There’s no summer break for Sam Tanson this year, but, the justice minister says, this is no different from last year. However, she has noticed a rise in the number of interview requests, despite the summer holidays.
Tanson met with RTL at the Dräi Eechelen museum - her chosen location - straight after meeting with another media outlet for yet another interview. She says answering questions, presenting herself to the press and being judged in one way or another has become a part of daily life now.
Due to inclement weather, the location for the RTL interview was swiftly changed to the Mudam - an emergency solution which was nonetheless most welcome for Tanson. While the RTL team donned stickers bearing large “M"s for museum security reasons, Tanson did not require one. “They know me very well here,” she says, smiling. Indeed, it was obvious from her interactions with museum staff that they enjoy the visits from the Minister of Culture.
External communications have undergone an extreme evolution in recent years, says Tanson. Although she is unbothered by the numerous interview requests, she is uncomfortable with the idea of camera crews in her own home - as was recently the case for a cooking segment on an RTL show. She says she has never hidden her reluctance to allow the media to encroach into her personal sphere, but ultimately she has to accept that to some degree, it is part of the job - as is an official presence on social media.
The 46-year-old refuses to enter into discussions surrounding online comments. “I get the impression everything is fair game.” Tanson strongly believes her children should not have to read things about her which are both personal and inappropriate, which is why she deleted her personal Facebook account three years ago.
The minister prefers to discuss political issues rather than her personal life - something she makes very clear a number of times during the interview.
