{{Short description|Belgian politician (born 1963)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Petra De Sutter | image = Petra De Sutter 4 - ©Jesse De Meulenaere (cropped).jpg | caption = De Sutter in 2020 | image_size = | office1 = Minister of the Civil Service, Public Enterprises, Telecommunication and Postal Services | term_start1 = 1 October 2020 | term_end1 = 3 February 2025 | prime_minister1 = Alexander De Croo | predecessor1 = David Clarinval | successor1 = Vanessa Matz | office2 = Member of the European Parliament<br />for Belgium | term_start2 = 2 July 2019 | term_end2 = 30 September 2020 | office3 = Member of the Belgian Senate | term_start3 = 3 July 2014 | term_end3 = 29 March 2019 | predecessor3 = | successor3 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age text|10 June 1963}}<ref name="Sutter 2016">Petra De Sutter, Elke Lahousse, ''(Over)leven: mijn strijd als transvrouw arts & politica'' (2016, {{ISBN|946041513X}})</ref> | birth_place = Oudenaarde, Belgium | death_date = | death_place = | birth_name = | party = Groen | spouse = | alma_mater = Ghent University | occupation = | signature = | website = {{URL|http://www.petradesutter.be}} | office = Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium | term_start = 1 October 2020 | term_end = 3 February 2025 | prime_minister = Alexander De Croo | children = 1 }} '''Petra De Sutter''' (born 10 June 1963) is a Belgian transgender gynaecologist and politician, who served as federal Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium. Following her term, she was elected rector of Ghent University.
A member of the Groen party, she was previously a Member of the European Parliament from 2019 until 2020, when she was named Deputy PM with the responsibility of overseeing Belgium's public administration and public enterprises in Alexander De Croo's government.<ref>Barbara Moens (October 1, 2020), [https://www.politico.eu/article/green-mep-petra-de-sutter-to-be-named-deputy-belgian-pm/ Green MEP Petra De Sutter to be named deputy Belgian PM] ''Politico Europe''.</ref> She is the first transgender minister in Europe.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hugendubel |first1=Katrin |title=Belgian milestone: A first trans minister and nobody cares |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/petra-de-sutter-transgender-deputy-prime-minister-milestone-progress/ |accessdate=2 October 2020 |work=Politico |date=1 October 2020}}</ref>
Before entering into politics, she worked as professor of gynaecology at Ghent University, serving as head of the Department of Reproductive Medicine at Ghent University Hospital (UZ Gent).<ref name="Sutter 2016"/><ref name="HLN 2014">''[https://www.hln.be/nieuws/binnenland/professor-petra-de-sutter-aangeduid-als-gecoopteerd-senator-voor-groen~ac043c35/ Professor Petra De Sutter aangeduid als gecoöpteerd senator voor Groen]'', 21 June 2014, ''Het Laatste Nieuws''</ref>
== Early life and education == De Sutter was born in Oudenaarde, in the Flemish province of East Flanders, in June 1963. She graduated from Ghent University with a medical degree in 1987 and with a PhD in biomedicine in 1991. {{citation needed|date=September 2024}} She transitioned to female in 2004.<ref name="Sutter 2016"/>
== Medical career == After graduating, De Sutter moved to the United States, spending two years studying oocyte genetics in Chicago. In 1994, she earned a specialisation in gynaecology.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://sistersofeurope.com/women-are-conditioned-not-to-believe-in-themselves/|title = "Women are conditioned not to believe in themselves"|date = 20 February 2019|access-date = 23 June 2021|archive-date = 18 April 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210418165429/https://sistersofeurope.com/women-are-conditioned-not-to-believe-in-themselves/|url-status = dead}}</ref> In 2000, she was named Professor in Reproductive Medicine at Ghent University. In 2006, she was named Head of the Department for Reproductive Medicine of Ghent University Hospital.{{citation needed|date=September 2024}}
==Political career== ===Member of the Senate, 2014–2019=== In the 2014 European elections, De Sutter was second on the list for the Flemish Green party. However, the party missed its hold on a second seat. She was subsequently co-opted by her party for a seat in the Belgian Senate.<ref name="HLN 2014"/> As a trans woman,<ref name="Sutter 2016"/> she became the first openly transgender Belgian to be on a party election list.<ref name="Nieuwsblad 2014">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20140228_01004504|title=Petra De Sutter is eerste transgender op kieslijst|website=Het Nieuwsblad|date=March 2014 |language=nl-BE|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref>
