The European Parliament paves the way for the introduction of proxy voting for MEPs during maternity leave.

Brussels, November 13 - MEPs who are pregnant or in the first months after giving birth could vote by proxy in plenary, according to a reform aimed at adapting the EU's electoral rules to health and care realities. The proposed change introduces for the first time a formal mechanism that allows mothers to exercise their mandate without having to give up their maternity leave.

The reform, designed as an amendment to European electoral legislation, introduces a temporary option for voting by proxy for a period of up to three months before the estimated date of birth and up to six months after birth. The text was drafted by the Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) and was approved by open vote. The resolution supporting the legislative proposal was adopted with 605 votes in favor, 30 against, and 5 abstentions.

The aim of the change is to strengthen maternity rules and allow female MEPs to fully exercise their mandate, while balancing family and parliamentary responsibilities at the same time. The initiative is part of the Parliament's broader commitment to gender equality, inclusion, and work-life balance.

The President of the Parliament, Roberta Metsola, who initiated the review process, stated: "I am proud of the Parliament's work on this landmark proposal. As a politician and a woman, I hope that member states will agree with us that modernizing voting rules is long overdue and will do everything in their power to bring Parliament's rules into the 21st century. No woman should have to choose between serving her constituents and having children."

Rapporteur Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, Spain) emphasized:

"No elected representative should ever have to choose between their vote and their child. Introducing voting by proxy for female MEPs during maternity leave strengthens democratic representation and ensures that voters' voices continue to be heard before and after birth."

According to the Parliament, the current reform is also an opportunity to establish a European standard. Currently, only three member states, Spain, Greece, and Luxembourg, formally allow voting by absentee ballot for maternity-related reasons, making the proposed change at the European level all the more significant.

https://2eu.brussels/articol/stiri/parlamentul-european-face-un-pas-pentru-egalitatea-de-gen-initiativa-pentru-votul-prin-procura-pe-durata-maternitatii