The Council of Government of Luxembourg consists of the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and a number of ministers.
It was created by Grand Ducal decree on 29 August 1846, as the administrator of the country: "The Council of Government administers the country, while complying with laws and regulations (...) The administration of the country being entrusted to the Council of Government, every measure and administrative decision emanates from it, excepting the authorisation or approval of the Grand Duke, in cases determined by the laws and regulations."[1] [2]
It meets on a weekly basis to discuss bills to propose to the Chamber of Deputies. It is obliged to deliberate as a group on matters to be submitted to the Grand Duke.
Its decisions are taken by a majority of votes. In case of an even split, the Prime Minister has the casting vote.
All members of the government are responsible for every decision taken by the Council of Government which they agreed with. However, if a minister who makes their disagreement known in the minutes of a Council of Government meeting, they may be freed from their responsibility.
The Constitution of 1868 did not put a limit on the number of members of the government, nor did it provide a title for them.[3] It gave the Grand Duke the freedom to create ministries and to divide up departments according to his needs. In the 19th century and up until the 1930s, the government generally consisted of the Prime Minister and three "administrators-general", or from 1857, "directors-general". The decree of 24 March 1936 changed their titles to "ministers". The growth in the number of ministers came about after the Second World War, when the National Union Government was formed. After this, the government's number of ministers increased in parallel with the growth of the State's scope of activities, and Luxembourg's integration in international politics. At the beginning of the 2009-2013 legislature, the government was composed of 15 ministers.
See main article: Frieden-Bettel Government.
| Ministry | Incumbent | Since | Party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | Luc Frieden | November 17, 2023 | Christian Social People's Party | |||
| Deputy Prime Minister Minister for Foreign and European Affairs, Cooperation, Foreign Trade and the Greater Region | Xavier Bettel | November 17, 2023 | Democratic Party | |||
| Minister of Finance | Gilles Roth | November 17, 2023 | Christian Social People's Party | |||
| Minister for the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism | Lex Delles | November 17, 2023 | Democratic Party | |||
| Minister for Agriculture, Food and Viticulture | Martine Hansen | November 17, 2023 | Christian Social People's Party | |||
| Minister for National Education, Housing, Children and Youth | Claude Meisch | November 17, 2023 | Democratic Party | |||
| Minister of Home Affairs | Léon Gloden | November 17, 2023 | Christian Social People's Party | |||
| Minister for the Family, Solidarity and the Reception of Refugees | Max Hahn | November 17, 2023 | Democratic Party | |||
| Minister of Justice Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, in charge of Media and Communications Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, in charge of Relations with Parliament | Elisabeth Margue | November 17, 2023 | Christian Social People's Party | |||
| Minister of Defence Minister for Gender Equality and Diversity Minister of Mobility and Public Works | Yuriko Backes | November 17, 2023 | Democratic Party | |||
| Minister for Sport and Labour | George Mischo | November 17, 2023 | Christian Social People's Party | |||
| Minister for Culture Minister delegate for Tourism | Éric Thill | November 17, 2023 | Democratic Party | |||
| Minister for the Civil Service and the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity | Serge Wilmes | November 17, 2023 | Christian Social People's Party | |||
| Minister for Digitalisation, Research and Higher Education | Stéphanie Obertin | November 17, 2023 | Democratic Party | |||