Your Weekly Recap for 15–19 July.
Here are five things you should know at the end of this week:
- Trump survives assassination attempt, nominates J.D. Vance as vice president
- Luxembourg unveils major tax relief package
- EU elections: Roberta Metsola, Ursula von der Leyen both re-elected
- Ben Polidori leaves Pirate Party while internal tensions deepen amid financial disputes
- Luxembourg leads global rankings in children's rights
1. Trump survives assassination attempt, nominates J.D. Vance as vice president
Former President Donald Trump was abruptly rushed off stage by Secret Service agents after loud bangs, suspected to be gunshots, disrupted a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, leaving Trump with blood on his right ear.
- A 20-year-old Pennsylvania man, Thomas Matthew Crooks, has been identified as the suspected shooter who tried to assassinate the former president.
- At the Republican National Convention, Donald Trump, with a bandaged ear from the assassination attempt, was nominated as the party's presidential candidate and introduced Senator J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential choice.
World leaders denounce attack – US President Joe Biden said he was grateful that Donald Trump is safe and called for Americans to unite as one nation to condemn such violence. It has been confirmed that President Biden has also spoken with Trump on the phone.
Understanding what happened – Facing growing criticism over a massive security failure, the US Secret Service on Monday vowed to cooperate with an independent review after the shooter was allowed to open fire on Donald Trump.
Newly surfaced video backs up reports from witnesses that they had called out to police and physically pointed at the shooter as he lay on the roof preparing to open fire, the Washington Post reported Monday.
Strategic move – By selecting Ohio Senator J.D. Vance as his vice-presidential candidate, Donald Trump hopes to strengthen his appeal in key battleground states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, leveraging Vance's working-class roots.
2. Luxembourg unveils major tax relief package
On Wednesday, Finance Minister Gilles Roth unveiled a new tax relief package, benefitting single-parent households, individuals over 64, and widows in tax class 1A.
It includes exemptions for low-income earners, attractive bonuses for expats, and reduced corporate taxes.
The comprehensive tax package is projected to reduce state revenues by an estimated €500 million. Plans are also underway for a major tax reform introducing a single tax class by 2026.
Tax relief – In 2025, tax relief will be extended to beneficiaries of tax class 1A, which includes single-parent households, individuals over 64, and widows. Additionally, those earning the non-qualified minimum wage will be exempt from tax, and bonuses paid to expats will become more attractive tax-wise.
Among other provisions, corporate tax will see a reduction of 1%. Cross-border workers from Germany who work overtime will be eligible for a tax credit of up to €700 and a new exemption for bonuses received by individuals under 30 will be introduced.
These measures, previously announced and adopted by the Government Council on Wednesday morning, were presented by Minister Roth to the Parliamentary Finance Committee and subsequently to the press as part of the so-called "relief package."
Wage indexations– The most significant relief will come from adjustments to the tax scale equivalent to four wage indexations, which took effect on 1 January 2024, an additional adjustment by 2.5 wage indexations in 2025, and an increase in the tax credit for single parents.
Increasing competitiveness –In terms of corporate tax, rates will decrease from 17% to 16% overall, with a further reduction to 14% for companies earning below €175,000 in taxable income. Municipal business taxes will continue to apply on top of these rates.
3. EU elections: Roberta Metsola, Ursula von der Leyen both re-elected
The European Parliament on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly for Maltese conservative Roberta Metsola to remain its president, while also limiting the influence of far right parties despite their significant gains in June elections.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Thursday won a second five-year term that she promised would see the EU bolstering its defence capability, strengthening its industry and tackling a housing crisis.
The EU's 27 leaders fiercely debated von der Leyen's candidacy in June before putting her name forward.
14 new vice presidents in parliament – The parliament on Tuesday voted to select 14 new vice presidents, the majority of whom come from the main centrist coalition.
The European Conservatives and Reformists, dominated by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's post-fascist Brothers of Italy party, now has two vice presidents, up from only one previously.
But Orban and Le Pen's new rival far-right group, known as Patriots for Europe, had been vying for two vice presidents but received none — despite now being parliament's third-biggest faction with 84 seats.
Marc Angel (LSAP) –The Luxembourgish MEP garnered 461 votes from MEPs, confirming his position as a quaestor in the European Parliament. He strategically decided to step back from the vice-presidential race to secure this role.
Ursula von der Leyen –The German ex-defence minister, who became the first woman leader of the European Commission in 2019, had presented herself as the best and most experienced captain to steer the commission.
