On Saturday 3 October 2026, 39 of Luxembourg’s mayors and several former presidents of the Youth Parliament issued a statement in which they expressed their full support for the initiative put forward by the Executive Board of the Youth Parliament, which aims ultimately to introduce voting rights from the age of sixteen in municipal elections.
In their statement, the 39 mayors detailed their support for the introduction of optional voting rights from the age of sixteen in municipal elections in Luxembourg and noted: “The municipality is the level of government closest to citizens. Young people live there, play sports there, get involved in their communities and are directly affected by municipal decisions. It is therefore logical to give them the opportunity to participate, if they wish, in decisions that affect their daily lives and their future.”
They added: “We want this reform to be adopted and to apply from the next municipal elections in 2029. Young people aged sixteen and seventeen who wish to do so should be able to participate in these elections and make their voices heard in their municipality. Young people have already expressed their desire on several occasions to participate more actively in democratic life. It is now time to open this debate at national level in concrete terms and clarify the framework ahead of the next municipal elections.”
The mayors declared they are ready to take responsibility in this process and strengthen youth participation in our municipalities and called for a national debate to be opened this autumn on optional voting rights from the age of sixteen at municipal level and on the conditions necessary to enable young people to participate in our democracy in an informed manner.
“The next municipal elections should not simply be an electoral milestone. They can represent a new step in young people's participation in the life of their municipality.”
The statement was signed by:
• Mr Max Pesch — Bech
• Mr Thierry Lagoda — Beckerich
• Mr Joe Nilles — Berdorf
• Mr Youri De Smet — Bertrange
• Mr David Viaggi — Bissen
• Mr Marc Lentz — Biwer
• Mr Georges Keipes — Clervaux
• Ms Mandy Arendt — Colmar-Berg
• Mr Dali Zhu — Contern
• Mr Dan Biancalana — Dudelange
• Mr Claude Schmit — Ell
• Ms Mireille Welter — Esch-sur-Sûre
• Mr Fernand Mergen — Feulen
• Mr Roger Beissel — Frisange
• Ms Monique Hermes — Grevenmacher
• Mr Paul Engels — Groussbus-Wal
• Mr Ben Ries — Junglinster
• Mr Nadine Braconier — Käerjeng
• Mr Yves Kaiser — Kiischpelt
• Mr Mirko Martellini — Larochette
• Mr Marco Koeune — Lac de la Haute-Sûre
• Mr Tim Karius — Lenningen
• Mr Lou Linster — Leudelange
• Ms Marguy Kirsch-Hirtt — Lorentzweiler
• Mr Jérôme Laurent — Mertert
• Mr Mike Poiré — Mertzig
• Mr Steve Reckel — Mondorf-les-Bains
• Mr Fréd Ternes — Niederanven
• Ms Sophie Diderrich — Nommern
• Mr Carlo Muller — Reckange-sur-Mess
• Mr Tom Jungen — Roeser
• Mr Henri Haine — Rumelange
• Mr Claude Mousel — Sandweiler
• Ms Simone Asselborn-Bintz — Sanem
• Mr Michel Gloden — Schengen
• Mr Carlo Feiereisen — Schifflange
• Mr Claude Marson — Schuttrange
• Mr Sammy Wagner — Steinfort
• Ms Carole Gils — Tandel
This follows a similar statement issued by several former presidents of the Luxembourg Youth Parliament on Monday 7 September, in which they expressed their full support for the initiative put forward by the Executive Board of the Youth Parliament, which aims ultimately to introduce voting rights from the age of sixteen in municipal elections.
The group said this position is consistent with the Youth Parliament's previous positions in favour of lowering the voting age to sixteen, with the Youth Parliament having already expressed its support for this on several occasions, notably in resolutions adopted during the 2009/2010, 2012/2013, 2015/2016 and 2018/2019 sessions.
They remarked: “We are convinced that such a reform would constitute an important and necessary step towards a more inclusive and sustainable democracy. It would allow young people to participate in democratic life at an earlier age and make their voices heard on decisions that will shape their future. They should no longer be regarded as mere observers of political decisions, but as full participants.”
“We call on all political decision-makers, public institutions and civil society to support this democratic development. The time has come to approach this debate with ambition, responsibility and determination. We are convinced that Luxembourg now has an opportunity to take a strong political step by making the municipal level the starting point for earlier and more inclusive democratic participation,” added the group of formerpresidents of the Luxembourg Youth Parliament.
The statement was signed by:
• Julien Lemmer Veloso, President of the Youth Parliament, 18th session – 2026–2027
• Lana Despotovic, President of the Youth Parliament, 17th session – 2025–2026
• Niels Huberty, President of the Youth Parliament, 16th session – 2024–2025
• Sam Elsey, President of the Youth Parliament, 15th session – 2023–2024
• Iness Chakir, President of the Youth Parliament, 13th session – 2021–2022
• Hugo da Costa, President of the Youth Parliament, 12th session – 2020–2021
• Alec Hansen, President of the Youth Parliament, 11th session – 2019–2020
• Moritz Ruhstaller, President of the Youth Parliament, 10th session – 2018–2019
• Loris Laera, President of the Youth Parliament, 9th session – 2017–2018
• Amir Vesali, President of the Youth Parliament, 8th session – 2016–2017
• Elisha Winckel, President of the Youth Parliament, 6th and 7th sessions – 2014–2016
• Sammy Wagner, President of the Youth Parliament, 1st, 2nd and 3rd sessions – 2009–2012
The statement was sent to the Chamber of Deputies, the Institutions Committee, the Ministries of the Interior, Justice, State, and Education, Children and Youth, the press, the political parties represented in the Chamber of Deputies, SYVICOL and the National Youth Council (CGJL).