In addition, De Sutter served as member of the Belgian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 2014 until 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pace.coe.int/en/members/7307?lang=EN|title=Ms Petra De SUTTER|website=Parliamentary Assembly|access-date=3 October 2020}}</ref> As member of the Socialists, Democrats and Greens Group, she was a member of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons; the Committee on Rules of Procedure, Immunities and Institutional Affairs; the Sub-Committee on Integration; the Sub-Committee on Public Health and Sustainable Development; and the Sub-Committee on Ethics. She served as the Assembly's rapporteur on children's rights in relation to surrogacy arrangements (2016);<ref>[http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=6316&lang=2&cat= Surrogacy: governments should consider drawing up guidelines to safeguard children’s rights], Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, press release of September 21, 2016.</ref> on the use of new genetic technologies in human beings (2017);<ref>[http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=6746&lang=2&cat=133 Petra De Sutter: "High time for a debate on new genetic technologies"] Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, press release of August 3, 2017.</ref> and on the conditions of reception of refugees and migrants (2018).<ref>[http://assembly.coe.int/nw/xml/News/News-View-EN.asp?newsid=7157&lang=2&cat=134 More efforts needed for refugees’ reception on Greek islands] Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, press release of July 13, 2018.</ref>
Since her political debut, De Sutter has tackled a regulation for surrogacy at a Belgian and European level, independent clinical research in the pharmaceutical industry, the risks of TTIP for consumer's protection of food and chemicals, and standing up for rights for LGBT people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.knack.be/nieuws/belgie/wij-willen-niet-getolereerd-worden-wij-willen-respect/article-normal-570685.html|title='Wij willen niet getolereerd worden, wij willen respect'|date=2015-05-16|website=Site-Knack-NL|access-date=2019-11-20}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}
===Member of the European Parliament, 2019–2020=== [[File:Petra De Sutter - GEF - The EP Goes Green.webm|thumb|De Sutter introducing herself in a video by the Heinrich Böll Foundation and the Green European Foundation]]
On 15 September 2018, it was announced De Sutter was seeking nomination as one of the European Greens two lead candidates for the 2019 European Parliament elections, which eventually fell down to the Dutch Bas Eickhout and the German Ska Keller.<ref>[https://europeangreens.eu/berlin2018/proposals/001-leading-candidates European Greens - Support phase Leading Candidates]</ref> After joining the Parliament, she chaired the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection; she was the first Green politician in this position.<ref>Maïa de La Baume (January 13, 2020), [https://www.politico.eu/article/20-meps-to-watch-in-2020-european-parliament/ 20 MEPs to watch in 2020] ''Politico Europe''.</ref> In 2020, she also joined the Special Committee on Beating Cancer.<ref>[https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sed/doc/news/flash/24221/Full%20Members%20new%20committees_09-07-2020_en.pdf Members of the Special Committee on Beating Cancer] European Parliament, press release of July 9, 2020.</ref>
In addition, De Sutter was part of the Parliament's delegation for relations with the countries of South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). She was also a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights<ref>[https://lgbti-ep.eu/who-we-are/members/ Members] European Parliament Intergroup on LGBTI Rights.</ref> and co-chaired the MEPs Against Cancer group.<ref>[https://www.europeancancerleagues.org/meps-against-cancer-about-meps-against-cancer-2/ MAC MEPs in the 2019-24 legislature] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200202095804/https://www.europeancancerleagues.org/meps-against-cancer-about-meps-against-cancer-2/ |date=2020-02-02 }} MEPs Against Cancer.</ref>
In December 2020, De Sutter received the Justice & Gender Equality award at ''The Parliament Magazine'''s annual MEP Awards, in recognition of her work as an MEP on sexual and reproductive rights.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theparliamentmagazine.eu/news/article/mep-awards-2020-reaction-and-comment-from-our-winners|title=MEP Awards 2020: Reaction and comment from our winners|last=Johnson|first=Brian|date=2 December 2020|work=The Parliament Magazine|access-date=8 January 2021}}</ref>
===Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, 2020–2025=== thumb|De Sutter in 2024 On 1 October 2020, De Sutter was sworn in as one of seven deputy prime ministers in the government of Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, becoming Europe's first transgender deputy prime minister, and the most senior trans politician in Europe.<ref>Oscar Lopez (October 1, 2020), [https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSL8N2GS6EL Belgium appoints Europe's first transgender deputy PM] ''Reuters''.</ref>
In October 2023, De Sutter criticised UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's speech at the Conservative party conference where he argued that his audience should not be "bullied into believing that people can be any sex they want to be" and that "a man is a man and a woman is a woman." She described Sunak's words as "hurtful and very disappointing" as well as "fuelling transphobia."<ref>Ashifa Kassam (October 6, 2023), [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/06/belgian-transgender-deputy-pm-petra-de-sutter-rishi-sunak-not-join-real-bullies Belgian transgender deputy PM urges Sunak not to join ‘the real bullies’] ''The Guardian''.</ref>
