Luxembourg's PM accused of press cronyism

The Luxembourg leader's close relationship to the press has resulted in the creation of a personality cult, it was suggested by a politician.

With his New Year address exclusively for active journalists and a raft of interviews given at the end of last year, Alternative Democratic Party deputy Fernand Kartheiser believes that Jean-Claude Juncker has overstepped his mark.

The politician suggested the leader had succeeded in creating an uncritical following of journalists, forging what may appear to the untrained eye to be a “personality cult.”

The strong accusations were flatly denied by Mr Juncker, who explained that the New Year reception for members of the press was a long-established tradition, set up before he became Prime Minister and one which he had no plans to stop.

Regarding claims of cronyism, Mr Juncker was clear in his response: “The kind of cronyism which I always advise journalists and politicians against is a different matter. One must not confuse conviviality with cronyism.”

He also defended the position of the Luxembourg press, saying that “Luxembourg's journalists are not a herd of docile sheep, applauding everything that the Prime Minister does.”

Furthermore, any suggestion that the leader had nurtured a personality cult was quickly dismissed. Mr Juncker said that he never sought interviews with the press, merely, he responded to interview requests at the end of the year, some of which involved questions which were critical of the leader.

“Where the press subscribes to a personality cult, it has no right to pose questions. The Luxembourg press is not a service of the Prime Minister, it asks questions,” he added.