Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LUXEMBOURG193
2009-07-22 15:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Luxembourg
Cable title:  

LUXEMBOURG - COALITION GOVERNMENT RATIFIED WITH NEW

Tags:  PGOV PINR PREL ECON LU 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO5583
RR RUEHAG RUEHDF RUEHIK RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR RUEHYG
DE RUEHLE #0193/01 2031531
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 221531Z JUL 09 ZDK ZUI RUCNFB #8311 2040542
FM AMEMBASSY LUXEMBOURG
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6668
INFO RUEHZG/NATO EU COLLECTIVE
RUCNMEM/EUMEM COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LUXEMBOURG 000193 

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y///ADDED SENSITIVE/////

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ECON LU
SUBJECT: LUXEMBOURG - COALITION GOVERNMENT RATIFIED WITH NEW
MINISTERS AND SHIFTS IN PORTFOLIOS

REF: A. LUXEMBOURG 137 B. LUXEMBOURG 128

LUXEMBOURG 00000193 001.2 OF 002


-------
SUMMARY
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 LUXEMBOURG 000193

C O R R E C T E D C O P Y///ADDED SENSITIVE/////

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PINR PREL ECON LU
SUBJECT: LUXEMBOURG - COALITION GOVERNMENT RATIFIED WITH NEW
MINISTERS AND SHIFTS IN PORTFOLIOS

REF: A. LUXEMBOURG 137 B. LUXEMBOURG 128

LUXEMBOURG 00000193 001.2 OF 002


--------------
SUMMARY
--------------


1. (SBU) Prime Minister (PM) Juncker and Jean Asselborn, Vice-Prime
Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, announced the
ratification of a coalition government July 20 along with the names
and portfolios of the new ministers. Several portfolios were
reshuffled and three Ministers replaced. As expected, Jean-Claude
Juncker remains Prime Minister but replaces Luc Frieden as Treasury
Minister, allowing Juncker to remain President of the Eurogroup.
The replacement of Minister of Defense (MOD) Jean-Louis Schiltz by
Jean-Marie Halsdorf was unexpected. The new coalition government is
unlikely to make significant changes to GOL (Government of
Luxembourg) foreign policy initiatives. End Summary.

--------------
FORMATION OF A NEW GOVERNMENT
--------------


2. (U) Prime Minister (PM) Juncker and Jean Asselborn, Vice-Prime
Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, announced the
ratification of the new coalition government July 20 along with the
names and portfolios of the new GOL (Government of Luxembourg)
ministers. The announcement came after the national committees of
the two parties who received the most votes from the June 7
election, the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) and the
Socialist Party (LSAP),signed the agreements earlier in the day.
The portfolios were divided, as they were in the previous
government, nine for CSV and six for LSAP.

--------------
MINISTERS OF THE NEW GOVERNMENT
--------------


3. (U) Prime Minister (PM) Juncker announced the nine Ministers from
his party, the CSV, as:

- Jean-Claude Juncker: Prime Minister, Treasury Minister and
Minister of "administrative simplification."

- Luc Frieden: Finance and Budget Minister

- Jean-Marie Halsdorf: Minister of Defense, Minister for the
Interior, Country Planning and the "Great Region."

- Frangois Biltgen: Minister of Justice, Minister for Communication,
Higher Education, Media, Research and Public Administration (civil

service).

- Frangoise Hetto-Gaasch: Minister for "Middle Classes", Tourism and
Equal Opportunities.

- Marie-Jose Jacobs: Minister for Family, Youth and Cooperation
(development aid).

- Octavie Modert: Minister for Culture, Religions, and
Minister-delegate for Public Administration and "Administrative
Simplification."

- Marco Schank: Minister for Housing, Minister-delegate for Country
Planning and Environment.

- Claude Wiseler: Minister for Sustainable Development,
Infrastructure, Transports, Environment, and Country Planning.


4. (U) Foreign Minister (FM) Jean Asselborn announced the six LSAP
Ministers as:

- Jean Asselborn: Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign
Affairs.