Von der Leyen will have to now tackle a wide range of problems including the war in Ukraine, the risk of a wider conflict in the Middle East and the EU's trade tensions with China.
She reiterated the EU's support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's aggression, condemning a visit by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to Moscow — just days after his country took on the rotating EU presidency in July — as an "appeasement mission".
Read also: Newly elected MEP Fernand Kartheiser joins European Parliament
4. Ben Polidori leaves Pirate Party while internal tensions deepen amid financial disputes
Ben Polidori, one of the three Pirate Party MPs elected in October, has announced his decision to withdraw from the party "with immediate effect".
Polidori added that he plans to remain within the Chamber of Deputies as an independent MP, leaving the Pirates with just two MPs – Sven Clement and Marc Goergen – as was the case with the previous parliament.
Amid this, tensions within the Pirate Party escalate, with MP Marc Goergen stating he and fellow MP Sven Clement will only work together "when absolutely necessary" in the Chamber of Deputies.
Three seats –The party secured their third seat in the Chamber in the last elections with Polidori gathering 6.7% of the vote share. The 34-year-old came first on the Pirates' list in the north with 4,800 votes, ahead of Emir Badic and Céline Achhammer.
What now? –In the aftermath of Ben Polidori's unexpected resignation, leaders are advocating for urgent statute reform to realign party governance with current challenges. MP Sven Clement emphasised the need to engage the party's constituency for swift decision-making ahead of the autumn party congress.
Translation app –The party furthermore enacts strict financial separation amid controversy over the MALT app project, sparking internal tensions between MPs Marc Goergen and Sven Clement over fund repayments demanded by the ONA.
5. Luxembourg leads global rankings in children's rights
According to the KidsRights Index, a global ranking that annually measures how well children's rights are respected worldwide, Luxembourg is the top country in implementing the Convention on the Rights of the Child, just ahead of Iceland, Greece, and Germany.
Despite Luxembourg's top ranking in the KidsRights Index, significant challenges in child welfare remain unaddressed, according to Ombudsman for Children and Youth Charel Schmit.
Nevertheless, Schmit still acknowledges the high ranking as positive, attributing it to significant budgetary investments in children's welfare, particularly in the education system and all-day care.
Positive feedback –Every five years, the Geneva Committee on the Rights of the Child evaluates the status of children's rights in member countries. The last evaluation in 2021 gave positive feedback on Luxembourg's commitments.
Improvement needed – Reforming youth protection and addressing the issue of juveniles being housed in adult prisons are among key areas needing improvement. Others include tackling child poverty, enhancing pediatric care, and addressing the situation of over 2,000 refugee children in Luxembourg, which current statistics do not reflect.
Better rankings –The Geneva Committee will next evaluate the situation in two years. Until then, only socio-economic data in the KidsRights Index will be updated. If reforms are not implemented by then, Luxembourg could move down in the rankings. Previously, Luxembourg ranked 4th in 2022, 6th in 2021, and 53rd in 2020.
The best of... 📚
- Business & Tech –TikTok lost an appeal Wednesday to escape new digital rules that seek to rein in the power of big tech after an EU court rejected its challenge.
- Science & Environment – The mayor of the French capital Anne Hidalgo took a long-awaited dip in the Seine on Wednesday to demonstrate the river is clean enough to host the outdoor swimming events at the Paris Olympics.
- Entertainment – Actress Shannen Doherty, best known for her roles in "Charmed" and "Beverly Hills, 90210," passed away on 13 July at age 53 after a prolonged battle with cancer.
- Sport – Charities on Wednesday accused French authorities of accelerated "social cleansing" after hundreds more people, mostly migrants, were evicted from squats in Paris ahead of the Olympics.
And in case you missed it... ⚠️
- Childcare shortfall – Luxembourg faces a significant shortfall in childcare, with more than 4,000 places needed at drop-in centres. What's more, this figure is incomplete, as local authorities are not mandated to provide care outside school hours.
- Public disturbances – Minister for Home Affairs Léon Gloden introduced a bill to the government, aiming to grant police enhanced authority, to better remove individuals causing public disruptions such as blocking traffic or disturbing public peace.
- Hydrogen lorries – Arthur Welter and Cargolux, two of Luxembourg's largest companies in the transport sector, aim to gain experience with new options as they test out hydrogen lorries on Luxembourg's roads.
- Extensive security preparations – In order to guarantee security measures in Paris during the Olympics, the French police will be supported by around 1,750 foreign police officers from 40 different countries, including two officers from Luxembourg.
Your Weekly Recap is published every Friday at noon. Read earlier versions.
