(L-R) Xavier Bettel, head of the DP delegation; Luc Frieden, formateur; Claude Wiseler, head of the CSV delegation; Credit: © SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen

At a press conference on Monday 13 November 2023, Luc Frieden, the formateur of the next Luxembourg government, announced the conclusion of coalition talks between the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) and the Democratic Party (DP).

Luc Frieden noted that the talks were successfully finalised only five weeks after the start of this process - a process he described as “serious, intense, constructive and negotiated in a good atmosphere”. He expressed his satisfaction at both sides having listened to each others’ arguments and emphasised that the main goals of both delegations (CSV and DP) were similar, with only certain details requiring more discussion.

The details (texts) are expected to be finalised on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 November 2023, with the coalition agreement set to be signed on the morning of Thursday 16 November 2023. It will then need to be approved by the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg’s parliament).

Luc Frieden noted that the overarching goal was to prepare Luxembourg for the future, naming as a few main discussion points: increasing the population’s purchasing power, investing in housing, improving work-life balance for families and observing environmentally friendly politics, as well as ensuring security “without which none of the others would be possible”.

Luc Frieden pointed out that he could not quite imagine, at the beginning of this process, that such progress would be made in just five weeks. He described the process talks as having taken place in “great harmony”.

Xavier Bettel, head of the DP delegation and outgoing prime minister, agreed that the process had been fast: “I don’t know if we have ever had this in history”. He described it as “mission accomplished”, adding that only minor “finishing” touches are now required.

Claude Wiseler, head of the CSV delegation, expressed his gratitude for the way in which the two parties could work together in both a “human and factual manner”.

Among the few details revealed on Monday afternoon was the parties’ decision to limit the number of ministers in the new government to fifteen and that there will be no state secretaries. Another press update, offering more details, is scheduled to take place on Thursday.