'We want people to feel they have a voice in politics'

Not only does the location of Clement's interview offer spectacular views across Luxembourg City, it also holds special sentimental value for the Pirates' lead candidate. The Dräi Eechelen (Three Acorns) park in Kirchberg, with its panoramic vistas, featured in Clement's wedding pictures. However, despite the glorious weather and fond memories, there's one thing on Clement's mind this summer - the national elections looming in October.

A party in transition

It has been ten years since the Pirates submitted a list of parliamentary candidates for the first time - five years later, the party successfully won two seats in the Chamber of Deputies. How much of the former "revolt" party is left in today's version of the Pirates? "We all look a bit older, there are a few more grey hairs," quips Clement. "But it hasn't changed our overall outlook. The Pirates are still a party seeking to challenge the status quo."

What has indeed changed in the past decade are the subjects of the party's focus. Where once it was data protection, now the party champions issues such as tax justice, housing and climate protection. This expansion explains itself through the party's natural growth, says Clement. "The more people you have, the more opinions there are. It's good for a party to gather all sorts of different topics under their hat."

The Pirates' presence in the Chamber means their MPs have to take a position on each bill. "When it comes to voting - yes, no, or abstaining - you need to have an opinion."

In 2018, the party drew up a full manifesto, which has since been refined ahead of this year's elections. It will be put to a vote on 31 August. But one thing is certain already - tax reform will form a key part of the Pirates' 2023 manifesto, with proposals to relieve tax on minimum wage, and extend further relief to mid-earners as well, supported by higher taxes for higher earners. "We're talking about people earning salaries exceeding €200,000 annually in taxable income," Clement explains. The party is also pushing for tax credits to offset rising interest rates.

Complete Interview with Sven Clement in Luxembourgish

What is the outlook for after the elections?

The Pirates have a clear goal for this year's vote: they want to obtain five seats in the Chamber, thereby giving them the factional strength required to make more change. "We'd be able to participate in determining the Chamber's agenda, which is a truly problematic system at the moment. In the Chamber, four parties - including the three government parties - decide what the agenda looks like. The remaining three parties are just observers. This isn't how we picture a democracy," Clement says.

The prospect of the Pirate Party securing a role in government post-election would seemingly necessitate collaboration with the Christian Social People's Party (CSV), the Democratic Party (DP), or the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP). Regarding the DP and LSAP, Clement finds alignment with the more moderate factions within these parties. Clement emphasised, "I'm not as radical as Dan Kersch, but I'm also not as economically liberal as certain DP elements." Similar considerations apply to the CSV, with Clement stating that while his party gets along with the CSV's social wing, "we have a few more problems with their more 'law-and-order' orientated wing, simply because they want to criminalise poverty and that is not our policy."

Promoting wider civic engagement

Sven Clement underscores the significance of citizen participation as a vital facet of democratic governance. The Pirate Party advocates for an inclusive policy framework that empowers people to contribute their opinions. Clement envisions incorporating citizen input through consultative avenues alongside the Chamber of Deputies. He points out that the current composition of the Chamber does not really mirror society, highlighting the need for broader representation. While acknowledging that the Chamber reflects full representation due to elections, he draws attention to the over-representation of certain demographics such as men and higher-age groups.

The Pirate Party already encourages citizens to interact with the Chamber of Deputies by posing questions and proposing initiatives via the party's website. But social media also play an important role in engaging with people outside parliament. According to the Pirate Party MP, social media offers a convenient and extensive channel to reach and listen to a wide array of citizens. Acknowledging the diversity of perspectives, Clement notes, "especially in times when purchasing power concerns many, politicians might perceive challenges differently. My own interactions in Luxembourg City might not reflect the outlook of business owners in Ettelbruck or Esch-sur-Alzette. It's important to get feedback from people you might not necessarily meet in everyday life."

© Christophe Nesser / RTL

"Global representation of Luxembourg is vital"

Clement places a particular emphasis on enhancing Luxembourg's international presence, a stance that has at times attracted critique. Notably, he participated in the Luxembourg Fest in Wisconsin last August, embarked on a controversial trip to Brazil alongside fellow politicians just ahead of municipal elections, and more recently undertook a business trip to Seattle during the summer. Are frequent long-haul trips justifiable in times of climate crisis? "Yes," says Clement. However, he admits that he can also understand the criticism.

Clement acknowledges, "the critique is entirely warranted. We are navigating a climate crisis, necessitating conscientious reduction of our ecological footprint. This conviction drives me to go beyond mere carbon offsetting by actively removing the CO2 produced during my flights from the atmosphere." Though this might be interpreted as a form of carbon indulgence, Clement stresses the paramount importance of upholding personal credibility.

Simultaneously, Clement contends that it's not enough to "post fancy videos." He highlights the significance of proactive engagement: "At the end of the day, every other nation is engaging globally, projecting its presence, and participating in discussions on international platforms. If Luxembourg is not there, then we don't take place, then Luxembourg doesn't exist on the world map. And the necessity of Luxembourg's recognition by other countries becomes evident through the repercussions we face."

Politics as a family activity

Sven Clement finds himself entrenched in political discourse not only throughout the workweek but also around the Sunday dining table with his family. Reflecting on his family background, he explains, "while my family wasn't aligned with a specific political party, we were always deeply engaged in political discussions. It was a household that prioritised discussions of the big social issues." The familial political involvement extends to both his mother, Sonja Barthel-Grainson, and father, Pascal Clement, both serving as local councillors for the Pirate Party in different municipalities - Luxembourg City and Dalheim, respectively. "Sometimes I wish I could just go to Sunday lunch and say 'let's talk about the latest film' or football results or Formula 1, but no. We mostly talk about different kinds of problems how to solve them. It's exhausting, but also very fulfilling."

As for his own family, Clement says: "You don't have time, you make time." He says it is important to him to get his little daughter ready every morning and drive her to the crèche. And yet Clement acknowledges that the demands of his political role occasionally curtail his desired time with his daughter:
"At the end of the day, politics is a vocation where you are not in control of your schedule." Despite these constraints, Clement aspires to influence policies that enable other parents to devote more time to their children, even if it entails personal sacrifices: "I am very happy that my wife always bridges the gaps I create, and that the whole family is standing behind my political pursuits."

Three questions for… Sven Clement