Luxembourg broadcaster RTL has agreed to air electoral messages in French, on the request of the Independent Luxembourg Broadcasting Authority (ALIA).

RTL Lëtzebuerg had previously refused to broadcast two electoral messages from the Déi Lénk political party in the run-up to the European elections because they were not in Luxembourgish. The broadcaster argued that it had agreed with the parties on the use of the Luxembourgish language specifically.

However, following a parliamentary question submitted by Déi Lénk and the subsequent intervention of the ALIA, RTL has gone back on its original decision and has now confirmed that it will air the political broadcasts in question. On 2 May, the ALIA Director asked the eight parties who did not submit messages in French if and (if yes) why they would oppose the use of a language other than Luxembourgish in these broadcasts.

Seven of the eight parties did not raise any objections and only one party expressed opposition, but without justification. Owing to the fact that one of RTL's main concerns over the matter had been possible criticism  from the other parties regarding unfair treatment, the ALIA asked the broadcaster to reconsider its earlier decision. RTL agreed and has since confirmed its decision to air the messages in French in a press release.

The ALIA, which is in charge of coordinating the official electoral campaign, has welcomed this turnaround and underlined that it is in line with the provisions agreed with the parties and the media concerned before the start of the media campaign and which contain no rules concerning the use of languages ​​in such messages.