MEPs back voting rights for new mothers – but fathers miss out

Female members of the European Parliament will be allowed to delegate their vote to a colleague before and after childbirth. The new measure aims at strengthening work-life balance. Left-wing parties have tried to include male MEPs in the change but they failed to secure support from other political groups. Do I wish that today we would be doing the same for young fathers in the same position or maybe those adopting children? Also yes. Unfortunately Unfortunately, that is something where member states are still blocking, and that's a fight that will need to keep fighting. The change will introduce a temporary waiver to the rule requiring in-person voting for the Parliament's plenary sessions. Women MEPs will be allowed to delegate their vote for up to three months before their due date and for six months after giving birth. Until now, MEPs could not vote during their maternity leave. It now needs ratification by the EU national parliaments to enter into force. So far only 10 countries have completed the process.