Xavier Bettel

Bettel was born on 3 March 1973 in Luxembourg City and grew up in Roeser.{{Cite web |title=Claude und Xavier Bettel: Politik im Zweitakt |url=https://viewer.eluxemburgensia.lu/ark:70795/7w7rdw8g1m/pages/14/articles/DIVL48 |last=Wolf |first=Claude |date=10 January 1996 |website=Revue |language=de}} His father, Claude Bettel (1939-1999), was a French transport entrepreneur of Luxembourgish origin who moved to Luxembourg in 1971, eventually joining the DP and becoming a member of the Luxembourgish National Council for Foreigners.{{Cite web |title=Personalien |url=https://viewer.eluxemburgensia.lu/ark:70795/63rfh05g14/pages/10 |date=13 October 1999 |website=Revue |language=de}} Bettel has said he has an Orthodox Russian grandfather and a Polish-Jewish grandfather, while his parents were Catholics.{{cite book|title=Mon Europe, je t'aime moi non plus: 1989-2019|author= Marion Van Renterghem|date=2019|quote="I have an Orthodox Russian grandfather, a Polish Jewish grandfather, Catholic parents,[...]"}} His mother Aniela is a grandniece of the Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff.{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/luxembourg-tiny-country-xavier-bettel/|title=Like his tiny country, Xavier Bettel has learned to pick his shots|website=Politico|date=2019}} After completing his secondary school studies at Lycée Hélène Boucher in Thionville,{{cite web |last1=Brach |first1=Jean-Luc |title=Quand l'IT rencontre l'espace |trans-title=When IT meets space |url=https://www.itone.lu/actualites/quand-lit-rencontre-lespace |website=www.itone.lu |access-date=18 July 2019 |language=fr |date=25 October 2016 |quote=Le Lycée Hélène Boucher de Thionville est LE lycée de la Grande Région. Grand nombre d’élèves Luxembourgeois et Belges y font ou y ont fait leurs études. Xavier Bettel, entre autre, a été l’un d’entre eux.}} Bettel obtained a master's degree in Public and European Law and a DEA in Political Science and Public Law from Nancy 2 University in Nancy, France.{{cite news |url = http://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/news/luxembourg/story/10040671|title = Xavier Bettel, un "fêtard" qui se remarquait|date = 5 November 2013|work = L'Essentiel Online}}{{cite news |url = http://www.lessentiel.lu/de/news/dossier/neuwahlen/story/Wie-Xavier-Bettel-als-Student-Party-machte-29229643|title = Wie Xavier Bettel als Student Party machte|date = 5 November 2013|work = L'Essentiel Online}} He also studied maritime law as well as canon law at Aristotle University in Thessaloniki, Greece, where he was studying thanks to the Erasmus Programme.{{cite news |url=http://www.programmallp.it/lkmw_file/LLP///erasmus/in%20evidenza/Famous%20Alumni2013/famous_en.pdf |title=Well-known Erasmus students – inspiring careers |page=7 |publisher=Programma LLP}} Bettel joined the DP in 1988 at age 15, and became the president of the party's youth wing in 1993. For four years in the early 2000s, he hosted Sonndes em 8, a weekly talkshow, on the now-defunct private T.TV television network.{{cite news |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp5xGAkHFww |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/Lp5xGAkHFww |archive-date=20 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=TV Talkshow "Sonndes em 8" [1/2] (2005) |date=2005 |publisher=chienguidelux via YouTube}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news |url=http://www.spiegel.de/reise/europa/luxemburg-finanzmetropole-im-modellbahn-look-a-468943.html |title=Luxemburg:Finanzmetropole im Modellbahn-Look |first=Susanne |last=Strätz |date=21 March 2007 |publisher=Der Spiegel}} In 2017, he also received an honorary doctorate from Sacred Heart University Luxembourg.{{cite web|url=http://delano.lu/d/detail/news/luxembourgs-prime-minister-becomes-doctor/148510|title=Luxembourg's Prime Minister becomes "Doctor" - Delano - Luxembourg in English|date=16 June 2017|website=Delano}}{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/xavier_bettel/status/875429220293500929?lang=en|title=Honoured that I have been awarded Doctor Honoris Causa by the Sacred Heart University Luxembourg on their 25. anniversarypic.twitter.com/i5RbQynZzo|first=Xavier|last=Bettel|date=15 June 2017}}

In the elections of 1999, Bettel was elected to Luxembourg City's communal council, finishing sixth on the DP's list. Two years after his election to the local council, on 12 July 2001, he was certified as a lawyer. On 28 November 2005, after the municipal elections in which he was placed fourth on the DP list, Bettel was appointed échevin (alderman) in the council of Luxembourg City.

