By the end of May 2022, Barbara Agostino will dedicate her professional life to politics for the DP (Photo: Archives Maison Moderne)

By the end of May 2022, Barbara Agostino will dedicate her professional life to politics for the DP (Photo: Archives Maison Moderne)

The founder of Crèches et Foyers de jour Barbara Agostino is quitting her life as an entrepreneur to enter politics full-time. Her short-term ambition is to be a candidate for the DP in the next local and legislative elections, while longer term she dreams of becoming minister for education.

A new chapter in Agostino 's career becomes reality on 31 May. She will finally says farewell to Crèches et Foyers de jour Barbara, the childcare company she founded in 2011 but whose infrastructure was sold to the French network People & Baby in 2019.

The Luxembourger, who is married to MEP Gréng Tilly Metz, will resign from her position as CEO of People & Baby for Belgium and Luxembourg. "I think that in the next six months someone will take over my duties," she says vaguely.

Two elections and a foundation

Agostino’s attention is now focused on the town hall of Petange and the Chamber of Deputies. "It's now or never," says the woman who was also on the DP list in the previous municipal and legislative elections.

"Since the departure of Carole Dieschbourg, only Corinne Cahen is from the private sector, the rest of the government is composed of ministers from the public sector,” says Agostino.

My big dream is to become minister of education.
Barbara Agostino

Barbara AgostinoDP candidate in the communal and legislative elections

"My big dream is to become a minister of education, because I come from this sector, I studied pedagogy and I have a mediator's certificate. These are important criteria for entering politics and the fact that I have managed 21 crèches is proof of my management skills,” she adds.

At the same time, Agostino is preparing to set up her own foundation. Her aim is to enable children in Luxembourg who have never travelled to go on holiday.

This article was originally written in and has been edited and translated by Delano