Hesperange Mayor and MP Marc Lies has sparked a political controversy by linking a local crime to the country's immigration policies in a social media comment, prompting sharp criticism from political figures and a public disavowal by his own party.

Marc Lies, Hesperange Mayor and MP for the Christian Social Peoples' Party (CSV), recently stirred up controversy after implying that a crime in his hometown was committed by immigrants in a social media comment. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jean Asseblorn, was quick to condemn Lies' statements and the CSV party leadership held a clarifying discussion with the Hesperange Mayor.

RTL received a written statement from the CSV party leadership in response to Marc Lies' comments. Among other things the statement reads as follows:

"Marc Lies' statements on the country's refugee policies of recent years are his own and do not reflect the views of the CSV. The CSV party leadership accordingly held a clarifying discussion with Marc Lies. He confirmed to the party leadership that his unfortunate comments on the incident in Hesperange were not intended to have a link to refugee policies."

What happened?

In a recent Facebook post, a resident in Hesperange expressed anger and disbelief that somebody broke into his chicken coop and beheaded five chickens. Police subsequently opened an investigation.

Among the numerous reactions and comments the post received, Marc Lies also left his thoughts. Here's what he had to say: "[You] have to talk to Mr Asselborn who promoted 'open gates' for years. To now reintroduce law and order will be extremely difficult thanks to our society being completely deregulated by left-wing parties and the press only looking for PR instead of covering the basics. Bye bye Luxembourg."

RTL

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Reactions to Lies' statements

The former Minister of Foreign Affairs Jean Asselborn also took to Facebook to sharply criticise the CSV politician's comments: "Accusing refugees of being chicken thieves ... preposterous."

The Secretary General of the Luxembourg Socialist Worker's Party (LSAP) also reacted in shock and anger, condemning the dangerous rhetoric on Facebook.

Former Greens MP Marc Hansen joined the criticisms and referred to the statement as an "amalgam" of right-wing populism of the highest order and asks whether this is what the "new CSV" has succumbed to.

MP Tom Weidig from the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR), however, sees this as another instance where a politician is being silenced. He in turn criticises Asselborn's asylum policy as leaving the Grand-Duchy wide open to social problems and crime.