Federal Minister for Development Cooperation Meryame Kitir is temporarily stepping down from her position within the government to take "some rest," she announced on Facebook.
Kitir took the oath on 1 October 2020 and now said that she will take "some rest" on the doctor's advice following the past few extremely busy years.
"My job has already given me a lot of satisfaction, but it also asked a lot of me. And at some point, you have to think about yourself too," she said. "My mental well-being now comes first.”
Kitir added that she is "surrounded by capable people" who will make sure the work continues as before: her party colleague Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke will temporarily take over her government duties.
In the meantime, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo wished Kitir well. "I have gotten to know Meryame well over the past two years. Open, humane, competent. But above all: always looking out for others. Take care of yourself first now."
