a diplomat appointed Minister of Finance
Yuriko Backes, a career diplomat with the European Commission, has been appointed as Luxembourg’s new finance minister to replace Pierre Gramegna, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel’s party announced on Friday.
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The manager, who will celebrate her 51st birthday on December 22, will be the first woman to hold this position in the history of the Grand Duchy. She will succeed Pierre Gramegna, 63, at the start of January, who had announced his departure on Tuesday to everyone’s surprise. “for personal reasons”.
Yuriko Backes occupied in June 2020 the function of Marshal of Grand Duke Henri, in particular responsible for organizing his official activities as Head of State, his relations with the government and his communication. This career diplomat, former Sherpa of Prime Ministers Jean-Claude Juncker then Xavier Bettel, who was also head of the representation of the European Commission in Luxembourg, has never been a member of a political party.
She finally decided to join the Democratic Party (DP) of Xavier Bettel and to stand for the legislative elections of 2023 under this banner.