‘Only two pages’ of Luxembourg PM’s university thesis were not plagiarised

‘Only two pages’ of Luxembourg PM’s university thesis were not plagiarised

Xavier Bettel admits dissertation ‘should have been done differently’ after investigation uncovers plagiarism

After charges that he plagiarized large sections of his undergraduate thesis, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel confessed on Wednesday that he should have done "differently."

The liberal politician, who has been in office for eight years, allegedly plagiarized "three quarters" of his 1999 thesis from France's University of Nancy, according to local news source reporter.lu.

In a statement, Bettel, 48, said the thesis was written "almost 20 years ago" and that he "authored this work with a clean conscience."

Today, I recognize that I might have - and possibly should have - done things differently, Bettel said.

He stated that it was up to the institution to assess whether or not the work matched its requirements, and that he would "naturally accept its judgment."

The plagiarism scandal is the latest to slam a high-profile European politician, and similar claims have caused many ministers in neighboring Germany to leave.

Franziska Giffey, a German family minister, was the most recent victim, stepping down in May this year amid allegations that she plagiarized her PhD thesis.

Bettel's 56-page thesis on European Parliament election changes, according to Reporter.lu, contains unattributed parts from two books, four websites, and a press piece.

The controversy has dominated internet media headlines in the 600,000-strong Grand Duchy, although the opposition has so far been silent on the matter.