Immigrant-origin members of parliament (MPs) remain persistently underrepresented in several countries, according to the recent REPCHANCE Europe study. Research on five democracies—Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK—reveals that, despite modest progress over the past decade, the share of immigrant-origin MPs continues to fall significantly short of reflecting their share of the population in each country.

The study highlights stark disparities in representation over the past decade. The Netherlands leads with the highest proportion of immigrant-origin MPs at 19%, followed by the UK at 15%, Switzerland at 14%, and Germany at 11%. In contrast, Spain lags behind with just 2%. However, in the Netherlands, citizens of immigrant origin make up about a quarter of the population – so even for the Netherlands as the frontrunner, improvements are still needed.

The Dutch study is supported by the Porticus Foundation and the Robert Bosch Stiftung and carried out at the Politics of Diversity group, part of the Challenges to Democratic Representation research group at the University of Amsterdam. The research team includes principal investigator Dr. Liza Mügge, PhD researcher Zahra Runderkamp, and junior lecturer Melanie Ihuoma.

Political Affiliation and Barriers to Political Aspirations

The REPCHANCE Europe study reveals that immigrant-origin MPs are more likely to affiliate with left-leaning parties, especially in Germany and Switzerland, and to a lesser extent in the UK and the Netherlands.

The decision to pursue political office is often influenced by growing up in politically engaged families. However, election success is significantly affected by factors such as party list placement.

Training programmes inside and outside political parties continue to help immigrant-origin aspirants navigate politics. Once elected, these politicians function as role models, mentoring new generations.

However, immigrant-origin MPs also face systemic and personal barriers, including discrimination, hate speech, and being instrumentalized for symbolic purposes. Women, in particular, confront compounded challenges of racism and sexism. Additionally, immigrant-origin politicians are often expected to focus on migration and integration issues, which limits their broader political ambitions.

Why Does the Netherlands Stand Out?

The Netherlands leads these five countries, but why? Factors include the Dutch political landscape, which is characterized by its proportional representation electoral system. This allows for a more diverse range of voices to enter parliament.

Another factor is the presence of strong diversity and inclusion networks within political parties, which historically have provided immigrant-origin politicians with mentorship, training, and pathways into leadership roles. The Netherlands also benefitted from a relatively well-established ecosystem of migrant-led organizations and advocacy groups that supported political mobilization.

However, challenges remain, particularly for intersectional groups such as Black women, Muslim women, and LGBTQ+ politicians of migrant origin, who often face higher levels of scrutiny, discrimination, and targeted hate speech.

Dr. Liza Mügge states: 'It’s easy to rest on our laurels when we see that the Netherlands is leading these five countries. But even in the Dutch context, significant barriers remain for people of immigrant origin to enter and navigate the political system. So yes: let’s take a moment to acknowledge the progress made—but there is still a long way to go. We hope that this research contributes to breaking down these barriers and fostering a more inclusive political landscape.'

Policy Recommendations for Enhanced Political Inclusion

To address these challenges, the researchers propose concrete policy measures in the report. These include educational initiatives on political systems, demands for equal opportunities in party recruitment, and stronger anti-discrimination measures. They also advocate for improved training processes within political parties and robust protective measures against hate speech and violence targeting minority politicians.

The Dutch Results

The Dutch results will be presented in a separate report, launched at a public event on 11 April 2025 at SPUI25.