In November 2023, De Sutter criticized Israel's conduct during the Gaza war, and said "It is time for sanctions against Israel.<ref name="TikTok - Make Your Day">{{Cite web |title=TikTok - Make Your Day |url=https://www.tiktok.com/@petradesutter/video/7298993643950542113?lang=en |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=www.tiktok.com}}</ref> The rain of bombs is inhumane," De Sutter said.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Strauss |first=Marine |date=2023-11-08 |title=Belgium wants sanctions against Israel for Gaza bombings - deputy PM |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/belgium-wants-sanctions-against-israel-gaza-bombings-deputy-pm-2023-11-08/ |access-date=2023-11-08}}</ref> She also called on Hamas to release all its kidnapped hostages, and declared that “we must stop the money flows funding this terror organization."<ref name="TikTok - Make Your Day"/> On 29 February 2024, De Sutter said she was horrified by the news of the flour massacre.<ref>{{Cite news |date=29 February 2024 |title='Heinous': Deadly Israeli attack on Gaza aid-seekers condemned |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/29/heinous-deadly-israeli-attack-on-gaza-aid-seekers-condemned |work=Al Jazeera |archive-date=29 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240229160619/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/29/heinous-deadly-israeli-attack-on-gaza-aid-seekers-condemned |url-status=live}}</ref>
== University chancellor == Following the inauguration of the De Wever Government in February 2025, De Sutter announced her retirement from national politics while remaining active in local politics. She was elected Rector of Ghent University in April that year, alongside Herwig Reynaert, receiving 55.60% of the votes, and assumed the role on October 1.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 May 2025 |title=Former Deputy PM De Sutter elected Ghent University Chancellor |url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1559528/former-deputy-pm-de-sutter-elected-ghent-university-chancellor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501091424/https://www.brusselstimes.com/belgium/1559528/former-deputy-pm-de-sutter-elected-ghent-university-chancellor#Echobox=1746085474 |archive-date=1 May 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=The Brussels Times |agency=Belga}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Schouppe |first=Ward |date=30 April 2025 |title=Petra De Sutter wordt nieuwe rector UGent, ze verslaat Rik Van de Walle met grote voorsprong |trans-title=Petra De Sutter becomes new UGent rector, defeating Rik Van de Walle with great lead |url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2025/04/30/rectorverkiezing-gent-petra-de-sutter-wint-rik-van-de-walle-verl/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250501091945/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2025/04/30/rectorverkiezing-gent-petra-de-sutter-wint-rik-van-de-walle-verl/ |archive-date=1 May 2025 |access-date=1 May 2025 |work=VRT NWS |language=nl}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ugent.be/en/news-events/new-rectoral-team.htm|title=New rectoral team officially in office|website=Ghent University|date=January 10, 2025|access-date=10 November 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251110195325/https://www.ugent.be/en/news-events/new-rectoral-team.htm|archive-date=10 November 2025|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2025, she decided to not join a trade mission to the United States due to "the current rules President Trump has issued," with Politico surmising she was referring to the policies of U.S. President Donald Trump on LGBTQ+ people.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Starcevic|first1=Seb|last2=Giordano|first2=Elena|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-ex-mep-petra-de-sutter-quit-trade-mission-us-donald-trump-lgbtq-policies/|title=Transgender ex-MEP quits trade mission to US over Trump's LGBTQ+ policies|website=Politico|date=18 September 2025|access-date=10 November 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250930211041/https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-ex-mep-petra-de-sutter-quit-trade-mission-us-donald-trump-lgbtq-policies/|archive-date=30 September 2025|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2026, De Sutter, in her capacity as Rector of Ghent University (UGent), faced significant public and academic scrutiny following the discovery of fabricated quotes in a high-profile address.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apache.be/2026/01/08/rector-petra-sutter-gebruikte-door-ai-gehallucineerde-citaten-openingsspeech |title=Rector Petra De Sutter gebruikte door AI 'gehallucineerde' citaten in openingsspeech |date=8 January 2016 |access-date=10 January 2026}}</ref>
==Other activities== * Friends of Europe, Member of the Board of Trustees (since 2020)<ref>[https://www.friendsofeurope.org/insights/trustees/ Friends of Europe appoints 29 new members to its Board of Trustees] Friends of Europe, press release of June 25, 2020.</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
{{Portal|European Union}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:De Sutter, Petra}} Category:1963 births Category:Living people Category:People from Oudenaarde Category:Deputy prime ministers of Belgium Category:Groen (political party) politicians Category:Members of the Senate (Belgium) Category:Transgender women politicians Category:Belgian transgender women Category:21st-century Belgian women politicians Category:MEPs for Belgium 2019–2024 Category:LGBTQ members of the European Parliament Category:Women government ministers of Belgium Category:Belgian obstetricians and gynaecologists Category:Ghent University alumni Category:Belgian women academics Category:Belgian LGBTQ politicians Category:Belgian senators of the 56th legislature Category:21st-century Belgian LGBTQ people