Long gone are the days when you, as a woman, were fired if you were pregnant. At least, that’s what you would think. But not if you are a councilor. Then you will not be given leave, but you will have to resign temporarily. The heavily pregnant councilor Rosa van den Nieuwenhof from Eindhoven found out about this.
Van den Nieuwenhof proudly shows the future baby room. The dresser is filled with rompers and a mobile already hangs above the bed. “I’m more and more ready,” she says, beaming. “But not yet the Electoral Act.”
Because there is no maternity leave for council members. Van den Nieuwenhof found this out when she told the happy news to the municipality of Eindhoven. “Fortunately, I was first congratulated. But then I was told by the council clerk that there are no leave arrangements for representatives. If I want to be free, I have to resign temporarily.”
I know it was like that in the 1950s, but I didn’t expect it to still be like that now.”
The councilor for PRO Eindhoven was surprised and bewildered. “Bizarre. I know it was like that in the 1950s. But I didn’t expect it to still be like that now.”
The municipality of Eindhoven has 45 seats. Because you are not allowed to appoint more people than there are seats, Van den Nieuwenhof must be dismissed for sixteen weeks instead of taking leave, so that someone else can be sworn in temporarily.
“It is the only way I can be replaced according to the Electoral Act,” she explains. “I would feel guilty if I didn’t do that and my party would have one less vote for weeks. That could influence important decisions, which would be annoying.”
“Women have been able to get elected for more than a hundred years and we also know that women can have children.”
Van den Nieuwenhof will submit a motion to the Eindhoven city council on Tuesday. In the hope that other factions will join this and it will come to the attention in The Hague. Because the Electoral Act must be amended there. “I think it is really time for them to adjust that arrangement. Women have been able to be elected for more than a hundred years and we also know that women can have children. I find it inconceivable that the preconditions are not in order.”
According to her, these preconditions are necessary for the strongest possible democracy. “I hope there will be more flexibility. As long as that is not the case, it could be at the expense of the representation of women in democracy. That is a shame.”
If another child should be born in the future, Van den Nieuwenhof hopes he will no longer have to resign. “Then I hope to go on leave,” she concludes, laughing.