Petra De Sutter is the new rector of Ghent University UGent. De Sutter, who is a trans woman, is leaving politics to lead the university. She won the election convincingly, in all electoral groups and obtained an average of 71 per cent of the vote. Outgoing rector Rik Van de Walle will now not succeed himself for a 3rd term.
Petra De Sutter won UGent's rector elections by a wide margin. Not only did she obtain the necessary majority among professors, but De Sutter was also able to convince the other 3 electoral groups. The UGent board of governors will meet soon to appoint her officially as the new rector.
Zero tolerance for transgressive behaviour
It is very difficult to know what motivated the 53,000 voters, who could cast a ballot. What is clear, however, is that many people at UGent are keen to see renewal. Van de Walle finished 2 terms and hoped to succeed himself again after 8 years in the job.
De Sutter profiled herself, certainly to the outside world, as a supporter of a safer environment at UGent. The university had been confronted with a string of scandals in recent months. Van de Walle also admitted that more could still be done. De Sutter advocated zero tolerance. Certainly among students, which seems to have been a factor.
De Sutter's views on the pro-Palestinian protest at UGent may also have played a role. In terms of other policies, however, she differs little from Van de Walle. It remains to be seen whether more adjustments will be made in the coming years.
Who is Petra De Sutter?
Petra De Sutter began her career in academia. She is a professor of gynaecology at Ghent University and, until 2019, headed the Department of Reproductive Medicine at Ghent University Hospital.
In 2014, she entered politics standing on second place on ecologist Groen's list of candidates for the European Parliament but she did not get elected. Her party then co-opted or designated her as a senator. There, she presses for legal regulation of surrogacy, independence of clinical research in the pharmaceutical industry and LGTBQIA+ rights, among other issues.
In 2018, she gets elected as a city councillor in her hometown of Horebeke, in East Flanders. A year later, as lead candidate, she is elected to the European Parliament with over 143,000 preferential votes.
In 2020, she will leave the European parliament and become deputy prime minister and minister for the civil service, publicly-owned enterprises, telecommunications and postal services in Alexander De Croo's Vivaldi government. She is the first transgender minister in the EU. Although the Vivaldi parties often end up bickering, Petra De Sutter asserts herself as a beacon of solidity and steadfastness.
Last year, she was one of the few green politicians to score well in the parliamentary elections. In the October municipal elections, she steered her party to an absolute majority in Horebeke. Today that’s where she also serves as alderwoman.