While elected officials discussed many different ways of tackling the rising energy costs, MPs could only agree on the fact that the situation has become urgent.
Yesterday, queues for petrol were seen in Luxembourg as fuel prices reached all-time highs.
With little consensus on how to move forward, tensions rose in the Chamber during the debate.
Deputy Prime Minster Paulette Lenert underlined the need for a tripartite meeting, which she believes to be the right instrument to successfully address the issue. “The crisis that we see affects both businesses and citizens. It is in everyone’s best interest to quickly find an efficient solution. ... In cooperation with social partners, our politicians have always found a way to ensure continued prosperity and societal peace.”
Minister Lenert explained that the goal remains the same in this crisis, which is why no measures have yet been announced.
While the majority parties expressed support for Minister Lenert’s announcement, the opposition was less satisfied with the situation. MP Michel Wolter from the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) gave a sobering assessment: “No offence, Mrs Lenert, but your statement did not really express anything concrete. None of us opposition politicians were able to react since you did not make a single proposition.”
MP Gilles Roth, also from CSV, used his time to demand a series of measures: “First, we demand a temporary price limit on petrol, heating oil, and gas. Driving a car and sitting at home is not an indulgence, but a necessity in our wealthy Luxembourg. Second, we believe that every euro the government has made through taxes in relation to the energy price increases since 1 January 2022 should immediately be allocated back to the people. It is unacceptable that the government should benefit from the current situation.”
As a response, MP François Benoy from the Greens emphasised that a decision in this matter should not be rushed: “We have to invest money where it is needed with socially just measures. These measures have to align with our climate protection agenda and continue to strengthen our independence in the future.”
MP Fred Keup from the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) expressed his view that the government has failed to recognise the urgency of the situation, and that a green solution to the problem will be costly. MP Stephanie Empain from the Greens was unimpressed with this criticism, leading to a heated discussion.
Both the Left and the Pirate Party stressed the importance of helping people as fast as possible and warned against waiting too long before implementing a strategy.
In a press release published shortly after the Chamber debate, the Automobile Club of Luxembourg (ACL) underlined the importance of tackling the situation as quickly as possible to guarantee that Luxembourg residents maintain their standards of living and that businesses remain competitive.
