The Pirate Party’s idea would have required lobbyists to register if they want to influence the work of MPs. In turn, the latter would have been required to declare each meeting they have with people or organisations on the register.
The proposal was initially approved by the responsible Commission, but ended up being retracted. According to the news website Reporter.lu, the Commission changed its mind following concerns expressed in a legal opinion, commissioned by the CSV.
CSV MP Léon Gloden stressed that his party is not blocking the register. DP MP André Bauler stated that the same was true for his party.
According to the MPs, the recent delay was due to questions that remained regarding the legality of the register, with the main concern being that the constitution stipulates that MPs are able to benefit from protection of their sources.
The Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) and the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (adr) also agree on this point. It is thus expected that a new draft bill for a register will be presented in autumn, which will only require lobbyists to register.
According to adr MP Roy Reding, the only element that will be dropped is the obligation for MPs to declare their meetings.
The Green Party (Déi Gréng) and the Pirate Party criticised this development, with Pirate Party MP Sven Clement wondering what it is that the other MPs “have to hide”. Clement also rejects the argument that such a register would prevent MPs from speaking to anyone.
Josée Lorsché, the head of the Green Party’ parliamentary group, stated that she would also prefer if MPs were also part of the transparency register. If this ends up not being the case, the Green Party will voluntarily disclose the identity of the individuals and organisations they are meeting with, Lorschée announced.
Regardless of what the register ends up looking like, it would require some form of external check system to be effective. However, nearly all MPs agree that this would be either very difficult or even impossible to implement.
Alternatively, the system would bank on the integrity and honesty of the politicians. Seeing as the influence of an individual MP on a bill is relatively small, the question of transparency registers for the government or the municipalities also remains relevant.
