Here are five things you should know at the end of this week:
Judicial investigation launched – In recent days, the public prosecutor’s office received reports via the Ministry of Education concerning incidents that could amount to assault and battery against children under 14. On 4 February, the case was referred to an examining magistrate, who immediately ordered a search and seizure of the crèche and its registered office, carried out the same evening by judicial police.
Nursery closed, care reassigned – The childcare facility, identified by RTL sources as the private nursery Dramland in Pétange, has been closed to the public since Wednesday. Opened in spring 2022, it cared for 32 children aged between zero and four, who are now being placed in other nurseries within the municipality by the Ministry of Education.
Complaints and prior scrutiny – According to the Ministry of Education, nine complaints were received via its official complaints service, prompting the withdrawal of the nursery’s accreditation. The ministry confirmed that earlier complaints had been made two years ago, leading to an investigation and a fine, but no suspension at that time. Authorities have released no further details, citing the secrecy of the investigation and the presumption of innocence.
Ministerial decision – Deprez told a parliamentary committee that two letters from the Medical College raised serious concerns about invasive and irreversible procedures and warned of risks to patient safety if Wilmes continued practising. She said that failing to suspend him would have breached the law on the medical profession, while stressing that the presumption of innocence fully applies and that no prosecution decision has yet been taken.
Safety focus – The directors of the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg and the Robert Schuman hospital group said the alert was triggered by six doctors questioning surgical indications in more than 25 cases, with patient safety the sole concern. They rejected claims of rivalry between hospitals and said only neutral expert analysis can determine whether surgeries were justified.
Patients and defence – The Patient Advocacy Group confirmed 35 similar submissions from patients, now under review on a case-by-case basis, noting that complaints do not equal proven wrongdoing. Wilmes said he has reviewed the files provided, insists none involved healthy knees, and remains available to patients, while preparing an administrative appeal and urgent legal action as three independent experts are appointed to assess the case.
Ministerial intervention – Research and Higher Education Minister Stéphanie Obertin announced the external audit on Monday, stressing the need for a comprehensive and impartial assessment to identify dysfunctions and rebuild trust within the institution. The audit is described as complementary to, but independent from, the review already approved by the University Council, with timelines for both still to be confirmed.
Parliamentary pressure – The announcement comes after MPs criticised the university’s decision to commission and define the scope of its own audit, warning that this undermined its credibility. Lawmakers across parties questioned why governance structures were excluded, arguing that human resources issues cannot be properly addressed without examining how the institution is run.
Broader controversy – The audits follow months of allegations from staff over working conditions, promotion procedures, and alleged retaliation, particularly within the Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance. While university leadership has repeatedly denied the existence of systemic problems, political pressure has mounted to ensure that governance, independence and potential conflicts of interest are scrutinised alongside staff wellbeing.
Worldwide repercussions – The latest tranche of Epstein-related documents has widened an already extensive scandal, pulling in former ambassadors, ministers, royals, and public figures from several countries. Governments and police forces have responded with probes into alleged misconduct, while some of those named have stepped down or sought to publicly distance themselves, underlining how politically toxic any association with Epstein has become.
Accountability pressure – Lawmakers and victims’ advocates have renewed calls for transparency, arguing that the scale of the abuse demands full disclosure, even years after Epstein’s death. The files have exposed not only personal relationships but also alleged exchanges of sensitive information and financial links, prompting questions about institutional failures and long-standing blind spots among elites.
Luxembourg footnote – Luxembourg appears only briefly in the latest release. Frieden’s name surfaced in third-party emails exchanged between Epstein and banker Ariane de Rothschild, with the government firmly stating that Frieden never met or communicated with Epstein. Separately, an email attributed to Norway’s Crown Princess Mette-Marit described Grand Duke Guillaume’s 2012 wedding as “boring”, a minor detail that mentioned Luxembourg in passing otherwise focused on far more serious allegations.
Fatal confrontation – The attack took place on Monday evening on a train departing from Landstuhl station, after the conductor attempted to remove a passenger without a valid ticket. Police said the employee was critically injured, required resuscitation at the scene and later died in hospital on Wednesday from his injuries.
Investigation under way – The Kaiserslautern criminal directorate initially opened an investigation on suspicion of attempted manslaughter following the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect at the scene. Prosecutors later confirmed the suspect is a Greek national residing in Luxembourg and said he allegedly punched the conductor in the head.
Safety concerns renewed – The incident prompted strong reactions from railway management and unions, with Deutsche Bahn’s CEO condemning the “senseless” violence and unions warning that such attacks are becoming more frequent. Union representatives criticised long-standing austerity measures, saying conductors are often left working alone without security support, increasing risks for staff and passengers alike.
Your Weekly Recap is published every Friday at noon.
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