Meeting for the first time this year, Luxembourg City councillors took a moment to remember three former colleagues who passed away earlier this month: Robert Goebbels, Vronny Krieps, and Colette Flesch. All three were remembered as figures who had devoted many years of their lives to serving what Mayor Lydie Polfer described as “their” city.
Polfer recalled that she had most often worked closely with Goebbels, member of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), on discussions surrounding the Judiciary City project. Beyond politics, she remembered Goebbels as a warm and devoted family man who took great pleasure in welcoming friends into his home and cooking for them.
Vronny Krieps, a member of the Democratic Party (DP), was described by Polfer as someone who dedicated her life wholeheartedly to supporting people facing difficulties, including eight years as president of the Social Welfare Office. Polfer also paid tribute to Colette Flesch, member of the DP, whom she portrayed as a woman who opened doors for others.
Polfer said she herself was among those who benefited directly from Flesch’s support. According to Polfer, Flesch helped an entire generation of young and emerging politicians, particularly young women, gain recognition and opportunities. She explained that Flesch achieved this not through force or pressure but through the strength and clarity of her convictions.
After this emotional opening, the council moved on to its agenda. One of the first questions came from François Benoy of The Greens (Déi Gréng), who asked how many defibrillators are currently available across Luxembourg City and where they can be found.
Benoy noted that in densely populated areas such as Bonnevoie, defibrillators are installed in places like the Chamber of Employees, the Lycée technique de Bonnevoie (LTB), and sites pertaining to the national railway company CFL. However, he pointed out that these locations are not always open to the public and can be quite far away, depending on where an emergency occurs.
While additional devices are located in sports halls and other facilities, he stressed that many remain inaccessible at critical moments.
City authorities acknowledged the issue and said work is ongoing to improve access. First alderman Maurice Bauer explained that three defibrillators are currently installed outdoors, namely at the Nature Centre, the Water Department, and the Parks Department. He said the city is developing a broader strategy to identify key locations where additional outdoor defibrillators could be installed.
According to Bauer, a concrete proposal is expected to be presented to the aldermen in spring.
Future installations are expected in high-traffic public spaces such as at Place d’Armes and at Place Guillaume II. At present, there are more than 200 defibrillators across Luxembourg City, all of which can play a crucial role in saving lives in emergency situations.
