After a year of division between the government and labour unions, Prime Minister Luc Frieden in his new year’s message said his cabinet will work “together with the people” and “in dialogue with the parties, social partners, civil society and all citizens.”
The prime minister has eschewed a formal new year’s address and chose social media to send a message to the public. Frieden opted for the same format last year.
“The year 2025 will forever remain engraved in our memory,” said Frieden.
However, instead of labour union protests that drew thousands to the streets, the premier was referring to the abdication of Grand Duke Henri and enthronement of his son, Guillaume.
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The weekend of festivities served as a reminder of “our ability to overcome differences and come together to create something new and unique. We combine stability and renewal, tradition and modernity, economic strength and social responsibility,” Frieden said.
The government will continue to defend the values of democracy and freedom, peace and prosperity, social justice and environmental responsibility, he said.
“We want to achieve all this together with the people. In dialogue with the parties, social partners, civil society and all citizens,” he said.
Controversial reforms
Frieden’s government this year pushed through controversial reforms on shop opening hours, allowing businesses to be open longer and on Sundays.
The premier scaled back a planned pensions reform after protests from labour unions and abandoned plans to change collective bargaining laws by allowing staff to negotiate with their employers even if they are not unionised.
Only labour unions can negotiate collective work agreements.
Frieden in December became the first prime minister to drop out of the top ten most popular politicians in a public opinion poll. His labour and sports minister, Georges Mischo, resigned in the same week after persistent criticism by unions and internal squabbles over a planned sports museum.