Following municipal elections on 9 October 2011, Bettel was sworn in as Mayor of Luxembourg on 24 November 2011. He resigned from his position as DP leader in the Chamber of Deputies, which he had held since 2009.[https://archive.today/20120918042337/http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/en/luxembourg/articles/2011/10/164137/index.php "Xavier Bettel - Luxembourg City's new Mayor"], Wort.lu, 10 October 2011. Retrieved 30 October 2011.[https://archive.today/20130111194116/http://www.wort.lu/wort/web/en/luxembourg/articles/2011/11/168555/index.php "Xavier Bettel sworn in as capital's mayor"], Wort.lu, 24 November 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011

Bettel ran for the Chamber of Deputies in the 1999 general election; he finished tenth amongst DP candidates in the Centre constituency, with the top seven being elected.{{cite web|title= 1999: Circonscription Centre|url=http://www.elections.public.lu/fr/elections-legislatives/1999/resultats/circonscriptions/centre/index.html|date=7 April 2009|publisher= Service Information et Presse|access-date = 10 April 2009}} However, the DP overtook the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) as the second-largest party; its members formed the majority of the new government as the Christian Social People's Party's (CSV) coalition partners. Thus, with Lydie Polfer and Anne Brasseur vacating their seats to take roles in the government, as well as Colette Flesch not taking her seat so as to focus on her role as Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Bettel was appointed to the Chamber of Deputies, starting 12 August 1999.

By the time of the 2004 general election, Bettel had significantly consolidated his position; he finished fourth (of the five DP members elected), assuring him a seat in the Chamber of Deputies.{{cite web|title=2004: Circonscription Centre |url=http://www.elections.public.lu/fr/elections-legislatives/2004/resultats/circonscriptions/centre/index.html |date=7 April 2009 |publisher=Service Information et Presse |access-date=10 April 2009 }}

File:Tallinn Digital Summit. Handshake Xavier Bettel and Jüri Ratas (36718144533).jpg in Tallinn on 29 September 2017]]

File:EU Leaders arrive at Sofia Tech Park for an informal dinner ahead of the EU - Western Balkans Summit (41432930954).jpg in Sofia on 16 May 2018]]

In 2013, Bettel was elected leader of the Democratic Party. In the 2013 general election, he led the party to a third-ranked position in parliamentary seats. On 25 October, Bettel was designated by Grand Duke Henri as the formateur for the next government.{{Cite news|url = http://www.wort.lu/en/luxembourg/xavier-bettel-officially-in-charge-of-forming-new-luxembourg-government-526a6eb1e4b0e4d54907baea|title = Xavier Bettel officially in charge of forming new Luxembourg government|date = 25 October 2013|work = Luxemburger Wort|access-date = 7 December 2015|archive-date = 19 March 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160319012335/http://www.wort.lu/en/luxembourg/xavier-bettel-officially-in-charge-of-forming-new-luxembourg-government-526a6eb1e4b0e4d54907baea|url-status = dead}} He assumed his post as Luxembourg's Prime Minister on 4 December 2013. In the government's coalition of the Democratic Party (DP), Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), and The Greens, he led the cabinet with co-Deputy Prime Ministers Etienne Schneider and Félix Braz. In his first term, he also held the functions of Minister of State, Minister for Communications and the Media, Minister for Culture, and Minister for Religious Affairs.

File:Vladimir Putin and Xavier Bettel (2015-10-06)-102.jpg (6 October 2015)]]

File:Xavier Bettel and Randy Evans 191216-D-BN624-070 (49231409611).jpg at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, on 16 December 2019]]

File:Obisk predsednika vlade Luksemburga - 22. 2. 2023 (52704629973) (cropped).jpg in Ljubljana on 22 February 2023]]

Following the 2018 election, he became the first openly gay prime minister in the world to be reelected for a second term. He began his second term when his government was formed on 5 December 2018,{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-luxembourg-government/luxembourg-pm-bettel-begins-second-term-of-coalition-government-idUSKBN1O41XI|title=Luxembourg PM Bettel begins second term of coalition government|publisher=Reuters|date=5 December 2018|access-date=14 March 2019}} which he led with co-Deputy Prime Ministers François Bausch and Dan Kersch. The government is a continuation between the Democratic Party, the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party, and The Greens from the Bettel I government, with minor changes.

