The new Belgian federal government includes just four women out of a total of fifteen ministers. None of them have been appointed as deputy prime minister. A disappointing signal for gender equality in politics, says VUB researcher Robin Devroe. "It creates the image that power belongs to men."

This article was published on 2 February 2025 on VRT NWS. Read the full article here (in Dutch).

Men at the Table, Women on the Sidelines

Political scientist Robin Devroe (VUB) researches gender representation in politics and is concerned about the uneven balance of power. "Men and women often have different political styles. Men tend to be more competitive on average, which can lead to conflicts. Women are more likely to seek compromises. A core cabinet made up exclusively of men may, therefore, create a different decision-making dynamic."

Since the previous federal government, gender equality in politics seemed like an achievable goal. After all, the De Croo government had, for the first time, an equal distribution of men and women. That pattern has not been repeated. "We had hoped this trend would continue, but that has not been the case," says Devroe.

Political scientist Bart Maddens (KU Leuven) also acknowledges that the situation is not ideal but downplays its impact. "I would prefer to see women in the core cabinet, but I don’t think this will have a major effect on policy."

Devroe, however, remains critical. According to her, this is a missed opportunity. "It’s not just about policy; it’s about perception. A fully male core cabinet reinforces the idea that top positions are reserved for men. That is at odds with the pursuit of gender equality in society."

More Diversity, Better Politics

The issue extends beyond gender. The new government also lacks any ministers from a migrant background. According to Devroe, this lack of diversity limits the range of perspectives at the negotiation table. "More diversity means a wider variety of viewpoints, which can only improve the quality of policymaking."

Although electoral lists are legally required to alternate between male and female candidates in top positions, the progression to leadership roles remains stagnant. "We are seeing more women in parliaments, but in executive roles, their representation is still lagging behind," Devroe points out.

The Glass Ceiling in Politics: Still Unbroken

This is not the first time Robin Devroe has spoken out about the position of women in politics. In a previous opinion piece in Knack, she outlined how women continue to face structural barriers in the political arena. They are still too often confronted with prejudice and sexism, limiting their opportunities to advance.

Read the full opinion piece here: "In Politics, the Glass Ceiling Is Still Intact."*
 

*This is a machine translation. We apologise for any inaccuracies.

About Robin Devroe

Robin Devroe is a postdoctoral researcher at VUB, affiliated with the DFUTURE research group.