PRESS RELEASE
Simona Mulè presents the ANCI 2026 Dossier on female leadership in Italian Municipalities
The participation of women in public life and decision-making processes is currently one of the main indicators of democratic quality, administrative innovation and sustainable development of territories. Simona Mulè, Coordinator of the ANCI Lazio Women Administrators’ Council, will speak on these topics during the streaming broadcast hosted by journalist Michela Stentella, scheduled for June 11th from 10.15 AM to 10.45 AM as part of Forum PA 2026.
The meeting will be dedicated to analysing the ANCI 2026 Dossier “Women in the Municipality”, created for the 80th anniversary of the extension of the right to vote and to stand for election to women in Italy. The study offers an up-to-date snapshot of female representation in local institutions and the evolution of women's leadership in Italian municipalities, highlighting the progress made and the challenges that remain regarding representation and participation in decision-making processes.
The data contained in the report show that there are now over 44,000 female administrators, accounting for 35.31% of the total, with a steady increase in their representation in elected and local government roles. This trend reflects the evolving role of women in institutions and their increasing assumption of responsibility in areas strategic to community development.
«There is no modernisation of Public Administration without the full valorisation of female leadership. The growth of women in places where the future of territories is decided is not a concession, but an indicator of democratic maturity that requires constant action to break down the imbalances that still exist.
The figures speak for themselves: with women accounting for 58.1% of the permanent workforce and 56.21% of municipal secretaries, the local administrative apparatus is already predominantly female. Consequently, the presence of women and the entrusting of key portfolios such as Urban Planning, Finance and Ecological Transition is no longer merely a question of balanced representation, but constitutes a strategic lever for improving public spending, innovating governance and making local authorities» decisions more effective, fair and sustainable.”
Declare Simona Mulè, Coordinator of the Council of Women Administrators of ANCI Lazio.
«Strengthening the presence of women in local institutions is one of the most important challenges for building modern, inclusive administrations capable of understanding the needs of communities. The data from the ANCI 2026 Dossier confirms a significant growth trajectory, seeing women increasingly playing a leading role in decision-making processes and in the leadership of local authorities.
As ANCI Lazio, we believe that valuing female talent, skills, and leadership is a strategic element for improving the quality of public governance and promoting more balanced and sustainable territorial development. The work carried out by the Council of Women Administrators, coordinated by Simona Mulè, represents an important experience of participation and discussion, capable of contributing concretely to the growth of female representation in local administrations.»
Assert Daniele Sinibaldi, President of ANCI Lazio.
During the Forum PA discussion, the themes of female representation, women's access to decision-making roles, the evolution of strategic delegations entrusted to female administrators, and the contribution that greater inclusion can bring to the quality of public policies, administrative innovation, and territorial development will be explored.
The meeting represents an important opportunity for reflection on the role of women in institutions and on the prospects for governance that is increasingly capable of valuing skills, merit, participation, and equal opportunities, essential elements for addressing the challenges of the Public Administration of the future.