Martine Hansen

In the upcoming article, we dig into the multifaceted facets of Martine Hansen's life, exploring her biography, noteworthy achievements, political perspectives, and the interplay of her personal and public life.

CSV

GOVERNMENT MEMBER

Ideology

Social Christianist

Active since

2013

Main focus

Christian Social People's Party (CSV), Center-right, Education and Research, Agriculture expert

Born in 1965, Martine Hansen is a distinguished Luxembourgish politician affiliated with the Christian Social People's Party (CSV). After completing secondary education, her academic journey led her to pursue agronomy studies at the University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim. Post-graduation, she ventured into education, serving as a professor at the Agricultural Technical High School in Ettelbruck and later ascending to the position of school director.

Her political odyssey commenced in April 2013, following François Biltgen's departure from the government. Handpicked by Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, Hansen assumed the role of Minister of Higher Education and Research. Although her initial ministerial stint was brief, marked by the October 2013 early legislative elections, she secured a significant vote share, ensuring her continued presence in the Chamber as a deputy.

Subsequent elections in 2018 and 2023 reaffirmed her parliamentary mandate. Notably, after the October 8, 2023, legislative elections, Martine Hansen assumed the crucial role of Minister of Agriculture, Food, and Viticulture as a part of the Frieden-Bettel government.

Biography

Martine Hansen, born on May 6, 1982, in Wiltz, embarked on her academic journey after completing secondary education at the Lycée Classique de Diekirch. Her focus on agronomy led her to the University of Stuttgart-Hohenheim, where she specialized in agriculture's social and economic dimensions.

Upon graduating, in 1993, she commenced her teaching career at the Lycée Technique Agricole de Gilsdorf. Between 2005 and 2007, she pursued a distance education program in school management at the Technical University of Kaiserslautern. This endeavor culminated in a master's degree, accompanied by a thesis on developmental planning in Ettelbrück's educational landscape. Afterwards, Hansen served as the director of the Lycée Technique Agricole from 2006 to 2013, contributing significantly to the institution's growth and development.

Achievements

During Martine Hansen's brief but impactful tenure as the head of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research from April 2013 to December of the same year, she spearheaded initiatives that left a lasting mark on Luxembourg's research landscape.

Cooperations

One notable accomplishment was the signing of a bilateral cooperation agreement aimed at enhancing collaboration between Luxembourg and the United Kingdom researchers. This agreement paved the way for smoother execution of transnational research projects in the future.

National program for young graduates

Another significant milestone was the introduction of the national program for young graduates at the European Space Agency (ESA). This program aimed to equip the nation with the necessary resources to achieve the objectives outlined in the national plan for space science and technology. It sought to encourage young individuals to pursue scientific and technical education and subsequently inspire them to choose careers in the space sector. Under Hansen's leadership, the Ministry of Higher Education and Research signed a specific agreement with ESA, enabling Luxembourgish graduates to gain initial professional experience in the space industry.

Post her ministerial term, Hansen transitioned to the role of a deputy, engaging in expansive projects involving multiple stakeholders. While it's challenging to attribute achievements solely to her in these collaborative efforts, examining her involvement in various committees provides insights into her collaborative contributions.

Professional activities and relationships

Martine Hansen's political journey with the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) commenced later in life, as she joined the party on October 22, 2008, at the age of 42. Over the next six years, she rose through the party ranks, achieving a significant milestone at the party conference on February 8, 2014. At this event, she secured the position of Vice President of the CSV with an overwhelming 93.73% support from delegates. Her tenure in this role spanned until January 26, 2019.

Chamber of deputes

Hansen's political journey took a significant turn in the October 2013 legislative elections when she secured her first mandate as a deputy for the CSV in the northern constituency. However, this wasn't her political debut, as we'll explore shortly. Subsequently, she...

