Ahead of the European Parliament elections on Sunday 9 June 2024, Chronicle.lu has delved into the electoral programmes of Luxembourg’s political parties to highlight their priorities.
Below is a summary for each party in their order of appearance on the electoral list.
Mir d'Vollek (We the people) is a Luxembourgish political party founded in October 2021 in the context of anti-vaccine protests amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Luxembourg. The political party prioritises countering the dominance of international finance capital, which it believes has overtaken commercial and industrial capital since 2019. It argues that large asset managers hold disproportionate influence, threatening democratic principles and economic equality. The party criticises the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict as benefiting financial elites at the expense of the broader population. Its platform calls for immediate policy changes to reduce the influence of international finance capital, promote direct democracy with mechanisms for accountability and recall, facilitate accessible referendums and citizen initiatives and oppose “detrimental” sanctions and military alliances. The party sees itself as an opposition party.
Volt defines itself as a pan-European political party, under the slogan “Unite. Empower. Change.” in the Grand Duchy. Volt's priorities encompass several aspects aiming to strengthen the European Union, including making it more democratic while also asserting Europe's voice on the global stage and ensuring its security independence. The party emphasises transparency, fighting corruption and bolstering the economy through new fiscal measures. Additionally, Volt aims to promote peace, human rights and climate neutrality, positioning Europe as a leader in innovation, competitiveness and digitalisation. The party advocates for updating infrastructure, shifting to sustainable practices and ensuring that digitalisation benefits “all citizens”. Furthermore, Volt prioritises inclusive education, fighting discrimination, providing public services and safeguarding rights in the digital realm, alongside advocating for “fair and humane” asylum processes.
Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) priorities focus on the protection of workers' rights, ensuring fair wages and establishing secure employment. With the slogan “Our heart beats for Europe,” LSAP advocates for a strong and united Europe that prioritises social dialogue and worker representation in decision-making processes. Additionally, LSAP emphasises the importance of preparing for industrial revolutions, providing training and support for workers and combating working poverty. The party aims to strengthen public services, promote equal opportunities and achieve a better work-life balance. LSAP also prioritises environmental sustainability, gender equality and social justice, advocating for fair taxation, affordable housing and inclusive policies. Furthermore, it stresses the significance of democracy, human rights and international solidarity, calling for a strong EU presence on the global stage and responsible migration policies.
Fokus, with its slogan “Europe needs to deliver”, aims for majority decision-making in the EU, with no more veto possible and with direct election of the President of the European Commission. It aims for a “European Political Union” to be created immediately after the European elections – a union responsible for defence issues, in addition to a European Defence Community, and armies capable of defending the continent of Europe. Fokus argues that the Russia-Ukraine war is an affront to Europe itself and its humanitarian values and thus that “Europe must win this war”; additionally, Fokus calls for the international recognition of the state of Palestine. It also advocates “fair taxation”, the re-industrialisation of Europe and the continuation of the use of any emission-free energy-producing methods, including nuclear power, for the time being. Fokus emphasises the need for mutual recognition of educational qualifications and more free trade agreements. It also sees Europe as a “continent of migration”, and while it wants to crack down on illegal immigration, it aims to create information centres that enable “legal immigration” for those interested who do not have refugee status and who are not threatened or persecuted.
The Luxembourg Communist Party’s (KPL) aims to include the dissolution of the EU in its current form, creating a new structure of “regional cooperation” for all people on the European continent, together with other European communist parties. The party advocates for increased minimum wages, stronger labour protections and the reversal of privatisation measures. Additionally, the KPL opposes the militarisation of the EU and calls for a reduction in military spending, withdrawal from NATO activities and the establishment of a nuclear-weapon-free zone in Europe. The party emphasises the need for a humane approach to migration, addressing the root causes of displacement and advocating for solidarity with refugees. The KPL advocates for a Europe of peace and “social justice”, rejecting the current “neoliberal” trajectory of the EU and advocating for fundamental changes to prioritise the interests of working people, including support programmes for the construction of public rental housing and the introduction of the 35-hour week with full salary compensation, among other measures.
The Conservatives (déi Konservativ) do not have a formal electoral programme, but their core values are communicated through various media platforms. The party prioritises upholding Luxembourg's constitutional parliamentary monarchy, advocating for independence in political parties and media and emphasising Luxembourg's identity and citizenship granted only after integration. Socially, the party supports fair wages, unemployment benefits and minimum income, with a focus on pension justice. However, it opposes euthanasia and abortion rights. The Conservatives endorse a classic liberal market economy that reportedly “supports small businesses” and advocate for EU reform, emphasising national sovereignty and defence policy.