On 16 September 2019, following a short bilateral meeting on the status of Brexit negotiations, Bettel continued a press conference without British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, after Johnson abruptly pulled out due to an anti-Brexit protest held by British citizens living in Luxembourg.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/sep/16/johnson-humiliated-by-luxembourg-pm-at-empty-chair-press-conference |title=Boris Johnson humiliated by Luxembourg PM at 'empty chair' press conference |last=Boffey |first=Daniel |date=17 September 2019 |work=The Guardian |access-date= 17 September 2019}} Bettel gestured towards Johnson's empty podium and confirmed that the UK Government had not tabled any concrete proposals for amendments to the UK's Withdrawal Agreement, particularly the "Irish backstop" that Johnson wished to replace.{{cite news |last1=Fleming |first1=Sam |last2=Brunsden |first2=Jim |last3=Parker |first3=George |title=Boris Johnson frustrates EU with dearth of fresh Brexit detail |url=https://www.ft.com/content/695b5e04-d87e-11e9-8f9b-77216ebe1f17 |access-date=17 September 2019 |work=Financial Times |date=16 September 2019}} This being despite the public pronouncements of Prime Minister Johnson and the UK's departure date from the EU fast approaching. Pro-Brexit UK media reported the matter as an ambush,{{cite news |last1=Rayner |first1=Gordon |last2=Yorke |first2=Harry |last3=Rothwell |first3=James |title=Brexit latest news: Boris Johnson walks into ambush as Luxembourg's PM holds press conference next to empty podium |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/09/16/brexit-news-latest-deal-boris-johnson-jean-claude-juncker/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2019/09/16/brexit-news-latest-deal-boris-johnson-jean-claude-juncker/ |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=17 September 2019 |work=The Telegraph |date=16 September 2019}}{{cbignore}} whilst other UK and international media outlets largely saw the incident, as well as the reaction of pro-Brexit UK media outlets to it, as confirming the increasing hypersensitivity of pro-Brexit pundits and politicians to criticism.{{cite news |last1=Smyth |first1=Patrick |title=What the Boris-Bettel show said about European discourse {{!}} Europe Letter: To the British, last week's podium moment was a humiliation – but they misread the signals |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/what-the-boris-bettel-show-said-about-european-discourse-1.4030460 |access-date=29 September 2019 |newspaper=The Irish Times |date=25 September 2019 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Fuentes |first1=Ángel Gómez |title=Johnson forzado a huir de los abucheos en Luxemburgo |url=https://www.abc.es/internacional/abci-johnson-y-juncker-acuerdan-intensificar-conversaciones-brexit-201909161856_noticia.html |access-date=17 September 2019 |work=abc |date=16 September 2019 |language=es}}{{cite news |last1=Peeperkorn |first1=Marc |title=Brexitlunch met Juncker loopt uit op koude douche voor Boris Johnson |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/brexitlunch-met-juncker-loopt-uit-op-koude-douche-voor-boris-johnson~b6d56450/?referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fboris-johnson-xavier-bettel-luxembourg-brexit-europe-newspapers-a9108131.html |access-date=17 September 2019 |work=de Volkskrant |date=16 September 2019 |language=nl-NL}}{{cite news |last1=Skarżyński |first1=Stanisław |title=Premier Luksemburga brutalnie zadrwił z Borisa Johnsona [BREXIT Z BLISKA] |url=http://wyborcza.pl/7,75399,25201123,premier-luksemburga-brutalnie-zadrwil-borisa-johnsona-brexit.html?disableRedirects=true#S.main_topic-K.C-B.1-L.2.duzy |access-date=17 September 2019 |work=wyborcza.pl |language=pl |date=17 September 2019}}

File:Зустріч Президента України та Прем’єр-міністра Люксембургу в Києві 20.jpg in Kyiv on 21 June 2022]]

On 29 February 2020, all of Luxembourg's public transport became free of charge as a result of the Bettel II government coalition agreement.[https://lequotidien.lu/politique-societe/un-an-de-gratuite-des-transports-publics-au-luxembourg/ "Un an de gratuité des transports publics au Luxembourg"], lequotidien.lu (in French), 28 February 2021.

Bettel was appointed Deputy Prime Minister in the Frieden-Bettel Government, after the coalition lost the 2023 election and only gained 29 seats.{{Cite web |title=DP gain two seats in Luxembourg elections |url=https://www.aldeparty.eu/dp_gain_two_seats_in_luxembourg_elections |access-date=21 January 2024 |website=ALDE Party |language=en}} A new coalition government emerged between the CSV and DP, in which Luc Frieden is the Prime Minister. He is in charge of foreign and European affairs, development cooperation, foreign trade, as well as the Greater region.

