(L-R) Xavier Bettel (DP); Luc Frieden, formateur; Claude Wiseler (CSV);
Credit: Jazmin Campbell / Chronicle.lu
Coalition talks between the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) and the Democratic Party (DP), led by formateur Luc Frieden, continued on Friday 20 October 2023 at Château de Senningen.
Speaking to the press at the end of the day, Luc Frieden, formateur of the next Luxembourg Government, accompanied by Xavier Bettel, head of the DP delegation, and Claude Wiseler, head of the CSV delegation, described Friday's talks and the general atmosphere as "work-intensive" and "constructive".
Mr Frieden noted that there were "no fundamental divergences", although the current focus is listening to the different arguments and approaches before getting down to negotiating and trying to bring the two parties' manifestoes together to form a programme of government. He added that the twelve thematic working groups (composition detailed below), which have a leader and delegation from both parties, will put together a working paper to be discussed from 6 to 8 November 2023.
Luc Frieden concluded that after ten days of discussions, he was "extremely optimistic" about these "excellent" talks which seem to be headed "in the right direction". He recalled that his role as formateur is to remain neutral and ultimately "build the bridge" between the two sides.
Both outgoing Prime Minister Xavier Bettel (DP) and Claude Wiseler (CSV) confirmed the "constructive" nature of the talks to date. The former thanked his colleagues for their "collegiality" and the latter, in addition to also giving his thanks, said he "share[d] their optimism".
In their questions, members of the press tried to obtain more specific details about what was actually being discussed (policy priorities, ministerial roles, etc.), although for the most part they were reminded that the "real" negotiations and political decisions are reserved for a second stage. For now, the focus is on the different issues and approaches being discussed in the working groups.
In response to a question from Chronicle.lu, about whether the next government is set to be more "pro-business" (i.e. implementing more favourable measures for businesses, investment, jobs, etc.), as some professional chambers and members of the international business community have suggested recently, Luc Frieden emphasised the importance being placed in talks on both a "strong economy" and a "strong social state". He reiterated that the various subjects were not being discussed in isolation - rather, the task was to bring these topics together, althought it was "obvious that good jobs and therefore a well performing economy are important for the future of Luxembourg". He mentioned the working group dedicated to the economy and labour, noting that "labour law and various sectors of the economy need the full support of the next government" and that he felt progress was being made on such issues, which are "very important for the local community but also for [...] investors in this country."
Regarding the twelve thematic working groups, Luc Frieden noted that each group had its "own challenges" but some of the main priority areas for the future were the economy, social issues, security and climate policy.
Composition of working groups
1. Fight against poverty
CSV delegation: Stéphanie Weydert; Paul Galles; Marc Spautz; Christian Weis; Maurice Bauer; Ricardo Marques; Julie Schmitz (secretariat)
DP delegation: Max Hahn; Corinne Cahen; Claude Lamberty; Gilles Baum; Lynn Strasser / Yolande Kirsch (secretariat)
2. Housing (including the acceleration of procedures)
CSV delegation: Alex Donnersbach; Marc Lies; Kim Felten; Sylvie Hansen; Elisabeth Margue; Marc Reiter (secretariat)
DP delegation: Lydie Polfer; Max Hahn; Barbara Agostino; Lex Delles; Patrick Goldschmit; Yan Sales (secretariat)
3. Environment, climate, biodiversity and renewable energy (including procedures)
CSV delegation: Christophe Hansen; Alex Donnersbach; Jeff Boonen; Steff Schaeler; Laurent Braun; Martine Hansen; Luc Zwank; Paul Galles; Guy Breden; Maxime Bernard (secretariat)
DP delegation: Gusty Graas; Luc Emering; Jean-Paul Lickes; Max Hahn; Marc Hansen; Yan Sales (secretariat)
4. Public finance and taxation
CSV delegation: Gilles Roth; Diane Adehm; Serge Hoffmann; Tom Kerschenmeyer; Claude Wiseler; Laurent Mosar; Jean-Claude Neu (secretariat)
DP delegation: Yuriko Backes; Patrick Goldschmit; Myriam Feyder; André Bauler; Claude Meisch; Loris Meyer (secretariat)
5. Health (including social security)
CSV delegation (health): Max Hengel; Dr Cyril Thix; Claude Wiseler; Dr Paul Wirtgen; Dr Emilie Costantini; Dani Schumacher (secretariat)
CSV delegation (social security): Max Hengel; Martine Deprez; Marc Spautz; Alain de Bourcy; Claude Wiseler; Dani Schumacher (secretariat)
DP delegation (health and social security): Carole Hartmann; Philippe Wilmes; Stephanie Obertin; Dr Gérard Schockmel; Sheila Schmit; Anne Glesener (secretariat)
6. Justice and security
CSV delegation: Léon Gloden; Gilles Roth; Vincent Reding; Laurent Mosar; Elisabeth Margue; Charles Weiler; Jenny Thines (secretariat)
DP delegation: Lydie Polfer; Guy Arendt (justice); Carole Hartmann; Simone Beissel; Maximilien Lehnen; Claude Lamberty (security); Christine Fixmer (secretariat)
7. Education (including research, higher education, vocational training and non-formal education)
CSV delegation (pre- and primary schools): Martine Hansen; Max Hengel; Bob Kirsch; Marc Ury; Albers Gérard; Claude Feyereisen (secretariat)
CSV delegation (secondary schools and professional training): Martine Hansen; Jeff Kohnen; Mélanie Grün; Anne Logelin; Jules Bonert; Claude Feyereisen (secretariat)
CSV delegation (universities): Martine Hansen; Octavie Modert; Claude Feyereisen (secretariat)
DP delegation (all areas): Claude Meisch; Gilles Baum; Claude Lamberty; Barbara Agostino; Mandy Minella; Lynn Strasser / Yolande Kirsch (secretariat).
