“We have a situation of total inequality between men and women,” underlined Johanna Rolland, denouncing an “archaic” situation. According to her, the absence of maternity leave for elected officials constitutes “a hindrance to political commitment”.
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The maternity leave of the environmentalist mayor of Poitiers (Vienna), Léonore Moncond’huy, raises a legal void. The law does not provide any mechanism to compensate for the loss of income of mayors and nothing is planned to ensure the interim. “The law was not designed for the exercise of responsibilities by women”pointed out Wednesday February 21 on franceinfo the socialist mayor of Nantes and president of Urban France, the association of large cities, Johanna Rolland.
“We have a situation of total inequality between men and women”she underlined, denouncing a situation “archaic”. “In 2024, continuing to ask women to choose between the two still seems totally archaic”she denounced. “The truth is that the rules are generally inherited from a time when the majority of mayors were men and very often they combined the functions of mayor and deputy”, affirmed the president of Urban France who was contacted by Léonore Moncond’huy to change the law. According to her, the absence of maternity leave for elected officials constitutes “a brake on political engagement”while the mayors “are the artisans of the Republic of everyday life”. “Only 20% of mayors are women”she pointed.
The councilor calls for changes to the law to better take into account maternity and paternity leave for elected officials. A transpartisan bill proposed by Renaissance MP Violette Spillebout and communist Sébastien Jumel is being prepared in the Assembly. “We will make proposed amendments to finally resolve this situation which actually seems quite eccentric”, specified Johanna Rolland. The president of Urban France has also “mentioned this subject” during an interview in Matignon with Gabriel Attal on Tuesday. “I must say that on this issue, he listened attentively and I hope that we can move forward on this issue”assured the elected socialist. “From a democratic point of view, from a representation point of view, it’s a subject”she added.
