A MAJOR French newspaper has hailed the diversity in the Scottish Parliament after MSPs took their seats in Holyrood.
The daily newspaper Le Monde said the newly elected Holyrood is "very representative of Scottish society".
It highlighted the diversity of languages that MSPs spoke while taking the oath or affirmation, with representatives speaking in Scots, English, Gaelic, Urdu, Punjabi, sign language and Zimbabwean Shona.
READ MORE: Language record broken at MSP swearing-in ceremony as Scottish Parliament opens
The Le Monde article notes that 45% of members are women, meaning the Scottish Parliament is one of the first in the world to near gender equality.
Rwanda has the highest proportion of female representatives at 61%, while Sweden is the best performing European nation with 47%.
France is next with 39% of elected members being women. Westminster lags behind with just 34%.
The paper was told by Strathclyde University political scientist Neil McGarvey that political parties in Scotland "deliberately selected women, representatives of ethnic minorities and the disabled" to head their regional lists.
The article by Cécile Ducourtieux added: "This diversity and the participation rate (63.5%, the highest since 1999) reinforce the legitimacy of this assembly and constitute weighty arguments for the separatists, who ensure that they can govern themselves alone. They are calling for a new referendum on Scottish independence, seven years after the 2014 consultation and the victory of the No."
READ MORE: Holyrood takes a step in the right direction with most diverse parliament ever
The growing number of MSPs from ethnic minority backgrounds was also highlighted with the SNP's Kaukab Stewart being sworn in wearing traditional Pakistani dress and Scottish Conservative MSP Pam Gosal wearing a veil and reciting the Mool Mantar, a Sikh prayer.
It also told readers about Labour MSP Pam Duncan-Glancy, who made history as the first permanent wheelchair user to become a member of the Scottish Parliament.
The article concluded by highlighting that prospective Scottish politicians are increasingly looking to Holyrood rather than Westminster, with Strathclyde University professor Mark Shepherd telling the paper Edinburgh has become "more attractive".
The Le Monde article can be read HERE
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