"Politics is something noble"

In his political life, Marc Hansen has been an alderman, MP, state secretary and minister – and yes, he was also once was director of Journal. After the parliamentary elections in 2023, in which he came third on his party's northern list and thus missed out on a place in parliament, he withdrew completely from the public eye. Last month, the 54-year-old replaced his DP party colleague Fernand Etgen in the Chamber of Deputies as the latter retired from politics.

Lëtzebuerger Journal: You have the image of a bore. Are you a bore?

Marc Hansen: That depends on how you define a bore. If a bore is someone who immerses himself in dossiers and prepares for his political tasks, then I am a bore. Otherwise, however, I believe – and you'll have to ask my private circle – that I can also be very funny. In the political world, however, I'm actually serious and try to convince people with arguments rather than witty phrases.

You have already said in another interview these days that you are not "Dëppefest" (which translates into "village fair", ed.) person, but a "dossier" type. But the problem is that "Dëppefest" people are more likely to be elected than file munchers.

That may be the case. But it's not as if I don't sometimes go to a "Dëppefest" and that I don't talk to people. But I'm certainly not the person, and I didn't even do this during my time in local politics, who is the last person to close the door at 3.30 a.m. with the last beer in his hand.

So you're not planning to get a dachshund before the next elections?

Everyone is free to do what they want with their life, whether they have a dog or not. However, if you do this for electoral reasons, then I definitely don't think that's a good thing.

Following the parliamentary elections of 2013 and 2018, you were re-elected to the Chamber of Deputies last month after Fernand Etgen retired from politics. You only got your first government post as state secretary after André Bauler resigned, and you only became a minister when Maggy Nagel stepped down. Are you something like the eternal successor?

If you look at the figures (the election results, ed.), you can't deny it, but that's just part of the democratic system.

Doesn't that sometimes make you feel like a second choice?

Absolutely not. If, like me, you were elected third in the North in the last legislative elections, then that's also proof that people trust you.

You could also say that he who laughs last, laughs best, right?

(laughs) I'm not someone who waits for someone else to step aside. The electoral system is what it is, and when it's my turn to move up, I simply accept the mandate, which was the case this time.