Following the violent unrest in the capital last Saturday, the prosecution is still waiting to launch its first legal procedures, a spokesperson stated yesterday.

Potential charges include violations of the CovidCheck system, breaching the barriers at the Christmas market, and the intentional scratching of a car outside Prime Minister Bettel's private home.

The police must first launch an inquiry so that suspects can be identified and linked to concrete criminal acts. Until a report is filed, the prosecution will not comment on the incident.

Yellow Stars and Holocaust comparisons

The Foundation for the memory of the Shoah has strongly criticised the series of inaccurate and distasteful analogies made by the rioters on Saturday evening. Symbols such as the Yellow Star were used by Nazis to systematically persecute and exterminate Jewish people, which is in no way comparable to today's situation, president Laurent Moyse emphasised in an interview with RTL.

He further stressed that it is unacceptable to link the genocide and fascist regime with our current democratic system. Although everybody is entitled to their opinion, rights always come with duties. Moyes concluded that is the responsibility of the justice system to suppress this kind of behaviour.

Despite the fact that it is punishable by law to deny or downplay the Holocaust, it would be difficult to make this case against Saturday's protestors, lawyer Frank Wies explained: "After all, they did not state that the persecution of Jewish people never happened, only that they are in the same situation."

Wies thus underlined that it may be counterproductive for the prosecution to open cases, because if they fail, which they are likely to do, it may only reinforce the positions of the defendants.

Luxembourg City council

City officials lauded the police for their handling of the situation and that nobody was harmed on Saturday. Nevertheless, efforts have to be increased so that future protests do not escalate again.

Councilman François Benoy from the Greens was at the scene of the unrest on Saturday. He explained that officers deescalated the situation and prevented the worst from happening.

The City council's decision to close the Christmas market for the time of the unrest also received praise. Though only small in numbers, Benoy found it concerning that a fraction of the population resorted to violence, suggesting police must increase their presence during future events, especially unannounced protests.