Opposition parties LSAP and the Greens have expressed their concerns that the wrong people are being penalised in the aftermath of the Caritas embezzlement scandal. In conversation with RTL, representatives from both parties have responded to recent statements by Foreign Affairs Minister Xavier Bettel, who briefed MPs in a parliamentary commission on Friday on the future of Caritas’ international projects.
According to Greens MP Joëlle Welfring, the figures presented by the government were unclear, but the stance remained that the leadership had no intention of maintaining Caritas’ international activities. Welfring speaks of a regrettable political decision: “You have to question how wise this decision really is, especially considering how taxpayers’ money has been developing an infrastructure with important jobs over the past twelve years. Also, there is a real possibility that a similar project will be created in the future. It’s simply irresponsible management of public funds. And that is what I’m telling them, if you’re going to make such arguments, at least think them through.”
Read also: OGBL shocked over ‘Hëllef um Terrain’ (HUT) demandsMP Franz Fayot of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) echoed Welfring’s criticism, warning that key capacities in Luxembourg’s development and cooperation sector are being lost: “Two months ago, the possibility of including Caritas’ international wing in the reorganisation process was still very real. It’s regrettable that they didn’t make a deal where Caritas would commit to repaying the €5 million via its foundation by selling off existing assets.”
During the parliamentary session, Bettel also informed MPs and the commission that analyses are underway to potentially open an embassy in Tel Aviv, as well as a cooperation office in Ramallah.
