Luxembourg City’s controversial begging ban “is not aimed at the poor beggar who is sitting there with their cup, but at aggressive behaviour and organised gangs who are stealing people’s money,” according to Maurice Bauer. The member of the municipal executive board (‘Schäfferot’) in Luxembourg City sat down for an interview with our colleagues from RTL Radio on Friday morning.
According to Bauer, the problematic phenomenon is concentrated in specific neighbourhoods, which is why the begging ban will be limited to Ville-Haute, Gare, and Bonnevoie between 7am and 10pm. The politician from the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) conceded that when the regulation will take effect depends on the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Bauer rejected the accusation that the municipality is not doing enough to help the poor. He listed several services offered by the city, including hygiene, activities, and overnight accommodations. According to Bauer, there are 200 people living on the capital’s streets. By hiring more social workers, he claims that the local authorities have ensured that there is now “one social worker for every five clients.”
However, in an interview with RTL Radio two years ago, Luxembourg City Mayor Lydie Polfer stated that the more that is offered, the more people would come to Luxembourg City. When asked if this doesn’t imply that the municipality is purposely limiting its offer, Bauer stated that the current coalition, as well as previous ones, “have always been 100% on the side of the poorest.” But on the other hand, the CSV politician argued, “we have to be able to defend ourselves against those who abuse the system.”
