Caroline Gennez

Caroline Gennez (born in Sint-Truiden in 1975) studied political science at KU Leuven. She joined the Young Socialists and became its chairwoman in 1998. Between 2003 and 2011, she was first deputy chairwoman and then party chairwoman of sp.a (now Vooruit).  

She has been active as a Senator, Member of the Chamber of Representatives, and Flemish Member of Parliament since 2003. She was also the first alderwoman in Mechelen from 2007 to 2012. During the government formation after the 2010 federal elections, she participated in the negotiations on the sixth state reform.  

In 2022, she became the federal Minister for Development Cooperation and Major Cities Policy in the De Croo Government. She continued in that position until she joined the Government of Flanders in 2024 as Minister for Welfare, Poverty Reduction, Culture and Equal Opportunities.