The Left’s (déi Lénk) priorities revolve around building a strong social Europe, dismantling what it calls “Fortress Europe”, addressing the failure of green capitalism and forming a united social framework for change. The party advocates for strengthening labour and social laws to prevent social dumping and ensure job security amidst an ecological transition. Additionally, it aims to combat the causes of involuntary migration, defend the right to asylum and repeal agreements that contribute to restrictive immigration policies. Criticising the shortcomings of green capitalism, the Left is calling for a transition towards an ecological and social economy, emphasising the need for climate policies based on social justice. It also emphasises the importance of leftist parties uniting to tackle pressing issues of inequality, environmental protection and social justice, advocating for an ecosocialist approach to governance. The party intends to move towards a progressive reduction in standard working hours at the European level to 32 hours per week without a change in remuneration. The party’s agenda includes a progressive economic, monetary and fiscal policy and a fundamental reform of EU treaties to enhance democracy. The Left advocates for open borders and the defence of asylum rights, emphasising the necessity of immigration and describing asylum as both an international obligation and a humanitarian necessity.
The Democratic Party (DP) has chosen the slogan “Europe – strengthening what protects us”. The party’s main priorities lie in a competitive and more “resilient” economy, including reindustrialising Europe and capitalising on a green economy, strengthening the health and medical industry. The party foresees sustainable investments in housing, mobility, energy transition and healthcare, starting major infrastructure projects such as new railway lines, hospitals and schools. The DP aims to expand public housing, support young homebuyers and simplify permitting processes. The party noted that it prioritises tax equity, family support and “increasing purchasing power”. It aims to propose flexible working models, enhanced parental leave and decentralised healthcare. Its energy policy focuses on affordable, sustainable energy through investment in renewable sources. To boost competitiveness, it stressed it would lower corporate taxes, support SMEs and aim to attract new talent. The DP also emphasises education, innovation and economic growth, adapting school programmes and investing in skills for the future.
The Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) has selected the slogan “For a strong Luxembourg in Europe”. Its main priorities lie in a heightened focus on Luxembourg and “its interests”. In this context, it wants to prioritise “traditional values”, rejecting “censorship” and any “impositions” and taxation on the type of engines or heating systems one should use in the Grand Duchy. It also wants to push for a higher importance of the Luxembourgish language, and to “end illegal immigration” by ensuring that “asylum seekers who do not have a right to it” leave the EU. Furthermore, the ADR emphasised it wants to maintain cash usage.
Zesummen - D'Bréck (together – the bridge) is a recently founded political party and political-cultural movement with a view to inclusive Luxembourg participation and cultural visibility. While no official electoral programme was available at the time this article was written, the party’s founder, David Foka, expressed a desire to improve the political situation in the country, advocating for a Europe-wide right to vote for foreigners and more participatory democracy in the process of election of the President of the European Commission.
The Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) calls for “a strong voice in Europe”, emphasising security through working together within the EU, focusing on a consolidated European integration. The party aims to maintain a high standard of living through economic competitiveness and innovation, ensure stability and confidence in the euro as well as support Luxembourg's financial centre. The CSV promotes sustainable agricultural production and food security, aims to improve transport systems for economic growth and mobility and enhance the transparency and understanding of European institutions. It also advocates for a more unified and transparent European foreign policy. The party emphasises the importance of better European regulation, the simplification of legislative processes and the practical application of the subsidiarity principle to ensure Europe remains effective and beneficial for its citizens. According to the CSV, European legislation should include more (directly applicable) regulations and fewer directives.
The Greens’ (déi Gréng) priorities lie in “saving the planet” by implementing the Paris Climate Agreement on a European level, pushing Europe to pioneer in renewable energy and energy saving shift, thus moving away from fossil fuels and phasing out nuclear power. The party aims to fight against air pollution, ensuring access to clean water. It also aims to implement a zero-waste movement (“refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and rot”) and combat plastic waste. It strives to “improve health protection measures” to include a cross-border component. The party advocates for “fair taxation”, ensuring corporations and the wealthy pay their share and support a European minimum tax rate. It also emphasised the values of a united and strong Europe, and stressed the importance of maintaining a unified community to ensure peace, security and prosperity, avoiding the re-establishment of national borders which would “hinder economic and social cohesion”. The Greens advocate for addressing poverty and marginalisation to prevent the rise of populism and nationalism, ensuring the EU works for “all its citizens, not just powerful lobbies”. The party stressed that, in its view, “the respect of the human rights of asylum seekers and Europe’s open borders are non-negotiable.”
The Pirate Party (Piraten) has announced various priorities, such as manufacturing independence within the EU, sustainable energy production and support for electric vehicles. It supports open access to ideas, advocating against monopolies on inventions to ensure broader access to innovations, particularly in healthcare. It also aims for fair tax policies and clear regulations concerning space activities. Furthermore, it supports the ethical treatment of animals, equitable economic policies and individual freedoms, alongside opposition to extreme ideologies and surveillance. The Pirate Party supports harm reduction in drug policy, refugee rights and peacebuilding efforts. Additionally, it prioritises road safety, environmental protection and European integration initiatives, aiming for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
Smartvote is a questionnaire available for free at the website https://2024.smartwielen.lu/en/matching/questionnaire that can help voters in Luxembourg assess which candidates and which political parties most closely match one's views. Candidates and parties first answer questions on a wide range of current policy issues for smartvote. Users then answer the same questions on the website and they receive a ranked list of candidates and parties that best align with their political profile.
