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In this evening's Luxembourgish interview, our colleagues at RTL questioned the Prime Minister on topics including collective agreements, pension debates, and the state budget.
In response to these questions, Prime Minister Luc Frieden stated, "We implement what is written in the coalition agreement."
However, whether this signals a rightward shift for the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) in economic terms was not clarified by Frieden during the New Year's interview.
The interview included the season's greetings, with the Prime Minister extending the government's best wishes to everyone, emphasizing the importance of moving forward together "in respect." June 23, 2025, will be an opportunity to thank the Grand-Ducal couple for their "25 years of service to the country."
"On behalf of the government and personally, I wish you all a happy new year, good health, as well as peace and freedom here in Luxembourg and in the world."
Luc Frieden began by expressing his satisfaction that Luxembourg had completed the year 2024 "as a nation at peace and united." While "directly around us, there is much turmoil," he said, referring to Ukraine and the Middle East, "where there are horrible wars," and because "none of our three neighboring countries has a stable government."
He expressed his gratitude that in Europe, we "can be a place of stability and peace," and "this is your merit," referring to "a society where we discuss together, with respect," Luc Frieden emphasized.
His government was able to "set the first priorities" in 2024 towards "less poverty, more purchasing power, more housing construction, more security, and a stronger and fairer economic and social policy."
2025 will be, on the institutional front, "a historic year" as on October 3, "we will all celebrate the handover of power" between Grand Duke Henri and his son Guillaume. National Day, June 23, will be an opportunity to say "thank you to the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess for their 25 years of service to the country."
Luc Frieden also thought of all those who were mobilized on New Year's Eve, such as "our police officers, our soldiers abroad, CGDIS teams, our healthcare workers, and all those who serve society." He added: "It is you who make this country what it is."
The annual RTL New Year's interview with the Luxembourgish Prime Minister explores the political agenda for 2025. The full interview in Luxembourgish is broadcast on RTL Télé during the Journal, and online on RTL.lu from 7.30pm.
