Bettel–Schneider ministry

Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister
Étienne Schneider, Deputy Prime Minister

The Bettel–Schneider Ministry is the current government of Luxembourg. It is led by Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Deputy Prime Minister Étienne Schneider. It was formed on 4 December, after the 2013 election to the Chamber of Deputies. The government is a coalition between the Democratic Party (DP), the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), and The Greens.

Formation

Until 2013, Luxembourg was governed by a CSV-LSAP coalition under Jean-Claude Juncker. After concerns over political oversight of the intelligence agency of Luxembourg, the Service de Renseignement de l’État, the LSAP withdrew its support from the government. Juncker then resigned as prime minister on 11 July 2013 and asked the Grand-Duke to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies and call an election.[1] In the election held on 20 October 2013, the CSV lost some seats but still remained as the largest party in parliament, though without a majority of seats. However, representatives of the DP, LSAP and the Greens agreed to form a government on election night, after the results had been announced.[2] Coalition talks started within a few days, and the coalition agreement was announced one and a half months later, and the new government was sworn in on 4 December 2013.[2] This was only the second government since 1945 that did not involve the CSV.[2] It was also the first time the Greens were involved in government.

Overview

In general, the government had two main priorities, curbing the budget deficit, and in the area of social policy.[2] In terms of the former, the government raised the basic rate of VAT from 15 to 17 percent from 1 January 2015.[3]

Same-sex marriage was made legal from 1 January 2015.

On 11 September 2014 the Deputy Prime Minister Etienne Schneider announced plans to introduce a church tax, payable only by members of religious congregations; the churches would then have to pay their clergy's salaries themselves. This would have replaced the system of the clergy being paid by the state.[4]

From November 2014, the government had to deal with the LuxLeaks scandal.

On 7 June 2015, the government held a constitutional referendum, asking, amongst other things, whether residents of Luxembourg without Luxembourgish nationality should be allowed to vote in national elections. While all 3 parties in the government coalition campaigned for a "Yes" vote, the result was an overwhelming "No".

Composition

Name[5] Party Office
Xavier Bettel DP Prime Minister
Minister for Communications and the Media
Minister for Religious Affairs
Minister for State
Minister for Culture
Etienne Schneider LSAP Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Defense
Minister for Economy
Minister for Internal Security
Jean Asselborn LSAP Minister for Foreign Affairs
Minister for Immigration and Asylum
Félix Braz DG Minister for Justice
Nicolas Schmit LSAP Minister for Labour
Romain Schneider LSAP Minister for Cooperation and Humanitarian Action
Minister for Social Security
Minister for Sport
François Bausch DG Minister for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure
Fernand Etgen DP Minister for Agriculture, Viticulture, and Consumer Protection
Marc Hansen DP Minister for Housing
Pierre Gramegna DP Minister for Finances
Lydia Mutsch LSAP Minister for Equal Opportunities
Minister for Health
Daniel Kersch LSAP Minister for the Interior
Minister for Public Service and Administrative Reform
Claude Meisch DP Minister for Children and Youth
Minister for Higher Education and Research
Minister for National Education
Corinne Cahen DP Minister for Family and Integration
Carole Dieschbourg DG Minister for the Environment

Secretaries of State:

Name Party Office
Camille Gira DG Secretary of State for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure
Francine Closener LSAP Secretary of State for Economy
Secretary of State for Internal Security
Secretary of State for Defense
Marc Hansen DP Secretary of State for Children and Youth
Secretary of State for Higher Education and Research
Secretary of State for Housing

On 16 December 2015, Maggy Nagel resigned as Minister for Housing and Minister for Culture.[6] Xavier Bettel announced that he would take over as Minister for Culture, while Marc Hansen, hitherto a Secretary of State, would be made Minister for Housing.[6]

References

  1. "Luxembourg PM Juncker offers government resignation". BBC News. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bumb, Christoph (4 December 2015). "Zwei Jahre Blau-Rot-Grün: Von Macht, Reformen und Ernüchterung". Luxemburger Wort (in German). Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  3. "Luxemburg erhöht ab 1.1.2015 die Mehrwertsteuer". business-on.de (in German). 12 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2015.
  4. "Etienne Schneider: Priester-Gehälter nicht mehr vom Staat". Luxemburger Wort (in German). 11 September 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
  5. Le gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg (PDF). Service information et presse. 2014. ISBN 978-2-87999-247-1.
  6. 1 2 "Et le nouveau ministre de la culture est: Xavier Bettel". Luxemburger Wort (in French). 16 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
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