Luxembourg: Political development and data for 2017

Abstract

After one year of interruption that followed three years of elections and referendum, Luxembourgish voters were again invited to the polls, this time to select their local representatives. The local elections confirmed the positive trend of the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV), continued losses for Luxembourg’s Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) and a stabilization of the other parties. While the issue of identity and language was not at the centre of the local campaign, fears concerning the loss of language and identity due to economic and population growth (essentially from resident foreigners and commuters) continued to haunt political debates throughout the year. These fears were fuelled by the new movement Wee 2050-Nee 2015 that supports the protection of the Luxembourgish language and identity, and the controversies surrounding the new nationality law that simplifies the access to the Luxembourgish nationality, the introduction of a bilingual education (French and Luxembourgish) in nurseries, and the governmental action plan to promote the Luxembourgish language. Finally, 2017 was marked by the adoption of the long-awaited reform of the Council of State and important social reforms. Show more