Michaela Šojdrová (born 28 October 1963) is a Czech politician who had served as

Member of the European Parliament A member of the European Parliament (MEP) is a person who has been Election, elected to serve as a popular representative in the European Parliament. When the European Parliament (then known as the Common Assembly of the European Coal and S ...

(MEP) from July 2014 to July 2024. She is a member of the

Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party A Christian () is a person who follows or adheres to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. Christians form the largest religious community in the world. The words ''Christ'' and ''Ch ...

, part of the

European People's Party The European People's Party (EPP) is a European political party with Christian democracy, Christian democratic, liberal conservatism, liberal-conservative, and conservative member parties. A transnational organisation, it is composed of other p ...

Early life and education

She was born in Kroměříž. In 1983 she graduated first from the Gymnasium Kroměříž, then she studied the Faculty of Horticulture of the then University of Agriculture (now

Mendel University in Brno Mendel University in Brno () is located in Brno, Czech Republic. It was founded on 24 July 1919 on the basis of the former Tábor Academy. It now consists of five faculties and one institute - the Faculty of AgriSciences, Faculty of Forestry an ...

), majoring in horticulture and landscape gardening. She graduated in 1987.

Career

Prior to entering politics, Šojdrová worked at the head office of the Czech School Inspection. She was also employed in various other education administrative roles. From 1996 until 2010 she was a member of the

Chamber of Deputies The chamber of deputies is the lower house in many bicameral legislatures and the sole house in some unicameral legislatures. Description Historically, French Chamber of Deputies was the lower house of the French Parliament during the Bourb ...

of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. Šojdrová was for two terms a

from 2014 to 2024. She served on the

Committee on Culture and Education The Committee on Culture and Education (CULT) is a committee of the European Parliament. Responsibilities of the committee This committee has focused on the well-being of all members of the human race and the increased opportunities for educat ...

, serving as coordinator of the

European People's Party group The European People's Party Group (EPP Group or simply EPP) is a political group of the European Parliament consisting of deputies (MEPs) from the member parties of the European People's Party (EPP). Sometimes it also includes independent ME ...

. From 2014 until 2019, she was also a member of the

Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality The Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) is a committee of the European Parliament. Membership Chair 9th Term Vice Chairs * Eugenia Rodríguez Palop * Sylwia Spurek * Elissavet Vozemberg-Vrionidi * Radka Maxova 7th Term ...

. Since her election, her work has focused on women's rights and gender equality. Apart from her committee assignments, Šojdrová was part of the Parliament's delegations to the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee, the EU-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Cooperation Committee and the EU-Georgia Parliamentary Association Committee as well as to the

Euronest Parliamentary Assembly The EuroNest Parliamentary Assembly is the inter-parliamentary forum in which members of the European Parliament and the national parliaments of Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia participate and forge closer political and economic ...

. She is also part of the European Parliament Intergroup on Disability.

Parliamentary service

*Vice-chair, Committee on Culture and Education (2014-2017, 2022-2024) *Member, Committee on Culture and Education (2014, 2017–2019, 2019–2024) *Member, Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (2014–2019) *Member, Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee (2014–2019)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sojdrova, Michaela 1963 births Living people Politicians from Zlín KDU-ČSL MPs Members of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic (1996–1998) Members of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic (1998–2002) Members of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic (2002–2006) Members of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic (2006–2010) KDU-ČSL MEPs MEPs for the Czech Republic 2014–2019 MEPs for the Czech Republic 2019–2024 Women MEPs for the Czech Republic Czech feminists Mendel University in Brno alumni