Local Elections Candidate Profile: Andrew Butler

Ahead of Luxembourg's municipal (local) elections on Sunday 11 June 2023, Chronicle.lu reached out to various candidates with links to the international community to learn about their involvement in local politics and their priority issues.

For the first time, all non-Luxembourgish residents over the age of eighteen could register to vote in this year's local elections, regardless of how long they have lived in the country. By the deadline of 17 April 2023, more than 50,000 foreign residents had registered to vote (about 20% of those eligible). Moreover, 379 out of 3,847 candidates are non-Luxembourgers; Luxembourg dual nationals are counted as Luxembourgers in this context.

The candidates interviewed in this series of articles are mainly non-Luxembourgers or dual nationals with an international background. Chronicle.lu thus had the opportunity to speak with Andrew Butler, who is standing as a CSV (Christian Social People's Party) candidate in Strassen.

Born in South Lincolnshire, England, Andrew Butler has been a resident of Luxembourg since October 2006. Before that, he had travelled to the Grand Duchy for work. He came to Luxembourg "for a new chapter in [his] life" as a self-employed person within a financial advisor company. He said he "felt at home right away" in Luxembourg, where he initally spent three months staying with a local expat family (the Edmondston-Lows) in Keispelt.

Chronicle.lu: Why did you get involved in local politics? And is this your first time running as a candidate?

Andrew Butler: In 2011, it all started when I participated in a TV advert for the CSV: "the man on the bike". Little did I know my orange polo shirt the right colour for the party I was promoting. After the advert, I joined the party as they did interesting mini-seminars about business procedures and taxation in Luxembourg. It became clear that I felt that the CSV was the right party for me. This is the second time [running]; 2017 was my first time, and at that time, I didn't have the Luxembourgish dual nationality.

Chronicle.lu: What are your party's major issues in your constituency?

Andrew Butler: As with all communes, affordable house is a problem. The CSV in Strassen has a plan of the tiny housing campaign, small accommodation units aimed at the younger age residents - sadly these things take time to get going. Also, as Strassen has 112 different nationalities - that can create a challenge to simply make sure Strassen can help integrate its residents. One thing for sure, Strassen offers a lot of activities for all ages to encourage integration.       

Chronicle.lu: What specific issues are you backing/promoting?

Andrew Butler: 100% integration, and equal chances for all. I am the president of the integration commission and a member of the "l’égalité des chances" [equal opportunities] commission.   

Chronicle.lu: Have you encountered any particular challenges as a  non-Luxembourger/dual national, for example regarding language?

Andrew Butler: Maybe understanding the language. I speak Luxembourgish, but as a non-native speaker, I have had to learn the language and I'm always learning! However, I have never felt as an outsider. At conferences, the people that I have met have been 100% supportive that I'm taking an serious interest in local politics.  

Chronicle.lu: Please tell us about your involvement in the international community in Luxembourg over the years.

Andrew Butler: The Edmondston-Low family helped me integrate. They introduced me to the English-speaking church, which lead me to become the Anglican Church Fair coordinator from 2007 to 2009. That really helped me meet local people, be it Luxembourgers or the wide expat community here. Between changing jobs here, in 2007, I was authorised as an English teacher, so I met a lot of non-natives. Then in 2008, I got my licence to become a local insurance agent, so I met a lot of new arrivals to Luxembourg who needed insurance and general advice. As an interesting hobby, I became involved in film production here, as an extra (including the job as a cycle mechanic in the film The Racer). [I was] also one of eight people in a documentary regarding life and relationships in 2013. Last but not least, as an active singer in three Luxembourg choirs, which are a mixture of native and non-native members. I think being an independent/self-employed person pushed me to get to meet and be involved in many areas of local life and now focusing that effort in the local commune, which I hope gives some value to others.