Jean Asselborn

Jean Asselborn (pronounced [ˈʒɑ̃ː ˈɑsəlboʁn];born 27 April 1949) is a Luxembourgish politician who has served in the government of Luxembourg as Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2004. He also served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2004 to 2013, under Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker.[1]

Jean Asselborn
Minister for Foreign and European Affairs
Assumed office
31 July 2004
Prime MinisterJean-Claude Juncker
Xavier Bettel
Preceded byCharles Goerens
Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg
In office
31 July 2004  4 December 2013
Prime MinisterJean-Claude Juncker
Preceded byLydie Polfer
Succeeded byEtienne Schneider
Personal details
Born (1949-04-27) 27 April 1949
Steinfort, Luxembourg
Political partySocialist Workers' Party
Alma materNancy 2 University

Early life and career

Jean Asselborn was born on 27 April 1949 in Steinfort.

Asselborn left school in 1967 at the age of 18, and began working in a Uniroyal plant that same year. It was during this time that he became actively involved in the trade union movement and was elected youth representative of the Federation of Luxembourg Workers (Lëtzebuerger Aarbechterverband), the precursor to the current OGBL trade union.

In 1968, Asselborn began working for the Luxembourg City administration as a civil servant, before returning to Steinfort in 1969, where he was also employed as a civil servant for the local administration.

Asselborn resumed his secondary studies in 1976, obtaining a diplôme de fin d’études secondaires from the Athénée de Luxembourg that same year. Upon obtaining his final secondary school diploma, he became the administrator of the Intercommunal Hospital of Steinfort (Hôpital intercommunal de Steinfort) in 1976, a post he held until 2004. In October 1981, he was awarded a master's degree in private judicial law from Nancy 2 University.

Asselborn became Mayor of Steinfort in 1982 and served in that position until 2004.

In government

Asselborn, Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and Russian President Vladimir Putin on 24 May 2007

Following the legislative elections of 13 June 2004, Jean Asselborn joined the government as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration on 31 July 2004.

Upon the return of the coalition government formed by the Christian Social Party (CSV) and the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) as a result of the legislative elections of 7 June 2009, Jean Asselborn retained the offices of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs on 23 July 2009. In October 2012, at his instigation, Luxembourg was for the first time elected to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for 2013 and 2014.

Following the legislative elections of 20 October 2013, Asselborn was appointed Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Minister of Immigration and Asylum on 4 December 2013 in the coalition government formed by the Democratic Party (DP), the LSAP and the Green Party (“déi gréng”).

Asselborn with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in February 2017

As of July 2004, Asselborn represents the Luxembourg government at the Council of Ministers of the European Union in its Foreign Affairs and General Affairs configurations. Jean Asselborn is currently the longest-serving minister among the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the European Union.

Political views

In early September 2016, Asselborn called for Hungary to be suspended or expelled from the European Union over its "massive violation" of EU fundamental values, citing concerns over its treatment of refugees during the European refugee crisis, independence of the judiciary and freedom of the press.[2]

In March 2018, Asselborn condemned the Turkish invasion of northern Syria aimed at ousting US-backed Syrian Kurds from the enclave of Afrin. Asselborn said about Turkey's conduct that "this has nothing to do with self-defence any more", adding that Turkey would have to cease and desist from attacking the YPG and explain its conduct in Afrin to the NATO council.[3]

Asselborn doubted that the peace agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates would bring stability to the region, stating there will be no stability without a two-state solution, and said the UAE had let the Palestinians down with the agreement.[4]

Honorary distinctions

In December 2010, Jean Asselborn was awarded the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit (Großkreuz des Verdienstordens) of the Federal Republic of Germany.

In October 2013, he was appointed Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honour (Ordre national de la Légion d’honneur) of the French Republic.

See also

References

Party political offices
Preceded by
Ben Fayot
President of the Socialist Workers' Party
1997–2004
Succeeded by
Alex Bodry
Political offices
Preceded by
Jean Spautz
President of the Chamber of Deputies
2004
Succeeded by
Lucien Weiler
Preceded by
Lydie Polfer
Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg
2004–2013
Succeeded by
Etienne Schneider
Preceded by
Charles Goerens
Minister for Foreign Affairs
2004–present
Incumbent
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Ben Bot
President of the Council of the European Union
2005
Succeeded by
Jack Straw
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.