The Vest

A video published by Minister of Home Affairs Leon Gloden and his ministry shows him on patrol with police officers in Luxembourg City's Gare district. He is accompanied by Luxembourg City mayor Lydie Polfer and local police. Observers quickly noticed something: the minister appeared to be wearing a bulletproof vest.[1]

The Gare district has long been a focus for law enforcement, with a visible police presence aimed at tackling crime and drug trafficking. During an RTL interview on June 9, 2026, Gloden stated that recent statistics confirm significant change in the district.[1]

Social media users were quick to point out an apparent contradiction: while politicians frequently assert that the Gare district is safe, the minister's decision to don a bulletproof vest for his patrol suggested otherwise.[1]

Confirmed

The Ministry for Home Affairs confirmed to RTL that Minister Gloden was indeed wearing a bulletproof vest during the visit. "The Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Gloden, accompanied the police on a visit to the Gare district under real conditions. This included wearing a bulletproof vest," the ministry explained.[1]

According to the ministry, the vest was worn as a preventative measure following a police recommendation. "This recommendation applies to all participants during a patrol," the statement continued.[1]

No Cameras

Some critics alleged that Gloden had worn the vest specifically for the benefit of RTL's cameras. However, RTL confirmed that no journalists, photographers, or camera crews from RTL attended the patrol. The ministry also stated that no other media outlets were present. The video was published by the minister and the ministry themselves, on their own Instagram accounts.[1]

So the vest was not for the cameras. It was for the Gare district. The police recommendation that all participants wear one tells its own story about what "real conditions" in the area look like, regardless of what politicians say about safety when the cameras are off and the vests are on.[1]