“We were three candidates for three seats [in the group of western European and other states; editor’s note]. What was important was the votes.” Asselborn (LSAP) returned Friday morning from two busy days at the United Nations in New York. Luxembourg, with 180 votes, on 14 October  on the Human Rights Council, a goal Asselborn had set as early as December 2013. “We were the first country, together with Finland, to submit our application” for the 2022–2024 term, said the minister.

“First of all, the rule of law, the freedom of the media and of those who defend human rights. The climate crisis, on all continents, is harmful to people’s lives,” he said of Luxembourg’s campaign priorities. “Women’s rights and the fight against violence and discrimination. Afghanistan is an example, not the only one. The fourth point is the rights of children: against child labour and for their protection, education and access to health services that correspond to their needs.”

A popular minister

Couldn’t winning this seat for 2022–2024 be a magnificent endpoint, an opportunity to retire from the political scene in glory after a rich career? “It is the voter who will decide. I have said that I will be a candidate if my party allows me.”

Asselborn had already suggested to several media outlets that he had “no reason not to stand in the next elections” and that he would continue in politics as long as he was able to climb the Mont Ventoux by bike. But never, except on a rare occasion at the beginning of 2021 speaking to the Journal, was he so clear about his participation in the next legislative election.

This is reassuring in the LSAP ranks after the announcement that deputy prime minister Dan Kersch will not head the list, and that agriculture minister Romain Schneider plans to retire from politics.

Asselborn is an experienced figure and an important “vote getter” whom the socialist party cannot afford to do without.

In the 2018 parliamentary elections, the politician obtained 40,283 votes in the southern constituency, dominating all other candidates. The next best LSAP results in the constituency were those of Mars Di Bartolomeo (27,310 votes), Dan Kersch (21,441) and Taina Bofferding (18,787).

Asselborn received the most votes in the whole country.

And his ministerial work has in no way diminished his popularity: the latest edition of Politmonitor published in June 2021 showed a favourability rating of 81%.

Due diligence still on the radar

Nevertheless, many are now waiting for the minister to propose human rights due diligence laws for companies in Luxembourg. “It is not the Human Rights Council that will find a solution,” he said. “I am relying heavily on the European Union.”

Progress on this issue is expected next week. “I fully agree that it’s a very important point. If we can’t get a European directive, then, yes, a ministerial working group will look at what we can and should do in Luxembourg.”

This article in Paperjam. It has been translated and edited for Delano.