Elections 2024: De Sutter holds off on Groen leadership bid

While Groen co-leaders Nadia Naji and Jeremie Vaneeckhout are under pressure after disappointing election results, outgoing deputy prime minister Petra De Sutter refuses to put herself forward as a candidate for the party’s leadership. The federal minister says the party first needs to reassess its direction. 

Following disappointing results in the 9 June national elections, Groen was unable to regain momentum in last Sunday’s local elections. Although there were positive results in municipalities like Ghent, Mortsel, Oud-Heverlee and Brussels, the overall outcome across Flanders was largely unfavourable.

This has prompted scrutiny of the leadership of Groen’s current co-chairs, Naji and Vaneeckhout. Party leadership elections are scheduled before the end of the year, but it remains unclear if Naji and Vaneeckhout will run again.

De Sutter, who played a prominent role in the lead-up to the June elections and who earned her stripes in the federal government, also made it clear she is not currently a candidate for chair.

“The party needs to first internally evaluate what the green project of the future looks like, both in terms of content and how it can be communicated to the public,” she said in an interview with Radio 1. “The leadership election is part of this process but the discussion needs to be broader and deeper.”

De Sutter was also asked whether Groen should continue with co-leaders or shift to a single leader with a deputy. Giving no definitive answer, she said that leadership should always be seen as a team effort.

^{​#FlandersNewsService | Jeremie Vaneeckhout, Petra De Sutter and Nadia Naji at the post-election meeting of Flemish and French-speaking green parties Groen and Ecolo in June © BELGA PHOTO DAVID STOCKMAN}