It finally seems to be happening. The modernization of the European electoral system also regulates the replacement of MEPs during pregnancy and leave. Now the seat remains empty and the vote of the MEP is lost.
Samira Rafaela, on behalf of D66 in the European Parliament, has been campaigning for this modernization for years and is very happy with the step: “It is not of this time that women cannot be replaced during their pregnancy. With the measure, the European Parliament is taking a step towards the future. I am very happy about that because it is 2022. Women who want to have children should not be held back in their ambitions”.
Rafaela already touched on this problem in March 2020 with a letter to the President of the European Council, Charles Michel. She has now realized with an amendment to the initiative on the European electoral system that this is actually happening.
The European Parliament will vote today in the plenary session on the renewal of the European electoral system. It is proposed here to add 28 transnational seats to the current 705 national seats for the 2024 elections. The transnational electoral roll should ensure a balance between the geographical distribution and take into account the size of the Member States. Gender equality is also becoming the norm: the transnational list must achieve equal male-female distribution.