Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister of Luxembourg;
Credit: © SIP / Yves Kortum
On Thursday 22 June 2023, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel delivered his traditional speech ahead of this year's National Day celebrations.
The focus of this year's address was celebration but also introspection. Prime Minister Bettel described Luxembourg's National Day as an occasion to "celebrate our country, our history, our present and our future" as well as "ourselves and our exploits and successes". He added that it was an opportunity to ask ourselves about "our current fears and concerns" as well as "our hopes and plans for the future".
He reflected on the current context of war in Europe, high inflation and an energy crisis. "Times of crisis are not easy times," he said. "We have made every effort to manage the crises of recent years in such a way as to make the situation as simple as possible for you, dear fellow citizens."
Luxembourg's Prime Minister reflected on the intended balance between freedom and public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as measures to limit the consequences of current crises (war, inflation, energy crisis) for people's purchasing power. He praised the united efforts and solidarity of people in Luxembourg in "overcom[ing] all these crises", for example in supporting Ukrainian refugees.
He also touched upon the subjects of climate change and affordable housing (particularly for young people) and acknowledged that some people in Luxembourg were "struggling to make ends meet at the end of the month".
Luxembourg's Prime Minister praised the country's diversity. He delivered part of his mainly Luxembourgish-language speech in French, thus highlighting the Grand Duchy's multiculturalism and multilingualism.
