Sadet Karabulut
Sadet Karabulut is a Dutch politician and former
civil servant and trade unionist of Kurdish descent. As a member of the Socialist Party, she has been an MP since 30 November 2006. She focuses on matters of social affairs, female emancipation, and social integration.
Biography
Karabulut was born as the daughter of a Turkish-Kurdish guest worker. Her parents were of Alevi origin, but at home religion did not play an important role, and in her teens Karabulut decided that she did not believe in God.Karabulut studied public administration at Erasmus University Rotterdam and political science at the University of Bordeaux. She was active in the Dutch National Students' Trade Union, and board member at the Orion Foundation. Since 2005, she has been a member of the Socialist Party. From March till November 2006, she was a member of the municipal council of Amsterdam.
In February 2013, Karabulut stated she would refuse to pledge loyalty to the soon-to-be-King, Dutch Crown Prince Willem Alexander, during his inauguration ceremony. She cited that the procedure was overly ceremonial as she had already pledged allegiance when she was admitted to the House of Representatives. She is also a convinced republican.
From August to November 2013, Karabulut temporarily left the House of Representatives on a maternity leave and was replaced by Tjitske Siderius. She returned later that year. During the 2017 Dutch general election Karabulut was on the SP's candidate list's fifth place. When parliamentary leader Emile Roemer stepped down in 2017, she announced her candidacy to lead the party in his stead. However, the majority of the parliamentary group chose Lilian Marijnissen, former leader Jan Marijnissen's daughter.
Karabulut is a leading member of the Dutch branch of the Democratic Workers' Clubs Federation.