Lodewijk Frans Asscher (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈloːdəˌʋɛi̯k frɑns ˈɑʃər]; born 27 September 1974) is a Dutch politician of the Labour Party (PvdA). He has been the Deputy Prime Minister of the Netherlands and Minister of Social Affairs and Employment in the Cabinet Rutte II since 5 November 2012.