Cindy Bauwens to become new director of Luxembourg Broadcast Authority

Bauwens, a legal expert specialising in EU law, previously worked at the Ministry of the Economy.

The appointment process for the ALIA Director has faced considerable criticism and controversy. This issue was addressed on Thursday during a meeting of the Parliamentary Media Committee. Minister Delegate for Media Elisabeth Margue was present to provide clarification.

Thierry Hoscheit, President of the ALIA administrative board, announced his resignation at the beginning of July. In his resignation letter, Hoscheit criticised the unconventional process used to select the new ALIA Director. Unlike previous appointments, which were made directly by the administrative board, a different committee made a preselection this time. This committee included civil servants and independent members, such as a representative from the Press Council.

Minister Margue defended the process, stating that the selection committee, which she "fully trusts," conducted a thorough preselection. "The committee conducted four interviews, asked a series of questions, and made its decision based on these evaluations," Margue explained.

While Margue views the process as an improvement and a clear separation of powers within ALIA, it has drawn criticism from several political parties, including the Green Party (déi gréng), the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), and the Left Party (Déi Lénk).

Left Party MP David Wagner expressed disagreement with the Minister's characterisation of the director's independence from the ALIA board, calling it a "peculiar stance."

According to MP Francine Closener of the LSAP, there is concern that the new Director might be perceived as an extension of the government. Closener's party colleague, Paulette Lenert, criticised the decision to introduce a preselection process, calling it "audacious" given that the law specifies applications should go directly to the board. Lenert cautioned that this deviation could lead to procedural errors and potentially invalidate the entire process.

On the other hand, MP Laurent Zeimet of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) argued that Minister Margue adhered to the legal requirements. Zeimet highlighted that ALIA has publicly expressed satisfaction with the process and the final decision, as indicated in an official statement. As a result, Zeimet believes there is no further issue to address.

Minister Margue is now focused on preparing for a reform of ALIA. She plans to meet with current Director Paul Lorenz, President Thierry Hoscheit, and later the other four members of the administrative board to discuss the future direction of the authority. Margue emphasised the significance of this period for ALIA, stating, "We are in the process of reforming ALIA and discussing its future missions. It is crucial that we have a Director who is a perfect fit and has broad approval."

While no MPs questioned Cindy Bauwens's competence, the explanations provided by Minister Margue failed to satisfy members of the LSAP, the Left Party, and the Green Party.