Former President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker testified on Wednesday in a case of illegal eavesdropping which cost him his post as Prime Minister of Luxembourg in 2013.
The 12th correctional chamber of the Grand Duchy has been judge since Tuesday three former agents of the Intelligence Service of the Luxembourg State (SREL) accused of having set up illegal tapping in 2007. One of the defendants Marco Mille, head of the SREL of 2003 to 2010, maintains that Jean-Claude Juncker (65 years old) gave his agreement for these tapping.
The testimony of the former Prime Minister was eagerly awaited. Jean-Claude Juncker arrived at the court with his bodyguards and after taking the oath, he denied it. "I think I would have remembered allowing such listening," he said. He had already denied having given his approval to these wiretaps during his hearing in 2013 before the parliamentary commission of inquiry on the dysfunctions of the Intelligence service.
The committee concluded, however, that Mr. Juncker's political responsibility was engaged. Denied by his socialist allies who had withdrawn their support, Jean-Claude Juncker had to call early legislative elections which his party, CSV, had lost.
The former prime minister was elected a year later as president of the European Commission.