Luxembourg army dispute continues

(CS) Former ombudsman Marc Fischbach has been given the charge to mediate between soldiers and officers as tensions continue following the so-called “Boxemännecher” affair.

Army officials had asked for an independent commission to mediate between the charged fronts. The former politician Fischbach will now supervise the army reform to ensure that the army can continue to fulfill its role in modern defence, a statement from the ministry of the interior reads.

The army made headlines when soldiers complained last December that they had not received the traditional Boxemännecher pastries on St Nicolas day. Minister Halsdorf had to intervene and the Boxemännecher were eventually delivered three days late.

The incident was however seen as crucial in highlighting a more general dissatisfaction between the troops and army leaders.

In the coming week, Fischbach will speak to various members of the armed forces and present his report to the ministry of the interior. He will also look into the Boxemännecher affair, which “negatively influenced the public image of the army,” according to minister Halsdorf.