Bettel I Government
{{short description|33rd Government of Luxembourg from 2013 to 2018}}
{{Infobox government cabinet
| cabinet_name=Bettel I Government
| jurisdiction= the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
| incumbent= 2013–2018
| flag=Flag_of_Luxembourg.svg
| image= Bettel 2013 (cropped).jpg
| date_formed=4 December 2013
| date_dissolved = 5 December 2018
({{Age in years, months, weeks and days|month1=12|day1=04|year1=2013|month2=12|day2=05|year2=2018}})
| government_head_title= Prime Minister
| government_head= Xavier Bettel
| deputy_government_head_title= Deputy Prime Minister
| deputy_government_head=Etienne Schneider
| state_head_title = Grand Duke
| state_head = Henri
| current_number =
| former_members_number =
| total_number =15
| political_parties = {{Color box|{{party color|Democratic Party (Luxembourg)}}}} Democratic Party
{{Color box|{{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}}} Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
{{Color box|{{party color|The Greens (Luxembourg)}}}} The Greens
| legislature_status = Majority government (coalition)
32 / 60{{spaces|em}}(53%){{Composition bar/advanced
| total = 60
| boxwidth = 120
| divisionname =
| party1 = 13
| partycolor1 = {{party colour|Democratic Party (Luxembourg)}}
| party2 = 13
| partycolor2 = {{party colour|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}
| party3 = 6
| partycolor3 = {{party colour|The Greens (Luxembourg)}}
}}
| opposition_parties = Christian Social People's Party
Alternative Democratic Reform Party
Pirate Party
The Left
| opposition_leader =
| election = 2013 general election
| legislature_term = 33rd Legislature of the Chamber of Deputies
| outgoing_formation =
| previous = Juncker-Asselborn II Government
| successor = Bettel II Government
}}
The First Bettel Government (or Bettel I Government) was the ruling government of Luxembourg from 4 December 2013 to 5 December 2018. It was led by Prime Minister Xavier Bettel and Deputy Prime Minister Etienne Schneider. It was formed on 4 December 2013, after the 2013 election which saw all 60 seats in the Chamber of Deputies renewed. The government was a traffic light coalition between the Democratic Party (DP), the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) and The Greens. It was succeeded by the second Bettel Government on 5 December 2018.
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.{{Cite news|url = https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23275318|title = Luxembourg PM Juncker offers government resignation|date = 11 July 2013|work = BBC News|access-date = 20 December 2015}} 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.{{Cite news|url = http://www.wort.lu/de/politik/zwei-jahre-blau-rot-gruen-von-macht-reformen-und-ernuechterung-5660d8fc0da165c55dc4ef84|title = Zwei Jahre Blau-Rot-Grün: Von Macht, Reformen und Ernüchterung|last = Bumb|first = Christoph|date = 4 December 2015|work = Luxemburger Wort|access-date = 20 December 2015|language = de}} On 22 October, the Grand-Duke consulted with a representative from each electoral list, and Juncker. The next day he designated Georges Ravarani, the head of the administrative court, as the informateur for the formation of a new government. Coalition talks between the DP, LSAP and the Greens 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. This was only the second government since 1945 that did not involve the CSV. It was also the first time the Greens were involved in government. The three parties had a majority of 32 seats out of 60 in the Chamber of Deputies. Due to the colours associated with the 3 parties (red, blue and green) the arrangement was known as a "Gambia coalition" among some commentators, as it reflected that country's flag.
Overview
In general, the government had two main priorities, curbing the budget deficit, and in the area of social policy. In terms of the former, the government raised the basic rate of VAT from 15 to 17 percent from 1 January 2015.{{Cite web|url = http://www.business-on.de/saarlorlux/was-bedeutet-das-fuer-die-wirtschaft-luxemburg-erhoeht-ab-1-1-2015-die-mehrwertsteuer-_id18120.html|title = Luxemburg erhöht ab 1.1.2015 die Mehrwertsteuer|date = 12 December 2014|accessdate = 20 December 2015|website = business-on.de|language = de}}
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.{{Cite news|url = http://www.wort.lu/de/politik/kommt-die-kirchensteuer-nur-fuer-glaeubige-etienne-schneider-priester-gehaelter-nicht-mehr-vom-staat-54112bb9b9b3988708062f50|title = Etienne Schneider: Priester-Gehälter nicht mehr vom Staat|date = 11 September 2014|work = Luxemburger Wort|access-date = 17 December 2015|language = de}}
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
class="wikitable"
!scope=col class="unsortable" |Portrait ! width="50px" | Party ! width=500px| Office |
width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Luxembourg)}}" |
| valign=center| Xavier Bettel | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | DP | Prime Minister |
---|
style="background-color: {{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}" |
| valign=center| Etienne Schneider | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | LSAP | Deputy Prime Minister |
style="background-color: {{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}" |
| valign=center| Jean Asselborn | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | LSAP | Minister of Foreign Affairs |
style="background-color: {{party color|The Greens (Luxembourg)}}" |
| valign=center| Félix Braz | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | DG |
style="background-color: {{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}" |
| valign=center| Nicolas Schmit | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | LSAP | Minister of Employment |
style="background-color: {{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}" |
| valign=center| Romain Schneider | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | LSAP | Minister of Cooperation and Humanitarian Action |
style="background-color: {{party color|The Greens (Luxembourg)}}" |
| valign=center| François Bausch | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | DG |
style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Luxembourg)}}" |
| valign=center| Fernand Etgen | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | DP | Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture, and Consumer Protection |
style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Luxembourg)}}" |
| valign=center| Marc Hansen | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | DP | Minister of Housing |
style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Luxembourg)}}" |
| valign=center| Pierre Gramegna | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | DP |
style="background-color: {{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}" |
| valign=center| Lydia Mutsch | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | LSAP | Minister of Equal Opportunities |
style="background-color: {{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}" |
| valign=center| Daniel Kersch | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | LSAP | Minister of the Interior |
style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Luxembourg)}}" |
| valign=center| Claude Meisch | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | DP | Minister of Children and Youth |
style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Luxembourg)}}" |
| valign=center| Corinne Cahen | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | DP | Minister of Family and Integration |
style="background-color: {{party color|The Greens (Luxembourg)}}" |
| valign=center| Carole Dieschbourg | valign=center| 80px | valign="center" | DG | Minister of the Environment |
Secretaries of State:
class="wikitable"
! colspan=2 width=250px| Name ! width=50px| Party ! width=500px| Office |
width=5px style="background-color: {{party color|The Greens (Luxembourg)}}" |
| valign="center" | Camille Gira | valign=center| DG | Secretary of State for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure |
---|
style="background-color: {{party color|Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party}}" |
| valign="center" | Francine Closener | valign=center| LSAP | Secretary of State for the Economy |
style="background-color: {{party color|Democratic Party (Luxembourg)}}" |
| valign="center" | Marc Hansen | valign=center| DP | Secretary of State for Children and Youth |
On 16 December 2015, Maggy Nagel resigned as Minister for Housing and Minister for Culture.{{Cite news|url = https://www.wort.lu/fr/politique/apres-maggy-nagel-et-le-nouveau-ministre-de-la-culture-est-xavier-bettel-56715f030da165c55dc4fa59|title = Et le nouveau ministre de la culture est: Xavier Bettel|date = 16 December 2015|work = Luxemburger Wort|access-date = 17 December 2015|language = fr}} 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.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Luxembourg ministries}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bettel-Schneider ministry I}}
Category:Government of Luxembourg
Category:Ministries of Luxembourg