First green light for proxy voting for pregnant MEPs and new mothers

Brussels – The European Parliament’s Committee on Constitutional Affairs (AFCO) has approved, with just one vote against, 28 in favour, and no abstentions, the measure allowing female MEPs who are pregnant or have recently given birth to cast their votes in plenary by proxy. Specifically, this concerns the European Parliament legislative resolution of 13 November 2025, amending the European Electoral Act, which stipulates that “a female MEP who is pregnant or has given birth may have her vote cast by another Member acting on her behalf for a maximum period of three months prior to the expected date of childbirth and for a maximum period of six months following childbirth.” The text will now be put to a vote in the plenary, having already been included in this week’s session in Strasbourg and scheduled for Wednesday, 29 April. The rapporteur for the text is the Spanish Socialist (S&D) MEP, Juan F López Aguilar.