Sofie Merckx
Belgian politician (born 1974)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sofie J. E. Merckx (born 14 November 1974) is a Belgian physician, politician and member of the Chamber of Representatives.[1] A member of the Workers' Party of Belgium, she has represented Hainaut since June 2019.
Sofie Merckx | |
|---|---|
Merckx in May 2024 | |
| Member of the Chamber of Representatives | |
| Assumed office 20 June 2019 | |
| Constituency | Hainaut |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 November 1974 Wilrijk, Belgium |
| Party | Workers' Party of Belgium |
| Education | University of Antwerp Université libre de Bruxelles |
Merckx was born on 14 November 1974 in Wilrijk.[1] She grew up in the Hoboken neighbourhood of Antwerp and Dutch is her mother tongue.[2][3] Her father Kris Merckx, a general practitioner and a communist, was one of the founders of the All Power to the Workers (AMADA), the precursor to the Workers' Party of Belgium (PTB), and Medics for the People (MPLP).[4][5] She studied medicine at the University of Antwerp and the Université libre de Bruxelles.[3] She moved to Charleroi in Wallonia in the late 1990s for her internship with MPLP.[6] She has lived in Wallonia since then and has worked as a general practitioner at the MPLP's health centre in Marcinelle.[2][7][8]
Merckx was elected to the municipal council in Charleroi at the 2012 local election.[9] She was re-elected at the 2018 local election.[10][11] She was elected to the Chamber of Representatives at the 2019 federal election.[12] In January 2022 she succeeded Raoul Hedebouw as the PTB's group leader in the Chamber of Representatives.[7][13] She was re-elected at the 2024 federal election.[14]
Merckx has three children.[6]
| Election | Constituency | Party | Votes | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 local[9] | Charleroi | Workers' Party of Belgium | 1,187 | Elected | |
| 2018 local[10] | Charleroi | Workers' Party of Belgium | 4,163 | Elected | |
| 2019 federal[12] | Hainaut | Workers' Party of Belgium | 8,912 | Elected | |
| 2024 federal[14] | Hainaut | Workers' Party of Belgium | 18,587 | Elected | |
