Regarding MEP Monica Semedo's interview with RTL on Monday, Bettel stated that he had seen it, but believes it to be "in the interest of Ms Semedo" that he does not address the conversations she had with various people over the past months. For Bettel, the case is closed, with the PM stating that he does not wish to incite further controversy. The MEP had told "her version of what happened" and that was it.
In her interview with RTL, Semedo stated that the leading members of the Democratic Party (DP) had known more about the affair than they publicly admitted. The MEP also said that she had asked Bettel himself for advice. DP Party President Corinne Cahen did not wish to comment Semedo's statements upon enquiry.
In the Parliamentary Commission on Institutions, Bettel took stock of the implementation of the Waringo report. In his report, the special representative Jeannot Waringo took note of an "atmosphere of fear and uncertainty" at the Grand Ducal Court.
Bettel explained that the creation of the "Maison du Grand-Duc" has introduced a clear distinction between public and private affairs of the Grand Duke as well as ensured a greater protection for employees, which had calmed the situation. The reform has guaranteed financial transparency, cleared up the convoluted organisation chart, and stabilised the position of staff members, Bettel stressed.
According to the PM, it is still being assessed which objects at the Court belong to the State and which are the Grand Duke's private property. Bettel added that he regularly receives updates on the progress being made by a coordination committee, which includes representatives of the Court and the government's general secretary. So far, the committee has met eight times. Regarding staff members, Bettel explained that, according to his information, the frequent and sometimes arbitrary dismissals are no longer an issue.
However, MP Léon Gloden from the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) criticised the fact that the PM was unable to answer certain questions regarding the Court's employees, such as the number of people that had been hired, the number of employees that had resigned, or whether a personnel delegation had been introduced.
The CSV also criticises the overall communication strategy, pointing out the confusion between the public statements of the personal consultant of the Grand Ducal family and statements made by Bettel himself that some of the former's statements should be seen as personal opinions.
In addition, the parliamentary opposition criticises the fact that the "Maison du Grand-Duc" was created by Grand Ducal decree and not by law. In response, Bettel stressed that the legal basis would be confirmed by the constitutional reform. The PM also pointed out that the current text was nevertheless already entirely legal, a fact which had been confirmed to the government by all of the institutions involved in creating the reform.
The government's priority was to create a safe and stable work environment for the Court's employees as fast as possible.
The PM also rejects accusations by MP Gloden that he was deliberately placing people favourable to his own political views at the Court. Bettel pointed out that the individuals Gloden is talking about, such as Norbert Becker or André Prüm, were either nominated by the Grand Duke himself or the maréchal de la court (a position roughly corresponding to that of the Lord Steward of the Household in the UK).
Luxembourg still only has a limited number of doses at its disposal. The goal of the vaccination strategy is to determine which parts of the population should receive the vaccine first. But is the strategy being respected in the Grand Duchy?
Upon enquiry, Bettel stated that he has not yet received the vaccine. The PM stressed that he would respect his own government's vaccination strategy, meaning that he will wait until the turn of his age group (45-54).
Radio 100,7 recently reported that both the President and Vice-Presidents of the Robert Schuman Hospitals' administrative council had been vaccinated in January alongside the hospital staff. The hospital has confirmed that this was indeed the case, with the reason being that these three people regularly visited the hospital and fulfilled vital functions within the hospital's daily business.
Regarding this case, Bettel stated that he was not in a position to judge whether this decision was justifiable or not. The government delivered a certain number of doses to the different hospitals, which then organised the distribution themselves.
Upon enquiry, the Centre Hospitalier Emile Mayrisch (Esch-sur-Alzette), the Centre Hospitalier du Nord (Ettelbruck), and the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg stated that they had not given vaccines to members of their respective administrative councils that were not already part of the regular hospital staff.
According to information obtained by RTL, a number of other people not part of the current vaccination phase received invitations, e.g. certain educators in day care facilities.
This has also been confirmed by the director of St Elisabeth Foundation, the group which manages retirement homes as well as day care facilities. She stated that she had no idea how this was possible as the facilities themselves did not submit any staff lists to the National Health Directorate.
There is a possibility that this is merely an administrative error by the National Health Directorate. Previously, around 100 invitations had been mistakenly sent out in January. The National Health Directorate has yet to comment on this situation.
