Historic Move Forward in Gender Equality in the Conseil National: Brigitte Boccone-Pagès, is the first female President

Another historic first for the Principality in the advancement of women… this time with respect to leadership of one of the most important Monegasque institutions – the Conseil National (National Council). 

On Thursday 6th October Monaco’s Conseil National elected their very first female President, Brigitte Boccone-Pagès. All 22 national councillors present in the Chamber voted unanimously for her to succeed Stéphane Valeri. 

It is a testament to Monaco’s progressive thinking with respect to gender equality in the political sphere.

Brigitte Boccone-Pagès succeeds Stéphane Valeri who announced his resignation last week to begin his important role at the Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), where he is intended to succeed in April 2023 the current Deputy Chairman, Jean-Luc Biamonti.

Brigitte is the first woman to hold the position in the history of the 111-year-old institution.

“I am aware of the symbolic nature of this election. It will, I hope, inspire all the young women watching us to follow their dreams”, she expounded in her inaugural speech.

This election adds Monaco to a short privileged list of countries whose Assembly is presided over by a woman (in 2020, out of under 200 parliaments in the world, less than 30% of them had women who held this position according to the UN).

While she states that she will take on her new role with “humility and determination”, Brigitte Boccone-Pagès does not anticipate major changes, indicating that her election is a continuance of her predecessor’s course of action. 

The new President of the Conseil National referenced as a priority housing for Monegasques.

Having honoured her former colleague Stéphane Valeri, she clearly has a strong agenda in mind and didn’t let grass grow under her feet in getting down to new business.