In six municipalities, not enough people ran for the municipal elections. How did this happen, and how do we then decide who becomes mayor and who becomes a lay assessor?

Bourscheid, Nommern, Stadtbredimus, Vichten, Winseler, and Weiler-la-Tour. These are the six municipalities with a majority system in which, as of now 19 April, we know that less people applied for a position on the local council than there are seats to fill. Therefore all of the people who applied will get a position with or without any votes. In this case how do we decide who gets to be mayor and who will be the aldermen?

In Stadtbredimus near the Moselle, Marco Albert is done with local politics. After 18 years as an alderman and as mayor, he wants to make way for fresh faces. He did however not anticipate that only one person from the current municipal council would re-run for the position.

"Of course it's surprising that so few people from the current council ran for a post. But on the other hand it's good to have nine new people who'll come in out of their own volition and will bring with them the needed motivation."

Nine people, not one more, not one less registered for the election. Now they get to decide amongst themselves who gets to be mayor, who will be aldermen and who'll be a municipal counselor.

Marco Albert explain that he's been in this situation before, but that one usually ends up finding a consensus. Should none be found, an internal vote will be held.

The current municipal council is now preparing briefings for the new council on the ongoing projects in Stadtbredimus and also Greiveldange.

In Weiler-la-Tour Vincent Reding wants to stay mayor. Six aldermen are also renewing their commitment. Three new members will join the council after 11 June.

Here too, the different positions within the council will be decided internally. Though Vincent Reding regrets this: "I would've liked if the citizens could've voted, I think it gives you the legitimacy to take on the office of mayor and have the responsibility of leading a commune."

But in Weiler-la-Tour it was difficult to even find people that want to take on this time-consuming responsibility.

"The law needs to be changed, so that more people can run for local offices and we don't get into situations like these in the first place. There are increasingly more careers that are incompatible with being involved in local politics and no one should candidate for a position they cannot take on."

Vincent Reding is convinced, the positions of mayor and alderman need to be considered a career of their own and compensated accordingly.

Video report in Luxembourgish