Walloon MP and mayor Caroline Cassart has tabled a draft decree to guarantee that mayors, aldermen and alderwomen, and CPAS chairs continue to receive their salary when taking maternity, birth, adoption leave or leave in connection with a child's foster placement. This text aims to correct an inconsistency in current legislation and make it easier to reconcile political commitment with family life.
Today, there is no guarantee that mayors, aldermen or CPAS chairs will continue to receive their salary when temporarily replaced due to leave linked to the arrival of a child. This situation can leave certain officeholders in real financial insecurity, particularly when they have reduced or interrupted their professional activity to carry out their mandate.
With this draft decree, Caroline Cassart wants to offer a simple and balanced solution. The text provides for the continued payment of salary during this leave, while remaining aligned with existing social security rules: no double compensation, no more favourable scheme, just the correction of a legal gap.
Beyond this technical aspect, this initiative pursues a broader goal: making local executive roles more compatible with family and professional realities. At a time when too few women hold the position of mayor or alderwoman, removing this kind of obstacle is a concrete step forward in encouraging their involvement.
“Holding a local mandate should never mean having to choose between public responsibilities and family life. Guaranteeing this security strengthens the appeal of local mandates and allows more women and men to serve their municipality without being penalised when they become parents,” says MP and mayor Caroline Cassart.