in politics. Today, around 50,000 women are expected to enter politics thanks to this law. While the increase in female representation is a significant step forward, it's worth noting that only a quarter of councils will be led by women. This means that men still hold a majority of leadership positions, despite the efforts to promote gender equality. In Nigeria, we have our own challenges in promoting women's representation in politics. While we have made progress in recent years, there is still much work to be done to close the gender gap in politics. France's experience highlights the importance of having robust laws and support systems in place to promote gender equality. The Élues Locales network, which supports and promotes women running for local office, has played a crucial role in France's progress. As Nigeria continues to work towards promoting women's representation in politics, we can learn from France's experience. By creating a supportive environment and implementing laws that promote gender parity, we can increase the number of women in politics and leadership positions.