MEP Manon Aubry addressed Bettel at the European Parliament on Wednesday, asking: “Why do Tiger Woods, Brad Pitt, the Hermès family, Shakira, the Prince of Saudi Arabia & Bernard Arnault have an astonishing shared passion for Luxembourg?”
“It’s not for tourism,” the LFI MEP continued, going on to denounce the creation of shell companies established in Luxembourg in order to avoid taxation in their country of origin. Aubry referred to a building at the Cloche d’Or in Cessange, claiming that it housed the mailboxes of over 1,800 companies.
“The reality, Mr. Bettel, is that you are at the head of a tax haven,” she stated, before going on to describe money going into Luxembourg and never leaving as the “robbery of the century”. She claimed this had harmful repercussions, particularly in France, adding that it caused “social damage, damage to our public services, and damage to our pensions”.
The Luxembourg Prime Minister reacted on Thursday, accusing Aubry of rehashing a talking point made some years ago by Marine Le Pen, belonging to the far-right political party National Rally (formerly National Front).
In 2016, Le Pen criticised the Grand Duchy, declaring “this Luxembourg presidency began under the fire of the Luxleaks revelations, this tax evasion knowingly organised by Luxembourg, this scandalous case that strips European countries in tax matters.”
At the time, Bettel replied: “I will not comment on the terms used for Luxembourg, she does not deserve it,” adding that Le Pen had arrived at 9.25am and left some 20 minutes later, thus missing Bettel’s speech. The Prime Minister quipped he would make a copy for Le Pen and could not reply to her as she was not present.
It would seem history is repeating itself in 2023, as when Bettel addressed the European Parliament on 20 April, the LFI MEP had already exited the building.
Bettel assured listeners he would provide Aubry with a written copy of his response, explaining: “Madame Aubry attacked my country. I had the same scenario a few years ago but it came from the other extreme: Madame Le Pen” .
