Use of Chamber of Deputies logo was 'involuntary mistake'

The Parliamentary Petitions Committee has declined to validate the over 4,700 signatures collected by a petition calling for sanctions against Israel, citing the unauthorised use of the Chamber of Deputies' logo on some of the petitioners' flyers.

Despite this decision, a public debate on the petition's demands will still take place.

The petition was initially submitted on 2 July 2024. However, the committee requested revisions to certain sections, and the final version was not approved until January 2025. After the petition went public, flyers featuring the Chamber of Deputies' logo began circulating, prompting a formal complaint over the logo's misuse.

Francine Closener, president of the Parliamentary Petitions Committee, explained that the committee viewed the logo's use as a procedural irregularity, warranting the petition's revocation and resubmission. However, the Conference of Presidents, the body responsible for organising the Chamber's activities, disagreed, stating that current parliamentary regulations do not provide grounds for such a decision.

Dalia Khader, the petitioner, described the situation as a big mess. While acknowledging the mistake of using the logo, she emphasised, "We're talking about the democracy of Luxembourg, something that should not be tampered with or affected by such a mistake or error." Khader expressed hope that MPs and ministers would remain open to the petition's arguments during the upcoming debate.

Nancy Kemp-Arendt, former president of the Parliamentary Petitions Committee, criticised the unprecedented back-and-forth between the committee and the Conference of Presidents, calling it a situation that should never have been allowed to happen.

Moving forward, such disputes are unlikely to recur. Under new regulations set to take effect on Saturday, the Parliamentary Petitions Committee will have sole authority over decisions regarding petitions.