| Office 1 | Member of the Chamber of Representatives |
|---|---|
| Constituency 1 | Hainaut |
| Term start 1 | 20 June 2019 |
| Birth date | 14 November 1974 (age 51) |
| Birth place | Wilrijk, Belgium |
| Party | Workers' Party of Belgium |
| Alma mater | University of Antwerp Université libre de Bruxelles |
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.
Merckx was born on 10 May 1985 in Dinant.[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 | Elected | ||
| 2018 local[10] | Charleroi | Workers' Party of Belgium | Elected | ||
| 2019 federal[12] | Hainaut | Workers' Party of Belgium | Elected | ||
| 2024 federal[14] | Hainaut | Workers' Party of Belgium | Elected | ||
References
- ^ "Les Députés: Sofie Merckx" (in French). Brussels, Belgium: Chamber of Representatives. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Le portrait de vos nouveaux députés carolos (8/9): Sofie Merckx (PTB)" (in French). La Dernière Heure. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Actualités: Qui est Sofie Merckx, la nouvelle cheffe de groupe PTB à la Chambre ?" (in French). Brussels, Belgium: Workers' Party of Belgium. 19 January 2022. Archived 10 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ De Decker, Nicolas (27 July 2023). "Le jour où Sofie Merckx a vu mourir un de ses patients à cause de sa carrière (podcast)" (in French). Le Vif/L'Express. Archived 23 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Sofie Merckx devient cheffe de groupe PTB à la Chambre" (in French). L'Echo. Belga. 19 January 2022. Archived 27 May 2022 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Visages: Sofie Merckx" (in French). Brussels, Belgium: Workers' Party of Belgium. Archived 17 June 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Sofie Merckx succède à Raoul Hedebouw comme cheffe de groupe PTB à la Chambre" (in French). RTBF. Belga. 19 January 2022. Archived 3 December 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Horn, Florian (24 March 2020). "Interview with Sofie Merckx". Brussels, Belgium: Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. Archived 22 May 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Résultats officiels: Votes nominatifs - Commune de Charleroi - PTB+" (in French). 2012 élections. Brussels, Belgium: Government of Wallonia. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Résultats officiels: Votes nominatifs - Commune de Charleroi - PTB" (in French). 2018 élections. Brussels, Belgium: Government of Wallonia. Archived 22 September 2021 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Dévière, Loïc (19 February 2019). "PTB Charleroi: Sofie Merckx visera le parlement fédéral en mai" (in French). Sudmedia. Archived 31 August 2019 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Résultat Chambre des Représentants 26 mai 2019 - Circonscription de Hainaut" (in French). Résultats électoraux. Brussels, Belgium: Federal Public Service Interior. Archived 5 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ Lumia, Livia (7 December 2023). "Sofie Merckx : « Devenir riche ? J'ai eu des rêves dans ma vie, mais pas celui-là »" (in French). Solidaire. Archived 1 March 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2024.
- ^ "Résultat Chambre des Représentants 9 juin 2024 - Circonscription de Hainaut" (in French). Résultats électoraux. Brussels, Belgium: Federal Public Service Interior. Archived 31 August 2024 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 3 September 2024.