Ghent (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Belgium’s Deputy Prime Minister, Petra De Sutter, is running to be rector of Ghent University in April 2025, with Herwig Reynaert as her vice-rector candidate. She will divide her time between this role and her local political duties in Horebeke, where she is responsible for finance, tourism, and more.
De Sutter wants to hold both positions if she wins. Authorities mentioned that the election will be competitive, with voting in April 2025. Results will be out by late April or early May. For now, she is seeking support from the university community.
Is Petra De Sutter ready to balance the rector role and local politics?
De Sutter and Reynaert plan to run an active campaign at Ghent University. According to authorities, De Sutter is a well-known political figure. Her role as deputy prime minister raises questions about how she will handle being rector and alderman at the same time.
Her campaign will focus on her academic background and leadership skills. They will need to address important issues facing the university. They also want to convince voters that they can represent the university well on national and international levels.
The rectorship is a matter of elections, which will take place in April,
De Sutter says.
We will not know until the end of April or the beginning of May how things are. Within the university, Herwig and I will also do some campaigning.
Petra De Sutter thinks the rector job does not require a lot of time, so it is possible to do so. If she is elected, she plans to ask for special permission to keep her local political role. De Sutter is committed to her work in Horebeke, a small town with around 2,000 residents. She currently holds several important positions in that town.
I would therefore make that request for an exception at the appropriate time. So I certainly intend to try to continue that (her local political mandate, ed.).
De Sutter
As an alderman, De Sutter is in charge of finance, the local economy, tourism, cycling paths, mobility, heritage, and animal welfare in Horebeke. Her job involves managing different parts of the town’s growth. This includes handling the budget, creating economic opportunities, and improving cycling and transport systems. She also works to protect local history and ensure animals are treated well.
De Sutter wants to continue these responsibilities while being the rector at Ghent University. Authorities mentioned that this shows her dedication to her local community and her goal to lead at a top university in Belgium. They mentioned that balancing these roles will require time management and a clear plan, but De Sutter believes she can manage everything.
If I were to be elected rector of Ghent University, I would apply in due time to remain politically active in Horebeke.
Petra De Sutter (Green)
Petra De Sutter has shared her plans for her work as a rector at Ghent University and her role as an alderman in Horebeke. She said that if she becomes a rector, her new job will start in September 2025. When she takes this position, she will leave her job in the federal parliament.
De Sutter explained that she could still keep her role as an alderman. She wants to focus on her duties as a rector but plans to return to her work in Horebeke once a new federal government is in place.
If I were to make it, my new function as rector would start at the beginning of the academic year, in September,
says De Sutter.
According to authorities, De Sutter cannot be the alderman in Horebeke right now because she is the deputy prime minister in the current federal government. Instead, she holds the position of municipal councillor in Horebeke. She plans to take up her duties as an alderman once a new government is formed. In this role, she will be in charge of important areas like finance, tourism, the local economy, cycling paths, heritage, and animal welfare.
De Sutter is concerned that if there is no new federal government soon, she may have to be replaced in her role in Horebeke. She finds it unacceptable that her duties remain unfinished because she has important responsibilities in the town and wants to ensure they are done properly.
she says:
I think it is unacceptable that my mandate will not be taken up, because I have some important powers in Horebeke.