In February 2024, Bettel told Israel they risked losing "the last support they have in the world" if they attacked Rafah.{{cite web |title=Irish FM: EU 'must do everything possible' to stop Rafah attack |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/20/israels-war-on-gaza-live-un-fears-explosion-in-child-deaths-in-gaza?update=2719291 |website=Al Jazeera |date=20 February 2024 |archive-date=21 February 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221062750/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/2/20/israels-war-on-gaza-live-un-fears-explosion-in-child-deaths-in-gaza?update=2719291 |url-status=live }}

Bettel, who is openly gay,{{cite news |title=Je suis surpris de devenir bourgmestre |url=http://www.lessentiel.lu/fr/news/luxembourg/story/--Je-suis-surpris-de-devenir-bourgmestre---13255746 |newspaper=L'essentiel |date=11 October 2011 |access-date=5 October 2011}} has stated that increasingly in Luxembourg "people do not consider the fact of whether someone is gay or not". Bettel was Luxembourg's first openly gay Prime Minister. Worldwide, he was the third openly gay head of government following Iceland's Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir (2009–2013) and Belgium's Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo (2011–2014)."[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/02/leo-varadkar-becomes-irelands-prime-minister-elect?CMP=share_btn_fb Leo Varadkar, the gay son of an Indian immigrant, to be next Irish PM]." The Guardian. 2 June 2017 Retrieved 3 June 2017. He was one of four openly gay world leaders in office, the others being the Prime Minister of Serbia Ana Brnabić, the Taoiseach of Ireland Leo Varadkar, and the President of Latvia Edgars Rinkēvičs.

Bettel has been married to Gauthier Destenay since 2015,{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-32753014|title=Luxembourg PM first EU leader to marry same-sex partner|date=15 May 2015|work=BBC News|access-date=30 March 2017|language=en-GB}} the same year that same-sex marriage was introduced in Luxembourg.{{cite news|url=http://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/xavier-bettel-to-tie-the-knot-luxembourg-prime-minister-engaged-to-be-married-53f59a46b9b3988708058726|title=Luxembourg Prime Minister engaged to be married|date=21 August 2014|newspaper=Luxemburger Wort|access-date=23 August 2014|archive-date=4 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504034924/http://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/xavier-bettel-to-tie-the-knot-luxembourg-prime-minister-engaged-to-be-married-53f59a46b9b3988708058726|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=http://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/luxembourg-pm-marries-xavier-bettel-and-gauthier-destenay-say-i-do-555600060c88b46a8ce5953c|title=Xavier Bettel and Gauthier Destenay say 'I do'|date=15 May 2015|newspaper=Luxemburger Wort|access-date=15 May 2015|archive-date=1 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201031157/http://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/luxembourg-pm-marries-xavier-bettel-and-gauthier-destenay-say-i-do-555600060c88b46a8ce5953c|url-status=dead}}

On 4 July 2021, Bettel was admitted to hospital following a COVID-19 diagnosis on 27 June. The move was initially described as precautionary and for tests. It was reported that he experienced "mild symptoms" such as high temperature and headache.{{cite news |last1=Henley |first1=Jon |title=Luxembourg prime minister admitted to hospital with Covid |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/04/luxembourg-prime-minister-xavier-bettel-admitted-to-hospital-with-covid |access-date=5 July 2021 |work=The Guardian |date=5 July 2021}} The following day, it was reported that he was in a "serious but stable" condition and would remain hospitalised.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=5 July 2021 |title=Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel 'seriously ill' with COVID-19 |url=https://bnonews.com/index.php/2021/07/luxembourg-pm-bettel-seriously-ill-with-covid-19/ |access-date=5 July 2021 |website=BNO News |language=en-US}} On 7 July 2021, the government said that Bettel would remain hospitalised a "little bit longer" due to low saturation of oxygen in his blood and that he was recovering "little by little".{{cite news |last1=Hennebert |first1=Jean-Michel |title=Xavier Bettel restera hospitalisé "encore un peu" |trans-title=Xavier Bettel will remain hospitalized "a little longer"|url=https://www.wort.lu/fr/luxembourg/infection-au-covid-19-xavier-bettel-restera-hospitalise-encore-un-peu-60e58f41de135b9236b29123 |access-date=7 July 2021 |work=Luxemburger Wort |date=7 July 2021 |language=French}} On 8 July 2021, Bettel was discharged from hospital. It was announced he would resume activities soon via remote work for the rest of his isolation period. Bettel thanked health authorities for the treatment during his hospitalisation period.{{cite news |title=Xavier Bettel quitte l'hôpital |trans-title=Xavier Bettel leaves the hospital|url=https://gouvernement.lu/fr/actualites/toutes_actualites/communiques/2021/07-juillet/08-bettel-covid19.html |access-date=8 July 2021 |agency=Government of Luxembourg |date=8 July 2021 |language=French}}{{cite news |last1=AFP |title=Xavier Bettel leaves hospital after Covid case |url=https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/1751720.html |access-date=8 July 2021 |agency=RTL Today |date=8 July 2021}}

