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Every year, shortly before the end of December, journalists find themselves in the same situation. There isn’t much happening anymore, but readers still want something to read – so out comes the inevitable year-in-review. We’re no different. Here is our look back.
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When we were asked a few days ago – well, it may just as easily have been weeks ago – in the run-up to the New Year (and we stress asked, since this is not something we would volunteer for, or at least not without some reluctance) to reflect on what had particularly impressed or defined us over the past year, we found ourselves thinking about it for quite some time.
First, we are notoriously forgetful – most days we can barely recall what we had for lunch, let alone when, where, or why something happened. And second, quite a lot actually did happen this year – so much, in fact, that even we remember it, which made choosing all the more difficult.
First and foremost, there is the remarkably amateurish conduct of CSV Minister of Labour and Sport Georges Mischo, who approached virtually every dossier he touched like a bull in a china shop – with well-known consequences: Mischo’s resignation in recent days and the return of former short-term minister Marc Spautz to the government.
There was also the major demonstration against government policy, which not only brought thousands of people onto the streets in June but also – almost as a side effect – paved the way for a kind of united trade union. In this case, it was the joint front formed by Nora Back (OGBL) and Patrick Dury (LCGB), a partnership that could almost be described as a marriage.
Then there was the embarrassing feminist fiasco involving DP doctor Gérard Schockmel, as well as Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel’s so-called "dachshund gate" (the DP deputy prime minister took his newly acquired four-legged companion along on an official walk with the Prime Minister of Cape Verde, who was visiting Luxembourg on official business, and with Luc Frieden – a move that sparked a minor storm on social media). Whether intentionally or not, Bettel inevitably stole the spotlight from his Cape Verdean counterpart. For us, incidentally, this was by far the image of the year: the country’s chief diplomat and his beloved dachshund.
Da ist ebenfalls die auch in diesem Zusammenhang zu sehende Riesendemo gegen die Regierungspolitik, die im Juni nicht nur abertausende Menschen auf die Straße brachte, sondern auch, so quasi nebenbei, das Zustandekommen einer Art Einheitsgewerkschaft ermöglichte, in diesem Fall die vereinigte Gewerkschaftsfront aus Nora Back (OGBL) und Patrick Dury (LCGB), diesbezüglich man fast schon von einer Heirat sprechen könnte.
Da sind aber auch der oberpeinliche Feminismus-GAU des DP-Doktors Gérard Schockmel sowie das Dackel-Gate von Außenminister Xavier Bettel (der DP-Vizepremier nahm seinen gerade erworbenen Vierbeiner bei einem offiziellen Spaziergang mit dem zu einem Arbeitsbesuch in Luxemburg weilenden Premierminister von Kap Verde und mit Luc Frieden einfach mit, was auf Social Media für Furore sorgte), der damit, ob bewusst oder unbewusst, natürlich dem kapverdischen Premier die Show stahl – für uns übrigens mit Abstand DAS Bild des Jahres: der Chefdiplomat und sein geliebter Dackel.
Nicht ganz so beliebt wie der außenministerliche Dackel ist da der Regierungschef, der es nicht einmal mehr in die Top Ten der einheimischen Politiker*innen schaffte, und der aktuell fast schon ums Überleben kämpft – du Jamais-vu!
Was uns in diesem Jahr aber tatsächlich am meisten beeindruckt hat, das ist dann doch der Thronwechsel, ist so ein Ereignis wie eine Thronbesteigung doch nicht gerade etwas Alltägliches.
Die neue US-Botschafterin ist jedenfalls vom Großherzog begeistert, den sie in einem rezentem Interview mit einem Gratisblatt sogar als "gut aussehend" bezeichnet: "Ich war ein wenig nervös, denn ich hatte noch nie einen Großherzog getroffen. Aber es hätte nicht besser laufen können. Er ist freundlich, intelligent und neugierig. Wir hatten ein wunderbares Gespräch in diesem großartigen Palast."
Na dann …
"For us, it was the 'marriage' of OGBL and LCGB, Dr Schockmel’s feminist fiasco, Xavier Bettel’s dachshund-gate, and Guillaume’s accession to the throne."
Not quite as popular as the foreign minister's dachshund is the head of government, who didn't even make it into the top ten domestic politicians and is currently almost fighting for survival – du Jamais-vu!
But what really impressed us the most this year was the change of throne, as an event like an accession to the throne is not exactly an everyday occurrence.
The new US ambassador is delighted with the Grand Duke, whom she even describes as "handsome" in a recent interview with a free newspaper: "I was a little nervous because I'd never met a Grand Duke before. But it couldn't have gone better. He is friendly, intelligent and curious. We had a wonderful conversation in this magnificent palace."
Well then …
A Grand Duke like this is likely something special even for Donald Trump, the current head of the embassy the ambassador represents – after all, there is only one grand duchy in the world. Even so, the Grand Ducal Palace, for all its grandeur, would probably strike the former president as rather modest, should he ever find his way to Luxembourg.
For a country as small as Luxembourg, there are hardly better ambassadors than the Grand Ducal family. Doors are invariably open to a Grand Duke – or a Hereditary Grand Duke. Unfortunately, the country will have to wait a very, very long time for the latter: the next heir to the throne, Prince Charles, is only five years old, which means more duties for Grand Duke Guillaume for the foreseeable future.
What we remember most about the change of throne, however, is the embarrassing fussing about the costs, which is typically Luxembourgish, as fussing is part of the national cultural heritage in this country.
Incidentally, we are optimistic about the year ahead, despite all the global crises and catastrophes, and are more than relaxed about it. Whatever will be, or, as they say in Cologne: Et kütt wie et kütt!
Still, one cannot help but wonder whether the Christian Social wing of the government may be even more unpopular in 2026 than it is now.
Above all, we wonder whether Xavier Bettel will take his dachshund to the Grand Ducal palace, but perhaps he has already done so …
