Why can’t a minister in Luxembourg take maternity leave?

Elisabeth Margue, Luxembourg’s Minister for Justice and a member of the CSV, has announced that she is expecting a baby. The baby is due in August 2026. This marks a first in the country’s political history, as no woman has previously held the post of minister whilst expecting a child during her term of office.

The situation has highlighted serious gaps in the regulation of public administration. Unlike employees or the self-employed, ministers do not have a clearly defined employment status—their activities are regarded as the fulfilment of a mandate. Consequently, there are no provisions in the legislation governing maternity leave for members of the Cabinet and Members of Parliament. Margue emphasised that the lack of clear rules is a systemic barrier preventing women from pursuing a political career.

Despite the legal uncertainty, the minister intends to take a few weeks’ break in August, delegating the authority to sign documents. She plans to continue overseeing key processes remotely, making use of remote working arrangements. Elisabeth Margue noted that she had received the full support of Prime Minister Luc Frieden and her colleagues in the government.

Margue cited international examples as sources of inspiration, notably New Zealand’s former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Germany’s Minister for Building, Verena Hubertz, who also became mothers whilst remaining in office. According to the Luxembourg minister, establishing a formal framework for such cases is necessary to make it possible to balance family life and politics without undue stress.