Luxembourg Parliament Removes Grand Duke’s Power
March 17th, 2009
The Luxembourg Government passed an amendment to Article 34 of the Luxembourg Constitution on March 12th, removing Grand Duke Henri’s power to vote on parliamentary matters. The Grand Duke now has a more ceremonial role in the Government; while he must sign the acts and bills of parliament, he does not enact them. This is much like the role of several of Henri’s European counterparts.
The issue of the Grand Duke’s parliamentary power came about in December last year, when he refused to sign off on a bill legalising euthanasia. The parliament themselves now enact the bills. The euthanasia bill was also passed earlier this week.
So does this bill strip GC Henri’s heirs’ power to vote on parlimentary matters as well, or just GD Henri’s power?
I would assume it would carry down to Henri’s heirs as well, otherwise the parliament would have to change the constitution again once Luxembourg has a new Grand Duke.
Nothing has changed in Luxembourg really. This was just a first step to adjust the Constitution to a 160 years old reality. A broader revision of the Luxembourg Constitution is under way. The Grand-Duke will retain all the functions he actually had, it’s just about adjusting the constituional text to the actual practice of the Luxembourg institutions.