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Government roles

Martine Hansen's entrance into government defied the usual trajectory. Rather than starting at the local political level and progressing to the Chamber of Deputies, she entered politics directly as a minister. This unconventional path unfolded in April 2013, following François Biltgen's departure, when Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker tapped her to helm the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. She occupied this ministerial role until the government's term concluded on December 4, 2013.

In a recent development, post the legislative elections on October 8, 2023, Martine Hansen assumed ministerial duties once again, this time overseeing the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Viticulture in the Frieden-Bettel coalition government. This strategic appointment underscores Hansen's enduring influence and versatility within Luxembourg's political landscape.

Political views and support

Martine Hansen aligns herself with the values and ideals of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV). As a member of the CSV, a center-right political entity, Hansen subscribes to its social Christian orientation, emphasizing principles of solidarity, freedom, peace, equity, family, and subsidiarity. Notably, the CSV, while guided by Christian values, positions itself as a non-confessional party.

The CSV advocates for a social market economy, endorsing state intervention to ensure fair competition, favorable working conditions, social welfare, family well-being, and low unemployment rates while maintaining robust economic growth. The party is generally considered conservative on cultural, social, and moral issues.

Martine Hansen's popularity has been consistently strong since entering politics in 2013, with an initial 16,838 votes. Her appeal grew over subsequent elections, securing 20,249 votes in 2018 and 20,160 votes in the latest election. Beyond voter support, she enjoys recognition and respect within the political sphere, exemplified by her recent reappointment as a minister. This dual endorsement underscores both her electoral appeal and political acumen, reflecting positively on her continued influence within the political landscape.

Luc Frieden

Prime Minister

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Xavier Bettel

Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Cooperation, Foreign Trade and the Greater Region

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Criticism of the politician

In the realm of politics, criticism is commonplace, and Martine Hansen faced indirect censure during the "Frëndeskreess" case. The repercussions of her actions led Elisabeth Margue and Stéphanie Weydert to be collateral victims in the proceedings. Although both were acquitted after the trial, a subtle undertone of resentment lingered, stemming from the tumultuous events initiated by Martine Hansen.

The 2021 case

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The genesis of the controversy traces back to a contentious meeting on March 16, 2021, where Martine Hansen and Gilles Roth, leaders of the CSV parliamentary faction, exerted pressure on Margue and Weydert to sign a denunciation against Frank Engel to the Prosecutor's Office. The trial centered on a work contract between Frank Engel and the CSV Frëndeskrees association, responsible for managing the CSV's real estate. Allegedly, the unanimous decision of the board was to entrust the president with tasks such as facilitating a property transaction for a new party headquarters, attracting donors, and transforming the association into a foundation, goals Engel ultimately failed to achieve.

Suspicions

The crux of the accusation revolved around the suspicion that the contract served as a façade to channel 40,000 euros to Engel. Given Elisabeth Margue's and Stéphanie Weydert’s roles as co-vice presidents at the time, suspicions arose about them orchestrating a "setup" to facilitate the transfer of funds to Frank Engel.

Engel's responce

Frank Engel, in his defense, claimed an agreement was in place to reimburse the money if his efforts proved unsuccessful. However, parliamentary colleagues did not afford him the opportunity to resolve the matter.

The end of the conflict

Ultimately, on December 9 of the same year, the judges acquitted Frank Engel, former treasurer André Martins, deputy Félix Eischen, and the other four defendants, including Elisabeth Margue and Stéphanie Weydert. The entire affair resulted from miscommunication, and while Margue and Weydert refrained from openly criticizing Martine Hansen for exposing them to legal proceedings, a discernible sense of resentment lingered in the aftermath.

Personal life

Martine Hansen maintains a notably private stance regarding her personal life, limiting public information. While her social media profiles, particularly on Instagram and Facebook, offer a glimpse into her daily life, it primarily revolves around professional aspects. Through these platforms, one can catch a closer look at her daily routine and gain insights into her perspectives on current affairs.

Hobbies

Nature

Find Martine Hansen in social networks:

Facebook

Instagram

We took photos from these sources: gouvernement.lu