# Bettel I Government > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bettel_I_Government > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bettel_I_Government.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bettel_I_Government > Source revision: 1353503305 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) The **First Bettel Government** (or **Bettel I Government**) was the ruling government of [Luxembourg](/source/Luxembourg) from 4 December 2013 to 5 December 2018. It was led by [Prime Minister](/source/List_of_prime_ministers_of_Luxembourg) [Xavier Bettel](/source/Xavier_Bettel) and [Deputy Prime Minister](/source/List_of_deputy_prime_ministers_of_Luxembourg) [Etienne Schneider](/source/Etienne_Schneider). It was formed on 4 December 2013, after the [2013 election](/source/2013_Luxembourg_general_election) which saw all 60 seats in the [Chamber of Deputies](/source/Chamber_of_Deputies_of_Luxembourg) renewed. The government was a [traffic light coalition](/source/Traffic_light_coalition) between the [Democratic Party](/source/Democratic_Party_(Luxembourg)) (DP), the [Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party](/source/Luxembourg_Socialist_Workers'_Party) (LSAP) and [The Greens](/source/The_Greens_(Luxembourg)). It was succeeded by the [second Bettel Government](/source/Bettel_II_Government) on 5 December 2018. ## Formation Until 2013, Luxembourg was governed by a CSV–LSAP coalition under [Jean-Claude Juncker](/source/Jean-Claude_Juncker). After concerns over political oversight of the intelligence agency of Luxembourg, the [Service de Renseignement de l'État](/source/Service_de_Renseignement_de_l'%C3%89tat), the LSAP withdrew its support from the government. Juncker then resigned as prime minister on 11 July 2013 and asked the Grand-Duke to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies and call an election.[1] In the election held on 20 October 2013, the CSV lost some seats but still remained as the largest party in parliament, though without a majority of seats. However, representatives of the DP, LSAP and the Greens agreed to form a government on election night, after the results had been announced.[2] On 22 October, the Grand-Duke consulted with a representative from each electoral list, and Juncker.[3] The next day he designated Georges Ravarani, the head of the administrative court, as the [informateur](/source/Informateur) for the formation of a new government.[3] Coalition talks between the DP, LSAP and the Greens started within a few days, and the coalition agreement was announced one and a half months later, and the new government was sworn in on 4 December 2013.[2] This was only the second government since 1945 that did not involve the CSV.[2] It was also the first time the Greens were involved in government. The three parties had a majority of 32 seats out of 60 in the [Chamber of Deputies](/source/Chamber_of_Deputies_(Luxembourg)). Due to the colours associated with the 3 parties (red, blue and green) the arrangement was known as a "[Gambia coalition](/source/Gambia_coalition)" among some commentators, as it reflected that country's flag. ## Overview In general, the government had two main priorities, curbing the budget deficit, and in the area of social policy.[2] In terms of the former, the government raised the basic rate of VAT from 15 to 17 percent from 1 January 2015.[4] [Same-sex marriage](/source/Same-sex_marriage_in_Luxembourg) was made legal from 1 January 2015. On 11 September 2014 the Deputy Prime Minister [Etienne Schneider](/source/Etienne_Schneider) announced plans to introduce a [church tax](/source/Church_tax), payable only by members of religious congregations; the churches would then have to pay their clergy's salaries themselves. This would have replaced the system of the clergy being paid by the state.[5] From November 2014, the government had to deal with the [LuxLeaks](/source/LuxLeaks) scandal. On 7 June 2015, the government held a [constitutional referendum](/source/Luxembourg_constitutional_referendum,_2015), asking, amongst other things, whether residents of Luxembourg without Luxembourgish nationality should be allowed to vote in national elections. While all 3 parties in the government coalition campaigned for a "Yes" vote, the result was an overwhelming "No". ## Composition Name[3] Portrait Party Office Xavier Bettel DP Prime Minister Minister of State Minister of Communications and the Media Minister of Religious Affairs Minister of Culture Etienne Schneider LSAP Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Defence Minister of the Economy Minister of Internal Security Jean Asselborn LSAP Minister of Foreign Affairs Minister of Immigration and Asylum Félix Braz DG Minister of Justice Nicolas Schmit LSAP Minister of Employment Romain Schneider LSAP Minister of Cooperation and Humanitarian Action Minister of Social Affairs Minister of Sports François Bausch DG Minister of Sustainable Development and Infrastructure Fernand Etgen DP Minister of Agriculture, Viticulture, and Consumer Protection Marc Hansen DP Minister of Housing Pierre Gramegna DP Minister of Finance Lydia Mutsch LSAP Minister of Equal Opportunities Minister of Health Daniel Kersch LSAP Minister of the Interior Minister of Public Service and Administrative Reform Claude Meisch DP Minister of Children and Youth Minister of Higher Education and Research Minister of National Education Corinne Cahen DP Minister of Family and Integration Carole Dieschbourg DG Minister of the Environment Secretaries of State: Name Party Office Camille Gira DG Secretary of State for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure Francine Closener LSAP Secretary of State for the Economy Secretary of State for Internal Security Secretary of State for Defence Marc Hansen DP Secretary of State for Children and Youth Secretary of State for Higher Education and Research Secretary of State for Housing On 16 December 2015, Maggy Nagel resigned as Minister for Housing and Minister for Culture.[6] Xavier Bettel announced that he would take over as Minister for Culture, while Marc Hansen, hitherto a Secretary of State, would be made Minister for Housing.[6] ## References 1. De facto leader of the opposition as the leader of the largest opposition group in the Chamber of Deputes. 1. De facto leader of the opposition as the leader of the largest opposition group in the Chamber of Deputes. 1. ["Luxembourg PM Juncker offers government resignation"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23275318). *BBC News*. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2015. 1. Bumb, Christoph (4 December 2015). ["Zwei Jahre Blau-Rot-Grün: Von Macht, Reformen und Ernüchterung"](http://www.wort.lu/de/politik/zwei-jahre-blau-rot-gruen-von-macht-reformen-und-ernuechterung-5660d8fc0da165c55dc4ef84) (in German). *Luxemburger Wort*. Retrieved 20 December 2015. 1. [*Le gouvernement du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg*](https://web.archive.org/web/20160304074351/http://www.gouvernement.lu/3723750/SIP_Gouvernement_2013_FR.pdf). Service information et presse. 2014. ISBN 978-2-87999-247-1. Archived from [the original](http://www.gouvernement.lu/3723750/SIP_Gouvernement_2013_FR.pdf) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-12-20. 1. ["Luxemburg erhöht ab 1.1.2015 die Mehrwertsteuer"](http://www.business-on.de/saarlorlux/was-bedeutet-das-fuer-die-wirtschaft-luxemburg-erhoeht-ab-1-1-2015-die-mehrwertsteuer-_id18120.html) (in German). *business-on.de*. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2015. 1. ["Etienne Schneider: Priester-Gehälter nicht mehr vom Staat"](http://www.wort.lu/de/politik/kommt-die-kirchensteuer-nur-fuer-glaeubige-etienne-schneider-priester-gehaelter-nicht-mehr-vom-staat-54112bb9b9b3988708062f50) (in German). *Luxemburger Wort*. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2015. 1. ["Et le nouveau ministre de la culture est: Xavier Bettel"](https://www.wort.lu/fr/politique/apres-maggy-nagel-et-le-nouveau-ministre-de-la-culture-est-xavier-bettel-56715f030da165c55dc4fa59) (in French). *Luxemburger Wort*. 16 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2015. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bettel I Government](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bettel_I_Government) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bettel_I_Government?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.