She Decides’ champion Alexander De Croo Prime Minister

De Croo and Ploumen. Copyright: Cynthia Vertessen

De Croo, previously Minister of Development Cooperation and Deputy Prime Minister took office on October 1st. He will lead the so-called Vivaldi government, in reference to the political party colours represented in his team. Vivaldi consists of the two liberal parties, the two green parties, the two socialist parties and the Flemish Christian-democrats, making a total of 7 parties. 

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De Croo has shown himself to be an outspoken advocate of women’s rights at the time of the Trump administration’s re-instatement of the Mexico City Policy (‘Global Gag Rule’), when he joined forces with the Dutch Minister of Development Cooperation Liliane Ploumen in launching She Decides, a movement that seeks to safeguard the sexual and reproductive health and rights of millions of girls and women worldwide. 

In the composition of the Vivaldi government De Croo also sought to ensure gender equality. The government of 15 ministers and 5 state secretaries includes 10 women. That makes it the most gender-balanced Belgian government ever. The core is still dominated by men, with only Petra De Sutter, Minister of Civil Service and Public Companies, acting as President of the European Parliamentary Forum for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Member of the European Parliament until her appointment and Sophie Wilmès, the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, being part of the core of deputy prime ministers.