All of the MPs criticised the current government, and especially Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.
Hansen, Kartheiser, Baum, and Clement stated that all of their respective parties take issue with what they perceive as a "lack of leadership" by the Prime Minister, not only in the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but also in the persisting housing and climate emergencies as well as the looming economic crisis.
Pirate Party MP Sven Clement stressed that the Grand Duchy was "not an island". According to his party, a potential rise in new infections during autumn and winter could only be dealt with by a Prime Minister with a clear strategy. Clement also stated that the Pirate Party would be willing to work "constructively" with the government on a long-term solution.
Martine Hansen from the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) on the other hand made it clear that her party never had much confidence in the current government to begin with. According to Hansen, the chaos started with the lockdown earlier this year. The government's "corona laws" were "not coherent" and need to be improved. Hansen thinks that the regulations do not necessarily need to be stricter, but rather more comprehensible. Young people, for instance, had to wear masks while in school and on the bus, but not while strolling down the capital's Grand-Rue, even in groups.
Hansen also called for an action plan to protect the elderly and those considered "vulnerable". Nursing and care homes require sufficient resources and should not be left alone with the responsibility of their residents' care and well-being. Staff should also be tested regularly, Hansen added.
MP Marc Baum from the leftist party (Déi Lénk) stated sarcastically that while he did not miss Bettel, he wished the country had "an actual Prime Minister". Regarding Bettel's State of the Nation speech on Tuesday, Baum stressed that what the Grand Duchy needed were decisions that show a clear path forward.
Meanwhile, MP Fernand Kartheiser from the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) stated that Luxembourg had not been prepared to deal with such a crisis. He joined the other MPs in their criticism of Bettel's lack of leadership, while also urging the government to hold talks with the German Robert Koch Institut (RKI). According to Kartheiser, the institute holds a significant amount of power over the situation at the German borders. The MP pointed out that Germany only tested people showing symptoms of a Covid-19 infection, while Luxembourg pursued large-scale testing. It was the government's responsibility to better coordinate the situation, Kartheiser stressed.
