The issue of the proposed sports museum, withdrawn by Mischo shortly before his resignation, would need to be examined internally, Djuna Bernard told RTL on Friday morning. She added the case was undoubtedly “more than problematic”, otherwise Prime Minister Luc Frieden and finance minister Gilles Roth would not have reacted as they did.
Although the sports museum was a significant contributor to Mischo’s resignation, Bernard said he was not “innocent of other mistakes”, such as the communication and dispute with the trade unions. However, the Greens leader said she held the entire government responsible for the breakdown in discussions with the unions.
Mischo’s replacement at the labour ministry, Marc Spautz, could bring “a certain sensitivity and experience” to the “difficult situation” and help to bring the unions and employers closer together. If Bernard could trust anyone in government to re-establish social dialogue, it would be Spautz, she said.
She also welcomed his proposals to discuss matters beyond the usual trade unions, as he expressed openness towards establishing connections with the sectorial federations as well.
However, she said Spautz was “between a rock and a hard place” as he has to deliver a coalition agreement with the same Prime Minister. She wished him good luck. Fortunately, the government seems to no longer be questioning the unions’ role in negotiating collective agreements, and has also walked back its position on pensions somewhat.
The Greens also praised the national anti-poverty action plan, presented by ministers Max Hahn, Martine Deprez and Claude Meisch on Monday. The plan includes 106 measures targeting poverty, such as increased financial support for the elderly and families with children, as well as developing social welfare offices, making it easier for applicants to get help, and automating certain benefits.
This plan was desperately needed, said Bernard, as she praised the diversity of the measures and the recognition that support measures needed to be better coordinated due to the very different and complicated needs of the applicants. “But what I find a little lacking,” she continued, “is there has not been an announcement about minimum wage.”
Bernard responded with some irritation to recent comments in the Luxemburger Wort that neither the LSAP nor the Greens had drawn up a similar plan in the previous governments. She pointed out that the DP had held the position of family minister for 12 years, and that the previous coalition had put in place a number of financial support measures. The Greens had in particular introduced housing reforms and energy grants, as well as judicial assistance.
Bernard added that she deeply regretted that the EU plans to water down the ban on new combustion engines, due to take effect in 2035, calling it a potential step backwards, a mere decade after the Paris Climate Agreement.
She stressed that the industry needs “planning certainty” and a “timeline” - an argument that CSV also brought up in a recent debate in the Chamber. Above all, they need to be able to keep up with competition from China in terms of electromobility. “I find it extremely regrettable when this hiccup keeps happening at this point,” Bernard concluded.
