The designated Minister of Finance joined our colleagues on RTL Radio for an interview on Monday morning.
Backes was the first female head representative for the EU commission in Luxembourg and the first female steward of the court. Now, she is set to become the country's first female minister of finance: "I believe the challenges are looking for me rather than it is me looking for them."
Her gender should not affect the way she conducts her work, but there will still be pressure, Backes further noted. Nevertheless, women should be represented on the decision-making level since they make up half of the population.
Throughout her diplomatic career, Backes had many opportunities to learn from and work with Prime Ministers Juncker and Bettel. She explained that her former roles have helped her prepare for the new task that lies ahead: "I saw how institutions work from the inside and managed to establish a network of contacts. Who knows, maybe even my role as lady of the court will help me in the long run."
Backes underlined that she enjoyed her position at court and expressed her regret that she will not be able to see all new projects through: "My successor will find that a lot has been set up. I am proud of the work that I've done, but there are still areas, such as IT, where we need to improve. Nevertheless, we have accomplished a lot and I would like to thank the entire team for that."
The former steward was not willing to discuss her potential successor at court, but explained that she still offered her council to Grand Duke Henri.
When asked about Saturday's unrest in the city and the fact that politicians were threatened in their homes, Backes underlined that she is determined to work in the best interest of the country. Given the frequency of crises in recent years, including climate change or the pandemic, she emphasised her sympathies for people who are afraid and unsure what to do.
Backes also addressed her recent decision to join the Democratic Party and run for office in the upcoming elections. She explained that it was always immensely important to her to not have a political affiliation while working as a diplomat. Now, she will focus on familiarising herself with the new role so that she is prepared for what lies ahead.
