New government is legitimate, says majority of population

(CS) Nearly three quarters of the Luxembourg population said that a government which holds a majority in parliament is legitimate, in a recent Politmonitor survey, voicing support for Prime Minister Xavier Bettel's three-party coalition.

While it could be argued that this should put to rest questions about the legitimacy of the Bettel government, which holds 32 seats in parliament, 63 percent of respondents also said that the strongest party should initiate coalition talks and propose the Prime Minister.

On the other hand, 74 percent also said that being in the opposition is a good thing for the CSV, a party which needs renewal, according to respondents.

Nearly two thirds of the population meanwhile believed that the DP-LSAP-déi Gréng coalition will bring change to Luxembourg, with 64 percent also happy about the government switch-up.

But while a majority of more than 60 percent thought that the coalition will remain in place for the next five years, only 55 percent said that they believe that the so-called Gambia coalition will actually be able to manage Luxembourg's problems.

Approval for reorganisation of ministries

The reorganisation of the government's ministries found general approval among voters, with foreign respondents of the study not polled in this section of the survey.

For example, the Ministry of Children and Youth was integrated into the Ministry of National Education, while the Ministry of Tourism and the Middle Classes was merged with the Ministry of Economy and Foreign Trade. A new Environment Ministry was also formed, separate from the Sustainable Development Ministry.

Nearly 60 percent meanwhile showed understanding that some ministers were not among the politicians running in the elections. Only 51 percent, however, said they understand that neither the DP nor the LSAP nominated a candidate from their midst for the position of Finance Minister, which went to the president of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, Pierre Gramegna.

A large majority of 68 percent spoke out against the appointment of ministers based on a women's quota.

The December 2013 Politmonitor surveyed a representative group of 1,046 people aged 18 or over, including 636 Luxembourg voters and 410 foreign residents.