- Mady Delvaux-Stehres: Education Minister.

- Mars Di Bartolomeo: Minister for Health and Social Security.

- Jeannot Kreck: Economy and Energy Minister.

- Nicolas Schmit: Labor and Immigration Minister.

- Romain Schneider: Minister for Agriculture and Sports.


--------------
CHANGES AND IMPLICATIONS
--------------


5. (SBU) Several portfolios were reshuffled and three Ministers
replaced. As expected, Jean-Claude Juncker remains Prime Minister

LUXEMBOURG 00000193 002 OF 002


but replaces Luc Frieden as Treasury Minister. This addition to his
portfolio allows Juncker to remain President of the Eurogroup.
Interestingly, Juncker becomes Minister for "administrative
simplification," a clear sign that cutting red tape in the heavily
regulated government will be a priority. Jean Asselborn was
re-appointed Foreign Minister despite his sometimes unscripted
remarks. However, he remains popular among his peers and the
Luxembourgers.


6. (SBU) The replacement of Minister of Defense (MOD) Jean-Louis
Schiltz by Jean-Marie Halsdorf was unexpected as Schiltz was seen as
having performed well. Schiltz will remain a force in his party and
was nominated to be president of the CSV parliamentary group, a
driving force implementing the GOL's reforms. Halsdorf is known for
supporting the continued expansion of the armed forces and its
international missions including contributions to the coalition in
Afghanistan.

- Other changes are:

- Former Minister-delegate for Foreign Affairs Nicolas Schmit, LSAP,
was promoted to Minister of Labor and Immigration, replacing
Francois Biltgen, CSV. These are considered among the most
difficult portfolios to manage, mainly due to rising unemployment
which rose from 4.2 percent in May 2008 to 5.5 percent in May 2009.

. Both labor and agriculture were previously held by the CSV.
- Claude Wiseler was promoted to the "super-ministry" of Sustainable
Development, including Infrastructure, Transports, Environment and
Country Planning. He previously held Public Works and
Administration.
- Former CSV President and Labor Minister Frangois Biltgen was also
given a "super-ministry" which includes Justice, Communications,
Higher Education, Media, Research and Public Administration.
Biltgen represents the more conservative group in the CSV, and he
will be in charge of steering the resistance to legalization]v5/E>Q poor electoral
showing caused by his unpopular reforms including an increase in car
taxes.
- Agriculture Minister Fernand Boden (CSV) is stepping down after
thirty years in government.

7. (SBU) The three newcomers, Marco Schank, CSV, Frangoise
Hetto-Gaasch, CSV, and Romain Schneider, LSAP, are all
mayors-parliamentarians who will need to resign their current
positions to pick up their new ministerial portfolios. (Note:
Luxembourg parliamentary system allows mayors to also be
parliamentarians but not Ministers. End note). Bio information on
the new government will be sent SEPTEL.
--------------
COMMENT
--------------


8. (SBU) The new coalition government is unlikely to make
significant changes in foreign policy. Juncker's assumption of the
Treasury Ministry allows him to retain the broader EU platform as
President of the Eurogroup, the informal meeting of Finance
Ministers from the Euro area. Juncker is frequently mentioned
locally as a possible future EU president and it is believed that
the Eurogroup Presidency increases his chances. Jean Asselborn was
re-appointed Foreign Minister, partially if not primarily because
the Foreign Minister position is traditionally controlled by the
party of the junior coalition partner which Asselborn leads.

9. (SBU) Newly-arrived Charge d'affairs and Pol/Econ Chief will meet
with FM Asselborn July 28, prior to his departure for senior-level
meetings in Washington. Out-take from this courtesy call to be
reported SEPTEL.

10. (U) Questions/comments concerning this cable should be directed
to Michael A. Via, Pol/Econ Chief, viama@state.gov. Telephone:(00
352) 460123 ext. 2240

BIEDLINGMAIER