During the session, MP François Bausch of the Green Party (déi Gréng) introduced a motion proposing strategies to tackle the housing crisis.
While acknowledging certain initiatives proposed by the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) and the Democratic Party (DP), such as the government’s acquisition of VEFA properties (vente en l’état futur d’achèvement, or “sale in future state of completion”), the Green Party stressed that these measures alone do not represent a significant shift in approach.
“To truly effect change, I believe we need a public investment plan spanning 15 to 20 years. This plan must define clear objectives and allocate adequate financial resources to bolster our presence in the public housing sector. We are not speaking merely of hundreds of millions but rather billions that we need over the specified timeframe if we really want to achieve these objectives,” Bausch explained.
Responding to Bausch’s proposal, CSV MP Alex Donnersbach was quick to raise a number of questions:
“Who has been responsible for housing, and particularly affordable housing, in Luxembourg over the past five years? Wasn’t Mr Bausch’s party colleague Henri Kox in charge of that? Isn’t it odd, then, that three months after the elections, during a press conference, there is all of a sudden a call for a long-term plan for public housing construction?”
MP Taina Bofferding, president of the parliamentary group of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), asserted that while there remains a substantial demand for flats and houses, private individuals are increasingly priced out due to exorbitant market rates.
“In considering these challenges, it’s crucial to recognise who has reaped profits amidst the steep surge in prices in recent years. I’m referring to the sector inquiry conducted by the Competition Authority, published in July last year. It clearly shows that developers’ profits have risen massively in recent years and that a handful of people have been able to make a great deal of money as a result. While we acknowledge and endorse the government’s swift actions to address the crisis in the construction industry, we maintain that these measures alone will not offer immediate solutions to the housing crisis,” Bofferding stated.
Bofferding stressed that these two crises must not be mixed up, even if they are linked. DP MP Gilles Baum, meanwhile, contended that the preceding DP-LSAP-Greens coalition governments had undertaken certain initiatives to tackle the housing crisis in recent years. Nevertheless, Baum personally expressed dissatisfaction, believing these efforts fell short of addressing the magnitude of the issue.
In addition to housing policy, the latest developments concerning the begging ban were also discussed.
Addressing the issue, Minister for Home Affairs Léon Gloden disclosed in an interview on RTL Radio on Monday that during his inaugural visit, the criminal police department urgently petitioned for increased staffing. This statement came in response to a letter from Prosecutor General Martine Solovieff, who demanded the immediate withdrawal of the 110 officers from the criminal police department stationed in Luxembourg City for enforcement of the begging ban. Solovieff argued that their presence detracts from the department’s capacity to fulfil its primary duties.
In light of these concerns, MPs David Wagner of the Left Party (déi Lénk) and Dan Biancalana of the LSAP directed enquiries to the Minister for Home Affairs during Tuesday afternoon’s session. In his response, Gloden outlined plans for bolstering the criminal investigation department’s manpower, detailing:
“By the end of April, ten civil investigators will be recruited for the economic-financial section. [...] Starting 1 May, an additional 25 police officers will be enlisted to reinforce various divisions within the criminal police department. From 1 May, ten civilian personnel will be hired, with an additional ten civilian investigators slated for recruitment in September/October, specifically for the economic-financial section. This translates to a total recruitment of 55 individuals solely for the criminal police department this year.”
