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Luxembourg PM Juncker to resign over spy scandal Luxembourg PM Juncker to resign over spy scandal
(35 minutes later)
Luxembourg will hold new elections after Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker announced he would resign following a secret service scandal.Luxembourg will hold new elections after Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker announced he would resign following a secret service scandal.
Mr Juncker, Europe's longest-serving leader, said he would step down on Wednesday, according to reports. Mr Juncker, Europe's longest-serving head of government, told parliament he would step down on Thursday.
The move came as his junior coalition partner called for the dissolution of parliament and early elections.The move came as his junior coalition partner called for the dissolution of parliament and early elections.
It follows claims he failed to stop illegal security agency activity such as phone-taps and corruption.It follows claims he failed to stop illegal security agency activity such as phone-taps and corruption.
Mr Juncker has been prime minister since 1995 and was head of the eurozone finance ministers group between 2005 and January 2013.Mr Juncker has been prime minister since 1995 and was head of the eurozone finance ministers group between 2005 and January 2013.
'Not my top priority''Not my top priority'
Luxembourg's parliament reviewed a report on Wednesday alleging a series of cases of misconduct by the country's SREL security agency, which the prime minister oversees. "I will convene the government tomorrow morning at 10:00 (08:00 GMT) and will go to the Palace to suggest snap elections to the Grand Duke," he said on Wednesday.
Luxembourg's parliament had reviewed a report alleging a series of cases of misconduct by the country's SREL security agency, which the prime minister oversees.
It included claims of illegal bugging of politicians, the purchase of cars for private use and payments in exchange for access to local officials.It included claims of illegal bugging of politicians, the purchase of cars for private use and payments in exchange for access to local officials.
"The intelligence service was not my top priority," Juncker told parliament in a two-hour speech. Mr Juncker has denied any wrongdoing.
"The intelligence service was not my top priority," he told parliament in a two-hour speech.
"Moreover, I hope Luxembourg will never have a prime minister who sees SREL as [his or her] priority.""Moreover, I hope Luxembourg will never have a prime minister who sees SREL as [his or her] priority."
But there were demands for action from the Luxembourg Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), Mr Juncker's coalition partner.But there were demands for action from the Luxembourg Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), Mr Juncker's coalition partner.
"We invite the prime minister to take full political responsibility in this context and ask the government to intervene with the head of state to clear the path for new elections," LSAP President Alex Bodry said."We invite the prime minister to take full political responsibility in this context and ask the government to intervene with the head of state to clear the path for new elections," LSAP President Alex Bodry said.
It was not immediately clear whether the outgoing prime minister was planning to fight the next election, which must be held within three months. It was not immediately clear whether the outgoing prime minister and head of Luxembourg's Christian Social People's Party was planning to fight the next election, which must be held within three months.
As the head of state, only the Grand Duke can officially dissolve parliament.
The current government would remain until elections take place, but it would be unable to pass any new laws.
However, with parliament due to go on its summer break, it is unlikely the government will have to face any important decision-making for some months.