© Christophe Nesser
RTL met with justice and culture minister Sam Tanson, in the latest Sunday interview with Luxembourg parties' lead candidates.
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.
"It's part of the job now"
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.
"I would like to be judged for my work"
For Tanson, it was a matter of personal importance that the law seeking to enhance rights for victims of sexual abuse was passed in the Chamber of Deputies shortly before the summer recess. She emphasises that this bill is an important signal to perpetrators of sexual violence. Just as young victims suffer for a lifetime due to rape, so too should their abusers - and in particular, it should be possible to prosecute perpetrators for the rest of their lives.
Tanson also highlights another law on legal assistance, saying it is important to be able to exercise one's rights as a citizen in the event of a court case. The new law permits financial aid for legal fees, provided the citizen earns more than the equivalent of the Social Inclusion Income (revis). She says access to justice is particularly important to her.
© Christophe Nesser
One thing that Tanson regrets, however, is the fact that youth protection reform has not yet been passed in the Chamber. She believes juvenile protection should be separated from juvenile criminal law, with a third text set to confirm protection of minor witnesses and victims. The work on the new bill will continue, but Tanson cannot give a deadline due to the summer recess. The SCAS and the public prosecutor's office, responsible for children and young people, have both criticised the strict separation of youth protection and juvenile criminal law.
"My approach is one of participation," Tanson says, in response to criticism. "I always try to discuss it with people." However, she says the positions have been rather polarised on the topic.
As minister, Tanson says she has to make a decision and stand by it. It is not uncommon for people to express dissatisfaction at certain legislative processes, but in this case she finds it difficult because she knows the authorities in question are dedicated to their work, and do a good job. She says she is not trying to discredit their work at all, but instead looking at new ways of working. "This is genuinely the most difficult bill I've dealt with, across two ministries," she admits.
"Our party can only join a government if we identify with the coalition values"
Tanson does not believe in working in politics just for the sake of it. She says she wants to be able to implement change in accordance with the promises she was elected for, which is why she believes in transparency before elections. When joining a government, she says it is important to retrieve those values in a coalition programme.
In this sense, Tanson appreciates the honesty shown by François Bausch, who recently announced he no longer intended to serve as a minister if re-elected, but would still run in central Luxembourg as a lead candidate to become an MP.
"The elections are about electing a Chamber, and François Bausch has clearly said would become an MP if elected. He is honest!", she explains. As Minister of Mobility, Bausch worked on a paradigm shift, and Tanson says she understands he would now prefer to let others take over. She says she is curious to see how other politicians position themselves post-election, particularly those who have not answered such questions with concrete responses.
Tanson herself would like to continue working on the dossiers she has initiated in the Ministries of Justice and Culture. She says both reflect her personality and interests appropriately, as she understands both themes and could well imagine staying in post. However, she did not want to exclude other ministerial positions, saying: "If you have the chance to become Prime Minister of your country, as a politician, that is something you just cannot turn down."
© Christophe Nesser
"I don't really have favourites as such"
When it comes to her ongoing bills and political visions for the future, Tanson knows where she wants to go. But as is customary in politics, she says she cannot rule much out. She also declines to make reaching comments over criticisms of other parties.
The minister disagrees with the view that the Greens are currently in a downward spiral - she dislikes putting herself in the role of a victim. However, she does believe that some discourse in Germany has translated over to Luxembourg, but she says a clear separation is needed here, as Germany's Green Party is not the same as Luxembourg's. "In my eyes, several extremely important subjects in Germany have not been handled well," she admits.
While Tanson has clear answers on her political views, when it comes to favourite books or exhibitions, she says "I don't really have favourites as such." She says she reads and visits too many different things. However, one artist she enjoys is Tina Gillen, recommending her "Flying Mercury" exhibition, which is open until November.
As she departs in Luxembourg's rain, the minister says her interviews are done for the day. She adds that she isn't planning a proper summer holiday this year. "I always want to be available."
