Dismay at lack of women in De Wever government
The lack of women in Belgium’s new government has drawn criticism from other politicians. The five deputy prime ministers under Bart De Wever are all men, with only four women among the 15 ministers.
Meyrem Almaci, of Flemish green party Groen, called it “a government of men, for men”. “The worst thing is that this composition of self-proclaimed strong men also makes itself felt immediately in policy choices. Those who are not like them will pay the bill,” she said.
The previous government, known as the Vivaldi coalition, under Alexander De Croo, began with eight women, two of whom were also in the core cabinet.
"Those who are not like them will pay the bill"
“The full government of 15 ministers: four women, 11 men. Anno 2025. We are back in the 20th century,” Almaci said. “The woman-friendly Vivaldi and Flemish government – with more women than men for the first time – has been wiped out.”
She said that lack of diversity was also visible in the coalition agreement, referring to cuts at equal opportunities federation Unia and a planned audit at the Institute for Gender Equality.
Her criticisms were echoed by Paul Magnette, leader of the francophone socialist party PS, who described the situation as going “back to the 1970s”. He highlighted the group photo taken at the Royal Palace at Monday's swearing-in ceremony for the new ministers, where the women were largely hidden behind the men in the front row.
“Even in 1974, under the Tindemans government, we didn't hide women in the second row,” Magnette said on X, posting a photo from the time.
Beyond the symbolism, he said, the coalition agreement pointed to a government “that decidedly doesn’t like women”: “a frontal attack on women’s pensions, an interstellar void on abortion, the removal of quotas ensuring the presence of women in senior positions.”
The new federal government and King Philippe after the swearing-in ceremony at the Royal Palace, 3 February 2025, Brussels © BELGA PHOTO JASPER JACOBS
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