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Poor communication fuelled backlash over unisex school toilets

MP Liz Braz of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) has criticised the government’s handling of proposals to introduce unisex toilets in new secondary schools, saying poor communication had fuelled public backlash and exposed internal tensions within the governing coalition. Speaking on RTL Radio on Friday morning, Braz said the announcement of pilot unisex toilet projects, revealed as a reaction to two parliamentary petitions on LGBTIQ+ issues in schools, appeared sudden and insufficiently explained.

There was clearly a communication problem, she said, adding that measures intended to address how LGBTIQ+ topics are handled in schools were overshadowed by the toilet debate. She said it was striking that the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) had publicly distanced itself from the plan, despite being coalition partners with the Democratic Party (DP).

The proposals were announced by DP ministers Claude Meisch and Yuriko Backes, and would see fully enclosed individual cubicles replacing traditional gender-segregated facilities in some newly built schools. While the concept functions well in some Scandinavian countries and is supported by research, public acceptance in Luxembourg remains understandably low, Braz noted.

Also today

• An international investigation has resulted in the identification and extradition from Dubai to Luxembourg of a primary perpetrator suspected of organising phishing scams and recruiting money mules in Luxembourg.
• The US Justice Department announced it was releasing more than three million pages from the Jeffrey Epstein files along with photos and videos, adding fuel to a political drama putting pressure on President Donald Trump.
• The Grouft and Stafelter tunnels on the A7 are down to one lane in each direction after the discovery of ventilation problems. The speed limit is reduced to 70 km/h and at this point it is not known when they will be reopen
• South Africa has ordered Israel’s top diplomat to leave the country within 72 hours today, citing a “series of violations” and prompting the Israeli government to expel Pretoria’s own diplomatic representative.
• Gold and silver prices dived Friday, European stock markets ended the week up while Wall Street fell slightly with investors reassured by US President Donald Trump’s pick to take over as head of the Federal Reserve.
• Australian hitmaker CYRIL will headline the Season Opening of Luxembourg Open Air 2026 in Belval in May, as organisers announce a refreshed festival site and a full roster of international talent.

On air

It’s Funky Friday and Tom is ramping up the BPM as we near the final hour!

Figure of the day

Eurozone growth beat expectations to reach 1.5% last year,

• Europe is working to close the gap with economic rivals China and the United States, and spiking tensions with President Donald Trump’s administration over trade have created added impetus to bolster its competitivity.

• Last year’s uptick in the single-currency area’s economy builds on the modest 0.9 percent expansion recorded in 2024, after an anaemic 0.4 percent a year earlier. Analysts at Bloomberg had forecast growth to be 1.4 percent, while the European Commission itself predicted 1.3 percent.

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