The exclusion of the National Federation of Luxembourg Women (FNFL), chaired by Astrid Lulling, from the National Council of Women of Luxembourg (CNFL) was apparently caused by two incidents.
This is the claim that appeared in a letter sent to Lulling by the Council, which Lulling then passed to RTL. Contrary to previous reports, the CNFL claimed that Lulling’s attitude during a Council meeting with the Grand Duchess is the main reason for the Federation’s exclusion.
In June, during an interview with the National Council of Women of Luxembourg at the castle of Colmar-Berg, the Grand Duchess declared that the situation of women was catastrophic today. Lulling, present at this meeting, said she disagreed, saying it was a disavowal of her commitment since 1962 and of the engagement of the Council of Women since 1975. In addition, Lulling declared that the monarchy no longer discriminated against women, because the latter could now inherit the throne.
The CNFL letter said that Lulling had discredited and humiliated the Council. Lulling, a former MEP, told RTL that she felt the council was making her a scapegoat after the Grand Duchess allegedly complained about her comments and was placated by other members claiming that Lulling’s comments were due to old age and stubbornness.
This was allegedly told to Lulling by Sylvie Mischel, also a member of the FNLF and the ADR, who had stayed during the interview with the Grand Duchess. Mischel also addressed the second reproach of the National Council of Women: she is suspected of having transmitted confidential information from the CNFL to her colleague, ADR MP Fernand Kartheiser. Lulling rejected this accusation due to lack of evidence.
Lulling was excluded from the CNFL after she did not respond in person to a summons asking her to defend herself from the accusations. The summons clashed with a long-standing meeting at Differdange town hall, which Lulling could not cancel; however, she said she responded to the summons by post.
She asked for the vote on the Federation’s exclusion from the CNFL to be postponed, but this was refused. Ten of 12 members of the special Council meeting voted in favour of the exclusion. Lulling is to consult her lawyer over the next few days on how best to react to the decision.
