Sam Tanson slams Minister for Home Affairs after comments against artistic community

Expressing strong disapproval of the recent act of vandalism at Léon Gloden's residence, Tanson emphasised, "The act is absolutely unacceptable. There are alternative ways to express disagreement with a politician." However, Tanson then went on to voice concerns about the Minister's reactions towards the artistic community, stressing that artists enjoy "a particular freedom of expression."

In a recent interview with the newspaper L'Essentiel, Léon Gloden blamed Luxembourg's artistic community for inciting the vandalism, specifically pointing to singer-songwriter Serge Tonnar. Tonnar had shared a satirical poem and an edited photograph on social media protesting the ban on begging.

Tanson highlighted the existing legal precedents, particularly in Luxembourg, regarding the question of how far art and satire can go. However, she viewed Tonnar's poem and the accompanying edited picture, which showed a man resembling Léon Gloden begging for money on the street, as "completely harmless" and did not share the Minister's level of concern.

In the eyes of the former Minister of Justice, Gloden did not commit a criminal offence by disclosing details of the ongoing investigation. In the aforementioned interview, Léon Gloden stated that fingerprints had been found on the wheels of his son's car. "As to whether it was appropriate, that's another question," Tanson said.

Many unanswered questions about the begging ban

Turning to the contentious issue of the ban on begging in the capital, Tanson raised several legal issues. "Can Luxembourg City independently implement such a ban, or does it necessitate legislation?" she questioned. Tanson stated that her party had submitted a formal request for a joint session of parliamentary committees on justice and internal security in the Chamber of Deputies, aiming to address lingering questions surrounding the enforcement of the ban.

Begging ban is "an ineffective approach"

Tanson contended that, from a political point of view, "we have to ask ourselves whether we want to live in a society where we say we don't want to see the poor and those who beg in public places." According to Tanson, "that's not possible," adding that "Begging and asking for help is as old as humanity itself." For this reason, she and her party consider a begging ban as the wrong way to approach the issue.

Tanson also criticised the municipal authorities of Luxembourg City for what she perceives as a lack of clarity in articulating the ban. While officials claim to target only "organised or aggressive begging," Tanson accused them of using "ambiguous language," pointing out that the official regulation and municipality-issued leaflets make no such distinction, referring to "all forms of begging."

Immediate court appearances: An "abattoir"

Expressing scepticism about the government's plan for immediate court appearances ("comparution immédiate") to expedite petty crime trials, Tanson draws on her knowledge of the system in France, describing it as "an abattoir." Tanson criticised, "The accused appears immediately before the judge and the hearings continue late into the night. The lawyer doesn't have time to examine the case properly." She argued that "France is not known for not having a problem with crime," adding, "We therefore have to ask ourselves whether the procedure is effective."

Sam Tanson admitted that when it comes to criminal procedures, there is still room to speed things up. During her time as minister, she worked on addressing this issue, but "always with due respect for people's fundamental rights." This includes "the right to prepare a proper defence," she stressed. "That's not possible if you appear before a judge on the same day [as you are arrested]," she criticised. The Green Party MP awaits proposals from the new Minister of Justice and is curious about the magistrates' opinions on the matter.