PM Xavier Bettel Confirms Plans to Reform Grand Ducal Court

Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel today held a press conference on the results of the Waringo report on the internal workings of the Grand Ducal Court, following the publication of the report last Friday.

The press conference immediately followed a discussion of the report among members of the parliamentary commission on institutions and constitutional review (Commission des Institutions et de la Révision constitutionnelle).

Addressing the press this afternoon, the Prime Minister reiterated his support for a monarchy as the form of government in Luxembourg, although he stressed that there was room for improvement at the Grand Ducal Court, especially in terms of transparency. In this context, he confirmed that the Court would undergo a series of reforms as recommended by Jeannot Waringo in his report. Indeed, he confirmed the government's plans to implement almost all of Mr Waringo's recommendations in the areas of budgets, structure and human resource management. Xavier Bettel added that it was his responsibility to protect both the Constitution and the Grand Duke as an institution, as well as the people working at the Grand Ducal Court.

Another element of the report addressed by the Prime Minister was the need for greater separation between public and private life, particularly in terms of budgetary allowances for these activities. More specifically, he stressed that public expenses must be transparent, considered by the Chamber of Deputies and then put into the state budget, whereas private expenses would remain private but would not be financed by the state.

On the matter of a new, clear organisational structure for the Court, Xavier Bettel announced that there was no official role foreseen for Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess in this structure. He added that there were plans to abolish the secretary role and to replace the general manager role with a court commissioner ("Commissaire à la cour").

On the matter of human resources, the Prime Minister stated that more in depth discussion was required with the public service in the coming weeks on the matter of public servants and private employees, along with the relevant legislation. He added that he agreed with Jeannot Waringo's recommendations for the implementation of a structured and transparent hiring and dismissal procedure.

Xavier Bettel also confirmed that His Royal Highness the Grand Duke had agreed both to the compilation of the report and with many of the recommendations put forward by Mr Waringo and the government. with the need for these reforms. The Prime Minister concluded that a draft constitution was planned in order to implement future reforms and that, although further discussion was needed, the Waringo report provided a solid basis for the modernisation of the Grand Ducal Court, namely in terms of greater transparency.