Speaker Bio

Petra De Sutter was sworn in on the 1st October 2020 as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Public Administration, Public Enterprises, Telecommunication and Post under Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. After a long career as a gynaecologist and fertility expert, she entered politics in 2014, as a member of the Flemish green party Groen, motivated by the desire to combat the use of harmful substances in everyday environments.

In the Belgian Senate and the Council of Europe, De Sutter championed women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, and tackled bio-ethical questions, including surrogacy and commercial egg donation. She is committed to a socially equitable Europe, and to improving the rights and protections of refugees and the LGBTQI+ community.

In 2019, De Sutter was elected to the European Parliament as the leading candidate for her party Groen. She was a member in the Committee on the Environment and Public Health, the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, and was the first Green Chair of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

As Minister responsible for Public Administration, Public Enterprises, Telecommunication and Post De Sutter will focus on the challenges of digitalisation and sustainability. The importance of a strong and well-run state is indeed more important than ever during this period of COVID-19. As Deputy Prime Minister, De Sutter will also be responsible for the green agenda within wider government policy. Thanks to her expertise and integrity, she is respected and trusted across party lines.