"Eugène Berger's passing took us all by surprise and has deeply affected us," said Chamber of Deputies President Fernand Etgen at the ceremony. Both the new president of the DP, Gilles Baum, and the Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, spoke about Eugène Berger's life and career.
Generous, simple and sympathetic, always appropriate, engaged, efficient, committed and disciplined: these were the words Fernand Etgen used to describe Eugène Berger: "With Eugène Berger, the Chamber loses a competent, diligent and committed member; but above all a kind man and a good friend."
As the first Luxembourger to climb Everest, Berger's sporting career was also mentioned.
Gilles Baum, now the new president of the liberal parliamentary group, remembered the photos that Eugène Berger had hung in his office, photos of mountains and his family. While these were no longer there, leaving blank spaces in their place, Baum assured: "Eugène, that your performances will not be forgotten. "
Besides his political commitment, mountaineering was his greatest passion: "And we also had the chance to know Eugène as a father. In December he told us how happy he was to visit his daughter in Sydney. This happiness was also clearly written on his face when he had the opportunity to go rock climbing with his son."
Prime Minister Xavier Bettel also mourned Berger's passing, noting that even ten days later, his absence was still difficult to bear: "We must be aware and think about the fact that we are all leaving something behind, that we have a responsibility towards these resources which do not belong to us alone, but also to those who come after us. Usch, we will miss you."
Eugène Berger's family, current members of the government and former ministers all attended the ceremony.
Video in Luxembourgish