8. Economy and labour (work-family life balance)
CSV delegation (economy): Elisabeth Margue; Laurent Mosar; Stéphanie Weydert; Léon Gloden; Felix Eischen; Thierry Schuman; Marc Spautz (including work aspect); Henri Wagener (secretariat)
CSV delegation (tourism): Elisabeth Margue; Max Hengel; Felix Thill; Henri Wagener (secretariat)
CSV delegation (agriculture and viticulture): Martine Hansen; Octavie Modert; Jeff Boonen; Guy Tempels; Dani Schumacher (secretariat)
CSV delegation (energy): Elisabeth Margue; Jeff Boonen; Christophe Hansen; Henri Wagener (secretariat)
DP delegation (economy): Lex Delles; Carole Hartmann; Myriam Feyder; Anne Kaiffer; Eric Thill (secretariat)
DP delegation (agriculture and viticulture): Lex Delles; Luc Deering; Fernand Etgen; Marco Koeune; Yan Sales (secretariat)
DP delegation (work): Lex Delles; Corinne Cahen; Carole Hartmann; Maximilien Lehnen; Anne Glesener (secretariat)
DP delegation (financial centre): Lex Delles; Yuriko Backes; Jeffrey Drui; Loris Meyer (secretariat)
9. Europe (including defence, cooperation, the Greater Region and international relations)
CSV delegation: Claude Wiseler; Isabel Wiseler-Lima; Martine Kemp; Christophe Hansen; Georges Bley; Ady Richard (secretariat)
DP delegation: Xavier Bettel; Yuriko Backes; Gusty Graas; Charles Goerens; Lydie Polfer; Pitt Sietzen (secretariat)
10. Reception and migration
CSV delegation: Claude Wiseler: Marc Spautz; Christian Weis; Maurice Bauer; Emile Eicher; Dani Schumacher (secretariat)
DP delegation: Corinne Cahen; Claude Meisch; Charles Goerens; Christine Fixmer (secretariat)
11. Organisation of "living together" and wellbeing
CSV delegation (mobility, spatial planning and municipalities): Serge Wilmes; Charles Hurt; Martine Kemp; Marcel Hector; Jean-Paul Schaaf; Jenny Thines and Jempi Hoffmann (secretariat)
CSV delegation (equal opportunities, youth, family, the elderly, special needs): Serge Wilmes; Nathalie Morgenthaler; Nancy Kemp-Arendt; Ricardo Marques; Stéphanie Weydert; Maryse Fisch; Jenny Thines and Jempi Hoffmann (secretariat)
CSV delegation (sports and volunteering): Serge Wilmes; Georges Mischo; Charel Stelmes; Danira Mustafic; Lynn Frank; Jenny Thines and Jempi Hoffmann (secretariat)
CSV delegation (culture and volunteering): Serge Wilmes; Octavie Modert; Viviane Reding; Jenny Thines and Jempi Hoffmann (secretariat)
DP delegation (family, volunteering, equal opportunities, special needs, the elderly): Max Hahn; Corinne Cahen; Claude Lamberty; Katrin Kohl; Anne Glesener (secretariat)
DP delegation (mobility): Max Hahn; Patrick Goldschmidt; Katrin Kohl; Lou Linster; Anne Glesener (secretariat)
DP delegation (culture): Max Hahn; André Bauler; Nancy Braun; Sylvia Camarda; Marc Meyers; Anne Glesener (secretariat)
DP delegation (sports): Max Hahn; Raphaël Stacchiotti; Mandy Minella; Claude Lamberty; Anne Glesener (secretariat)
12. Modern state (including digitalisation, media, the civil service, municipalities and infrastructure)
CSV delegation (municipalities): Georges Mischo; Laurent Zeimet; Emile Eicher; Stéphanie Weydert; Guy Breden; Claude Frieseisen; Ady Richard (secretariat)
CSV delegation (civil service): Georges Mischo; Gilles Roth; Diane Adehm (also for media); Claude Frieseisen; Ady Richard (secretariat)
CSV delegation (digitalisation): Georges Mischo; Guy Breden; Viviane Reding; Claude Frieseisen; Ady Richard (secretariat)
DP delegation: Marc Hansen; Michael Agostini; Martine Dieschburg; Myriam Feyder; Ben Ries; Lex Delles (municipalities); Claude Lamberty (municipalities); Lydie Polfer (municipalities); Eric Thill (secretariat).
