Frieden disclosed that Gloden had authorised the police regulation of Luxembourg City based on these reports.
Earlier, MP Sven Clement from the Pirate Party criticised that the begging ban had triggered an institutional crisis between the judiciary and the executive. Frieden dismissed this, citing legal opinions received by Gloden and the Luxembourg City municipality in support of their decision.
The public prosecutor’s office has expressed reservations, indicating that simple begging lacks a legal basis in criminal code. Frieden argued that this discrepancy underscores a matter of interpretation, which is “not uncommon” in legal matters.
Highlighting the potential for legislative refinement, Frieden suggested that the Chamber of Deputies could address ambiguities through reforms to the criminal code. He reiterated his commitment to upholding the rule of law and an independent judiciary.
Following an enquiry by MP Dan Biancalana from the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), the Minister for Home Affairs stated that there were no concrete figures for the initial two weeks of the enforcement phase of the begging ban in Luxembourg City.
Minister for Home Affairs Léon Gloden explained that uniformed officers, accompanied by canine units and plainclothes personnel, had been deployed to address issues related to illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and aggressive or organised begging in the capital.
Gloden indicated that individuals had been approached for identification purposes, and all of them were subsequently able to identify themselves. According to Gloden, none were escorted to police stations.
The Minister acknowledged the absence of specific statistics but underscored the collaborative efforts between law enforcement and social institutions in Luxembourg City.
