Proxy voting in Parliament’s plenary during pregnancy and after childbirth 

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• MEPs propose an option to confer proxy voting rights for up to three months before and six months after birth 
• Measure aims to strengthen gender equality and work–life balance for the directly elected representatives of European citizens 
• This revision of the EU Electoral Act was initiated by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola 

The Committee on Constitutional Affairs has put forward a proposal to allow MEPs to vote in plenary by proxy during pregnancy and in the months following childbirth.

The proposal, seeks to introduce a clearly defined exception to the current rule that all votes in Parliament’s plenary sessions must be cast personally. This would allow Members who are temporarily unable to attend plenary sessions due to upcoming or recent childbirth, to exercise their citizen-given mandates in full. The legislative initiative report was adopted by 28 votes in favour, one against and without abstentions, while the accompanying resolution received 26 votes in favour and four against, without abstentions.

Under the proposed targeted revision to the EU Electoral Act, a member who is pregnant or has given birth would be able to delegate their plenary voting rights to another MEP for a maximum of three months before the estimated date of birth and six months after.

This voluntary arrangement is designed to reconcile the principle of personal voting with the need for inclusion and equality in political representation. MEPs also want to set an example for national legislatures and to strengthen democratic legitimacy through fairer participation conditions.

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Rapporteur Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D, ES), commented: “No elected representative should ever have to choose between their vote and their child. Introducing proxy voting for MEPs on maternity leave strengthens democratic representation and ensures that voters’ voices continue to be heard in the months before and after childbirth. This measure also gives fresh momentum to the ongoing, ambitious reform of the Electoral Act and supports our broader goal of promoting gender equality and work–life balance by encouraging parents to participate fully in political life”.

Next steps

Parliament’s plenary is set to vote on the proposal during its upcoming session in Brussels on 12 – 13 November. The text will then be submitted to Council for unanimous approval by the member states. If modified, the new draft law will need to be approved by more than half of sitting MEPs. Finally, for the new rules to enter into force, all EU countries will have to approve them in line with their respective constitutional procedures.

Background

The proposal, initiated aby EP President Roberta Metsola earlier this year, reflects Parliament’s long-standing commitment to promote gender equality and modern working standards in representative institutions.