The French government outlined on Tuesday a bill which is intended to increase the number of women in elected position.

Executive councils at the local and regional level would be required to have as many women as men, according to the bill outlined during a French cabinet meeting on Tuesday.

For the parties who have more male than female candidates in legislative elections, the fine would be increased, the bill said.

The bill "will help our democracy progress," French President Jacques Chirac was cited as saying by government spokesman Jean- Francois Cope.

France ranks 17th out of European Union's 25 members for the share of women in Parliament, with seven of eight members of the National Assembly being men.

Socialist Party's 2007 Presidential candidate Segolene Royal, who seeks to be France's first female president, has made gender a campaign issue, saying she would make a law against violence against women her first legislative proposal.

Source: Xinhua