The beginning of the pandemic demanded quick actions not only by the Chamber of Deputies, but also the State Council, a situation which no longer allowed for the usual amount of rigorous precision in the drafting of adaptive documents.
Nevertheless, Alex Bodry argued that the Council had remained true to its recommended practice throughout the crisis, most notably regarding personal liberties. He notes that the measures taken in March were reasonable and justified at the time, stating that the Grand Duchy’s approach to balancing public health and fundamental freedoms had turned out to be successful. He further emphasised that Luxembourg had been more lenient in its measures than France for instance.
Bodry acknowledged that it was however too early to assess whether or not every policy had been necessary or not. He therefore iterated his belief that the administration needs to prioritise a return to normal living conditions. He considers the Covid bills a step into the right direction, as they provide the government with a secure legal basis of operations. Naturally, amendments will be needed in time, Bodry further explained.
When it comes to potential constitutional reforms, Bodry does not see a need to amend the legal text following the release of the Waringo report.
When asked about the recent conversation on a direct inheritance tax, launched by CSV president Frank Engel, Bodry stated that he would not see this measure as a guaranteed solution that would increase social justice. The State Council member explained that he would therefore not support a respective initiative, but would be in favour of reintroducing a wealth tax, the latest one having been abolished “overnight” by Jean-Claude Juncker in 2005.
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