Belgian Minister Faces Sexist Backlash During Maternity Leave, Sparks Political Unity
A wave of misogynistic attacks targeting Flemish Minister Mélissa Depraetere following the announcement of her pregnancy and subsequent maternity leave has unexpectedly fostered unity within the Belgian government, even bridging recent divides. The president of Vooruit, Conner Rousseau, is scheduled to announce her interim replacement on Monday during a party meeting.
The announcement that Depraetere would be replaced for three months – a first in Belgian ministerial history – ignited a torrent of hateful messages online. According to reports, social media feeds were flooded with sexist and, in some cases, overtly masculinist commentary. One particularly egregious sentiment expressed online stated, “A politician who accepts a position as minister should put aside her desire to have children for the duration of her mandate.” Others questioned her work ethic and drew comparisons to private sector standards.
The sheer volume of abusive messages prompted Depraetere to respond directly on Instagram, asserting, “I would have preferred to be able to continue working until the very last moment. But if this option is not possible, then there is no doubt: the baby comes first. Having to stop is advice I was hoping I wouldn’t hear. Neither for my work nor for my baby.” She also clarified that she would not be receiving her full ministerial salary during her leave.
This outpouring of negativity, however, had an unforeseen consequence: it united a previously fractured majority. Just a week prior, the government had been embroiled in controversy over a subsidy awarded by Minister of Education Zuhal Demir (N-VA) without a competitive bidding process. The widespread condemnation of the attacks on Depraetere transcended political lines.
Flemish Minister-President Matthias Diependaele (N-VA) publicly voiced his support, stating, “health comes first.” Demir herself offered strong backing to her colleague, condemning the attacks as unacceptable. “Attacking a pregnant woman who must rest to give birth to a healthy child… We cannot go lower,” she declared.
The incident underscores the challenges faced by women in politics, demanding a level of resilience often absent in other professions. However, the political world itself is not immune to displays of unprofessional conduct. A recent altercation in the Flemish Parliament between Sports Minister Annick De Ridder (N-VA) and opposition MP Gwendolyn Rutten (Open VLD) highlighted this point.
During a debate concerning allegations of fictitious tournaments organized to qualify the national 3×3 basketball team for the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Rutten aggressively accused De Ridder of shielding the CEO of Basketbal Vlaanderen from accountability regarding alleged embezzlement. The exchange escalated when De Ridder suggested Rutten “drink a chamomile herbal tea to calm you down,” to which Rutten retorted with the dismissive and inappropriate comment, “sniff a little more.”
De Ridder expressed being “stunned” by the remark, prompting Rutten to issue a subsequent apology via X (formerly Twitter). “Discussions in politics must focus on substance and not attack the person, whether a man or a woman,” Rutten wrote. “I fight for fair sport and I am outraged by the way the basketball issue is (is not) handled. What I said was wrong and I shouldn’t have said it. I recognize this and I also made it known to Minister De Ridder.”
https://twitter.com/GwendolynRutten/status/XXXXXXXXXXXXX
The events surrounding Depraetere’s maternity leave and the subsequent parliamentary dispute serve as a stark reminder of the pressures and prejudices women navigate within the political arena, even as they strive to serve their constituents and contribute to public life.
