Étienne Schneider, the LSAP minister of the economy, is sticking to his principle that government ministers should not serve longer than ten continuous years in cabinet.

According to the Lëtzebuerger Land newspaper, Schneider has recently confirmed that he will not see out his full mandate.

Schneider first broached the subject of term limits not long after taking over the ministry for economy and trade following Jeannot Krecké’s surprise resignation in February 2012. The question--"Do you approve of the idea of limiting to ten years the maximum period during which someone can continuously be part of the government?”--was one of three put to voters in the June 2015 constitutional referendum. Although it received more support than the other two questions--on allowing non-nationals to vote in parliamentary elections and on lowering the voting age to 16--it was nonetheless resoundingly defeated with 70% of voters saying “no” to the idea.

With Félix Braz not returning to government as he recuperates from his heart attack, when Schneider steps down the DP-LSAP-Déi Gréng coalition will have lost two of its leading lights. It will have to reshuffle again for the remaining 18 months before the next parliamentary elections in October 2023.