"In [Bettel's] thesis at the University of Nancy there is not one correct reference," wrote Pol Reuter with reference to research by Reporter.lu. The master's thesis, submitted in 1999, is dedicated to the topic of electoral reform at the European Parliament. Allegedly, only two of the total 56 pages were free of plagiarism. The plagiarism findings are said to have been confirmed by several independent researchers.{{Cite web|last=Reuter|first=Pol|date=27 October 2021|title=Der Copy-and-Paste-Premier|url=https://www.reporter.lu/luxemburg-plagiatsaffaere-xavier-bettel-der-copy-und-paste-premier/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://perma-archives.org/warc/20211027121025/https://www.reporter.lu/luxemburg-plagiatsaffaere-xavier-bettel-der-copy-und-paste-premier/|archive-date=27 October 2021|access-date=27 October 2021|website=Reporter.lu}} Bettel stated he wrote this thesis with a clear conscience, although "from today’s standpoint, it could have – yes, maybe should have – been done differently." He also stated he would accept the findings of the University of Lorraine on the matter.{{Cite web |date=27 October 2021 |title='Only two pages' of Luxembourg PM's university thesis were not plagiarised |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2021/oct/27/luxembourg-xavier-bettel-university-thesis-was-mostly-plagiarised |access-date=21 April 2022 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}

• Bettel I (2013–2018)
• Bettel II (2018–2023)
• List of openly LGBT heads of state and government
• List of the first LGBT holders of political offices

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

{{wikiquote}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140227094906/http://www.gouvernement.lu/3305444/CV Luxembourg government official biography]

{{s-start}}

{{s-off

}}

{{s-bef

| before = Paul Helminger

}}

{{s-ttl

| title = Mayor of Luxembourg City

| years = 2011–2013

}}

{{s-aft

| after = Lydie Polfer

}}

|-

{{s-bef

| rows = 2

| before = François Biltgen

}}

{{s-ttl

| title = Minister for Communications and Media

| years = 2013–2023

}}

{{s-aft

| rows = 2

| after = Luc Frieden
Elisabeth Margue

}}

|-

{{s-ttl

| title = Minister for Religious Affairs

| years = 2013–2023

}}

|-

{{s-bef

| before = Jean-Claude Juncker

}}

{{s-ttl|title=Prime Minister of Luxembourg|years=2013–2023}}

{{s-aft

| after = Luc Frieden

}}

|-

{{s-bef

| before = Jean Asselborn}}

{{s-ttl|title=Minister for Foreign Affairs|years=2023–present}}

{{s-inc}}

|-

{{s-ppo}}

{{s-bef

| before = Claude Meisch

}}

{{s-ttl|title=Leader of the Democratic Party|years=2013–2015}}

{{s-aft

| after = Corinne Cahen

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Luxembourg Prime Ministers}}

{{Bettel II}}

{{Frieden-Bettel}}

{{Foreign Ministers of the European Union member states}}

{{Foreign Ministers of NATO member states}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bettel, Xavier}}

Category:1973 births

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century Luxembourgian politicians

Category:Councillors in Luxembourg City

Category:Democratic Party (Luxembourg) politicians

Category:Gay politicians

Category:LGBTQ heads of government

Category:LGBTQ mayors

Category:Luxembourgian gay men

Category:Luxembourgian LGBTQ politicians

Category:Luxembourgian people of Polish descent

Category:Luxembourgian people of Russian descent

Category:Luxembourgian Jews

Category:Mayors of Luxembourg City

Category:Members of the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg) from Centre

Category:Ministers for communications of Luxembourg

Category:Prime ministers of Luxembourg

Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the Crown (Belgium)

Category:Recipients of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana, 1st Class

Category:LGBTQ legislators

Category:LGBTQ government ministers

Category:Ministers for foreign affairs of Luxembourg

Category:Deputy prime ministers of Luxembourg

Category:Alumni of the Erasmus Programme

Category:20th-century Luxembourgian LGBTQ people

Category:21st-century Luxembourgian LGBTQ people

Category:20th-century Luxembourgian politicians