Several MPs addressed the Chamber on the topic of racism on Wednesday.
CSV MP Paul Galles underlined that Luxembourg, with its multicultural society, must address this issue frankly. Care must be taken to ensure that parallel societies do not appear.
Sven Clement of the Pirate Party spoke of structural racism, which leads to inequalities in society.
However, the ADR party did not agree with their fellows. Fernand Kartheiser began his speech by saying that we were not racists and that he did not want to talk about structural racism in Luxembourg. Rather, he proposed leaving the choice to homeowners and business owners to select tenants or employees.
If this choice is based on skin colour, origin or religion, it is not an independent choice, but a choice against the law, replied Minister of Justice Sam Tanson. The legislation is very clearly active against racism.
MPs also made several proposals to combat racism on a daily basis.
The DP’s Max Hahn put forward a motion on the realisation of a study, which was unanimously approved. This study will gather concrete figures and statistical data on racism in Luxembourg, with the goal of combating the issue.
A second motion, this time proposed by Sven Clement, demanded a national action plan against racism. It was adopted by 56 votes for and four against. The ADR voted against this motion.
Hahn’s second resolution, which suggested voluntary training for MPs and the strengthening of the Centre for Equal Treatment, in order to be able to involve it more on equal opportunities issues, was also adopted by 56 votes for and 4 against.
