© Sam Bouchon
With approximately 285,000 eligible voters poised to make their choice, the question of who will guide the nation's political course for the next five years and which parties will forge coalitions looms large.
On the eve of Election Sunday, the lead candidates representing the seven parties currently holding seats in the Chamber of Deputies convened for a final roundtable debate, hosted by our colleagues from RTL Radio. During this heated discussion, the stark disparities in their stances on pivotal election topics came to the forefront.
Economy and business competitiveness
Luc Frieden, representing the Christian Social People's Party (CSV), levelled criticism at the incumbent government, contending that their efforts in addressing housing, the economy, and security were inadequate.
Should the CSV obtain a favourable result on Sunday, they insist on being part of future government negotiations.
Frieden also asserted that overall business competitiveness had waned, suggesting that while the government had "not done everything wrong," more action was needed to attract new businesses to Luxembourg.
Sam Tanson, the lead candidate for the Green Party (déi gréng), rebuffed allegations that the government had failed to establish clear criteria for businesses to operate in Luxembourg. Tanson, who serves as the current Minister of Justice and Culture, stressed that the presence of the Green Party was crucial for advancing climate and sustainability policies.
Reduction in working hours
Poverty emerged as another contentious issue, with Sven Clement of the Pirate Party highlighting a significant surge in recent years, which he attributed partly to prior government leadership. Marc Baum, representing the Left Party (déi Lénk), expressed regret that the incumbent government had not explored reductions in working hours.
Tanson responded by stressing the need for sector-specific discussions.
Fernand Kartheiser, representing the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (adr), argued that a reduction in working hours would necessitate a larger workforce, stating that "this is now way to conduct economic policy." His criticism was in part also directed at the Green Party's lead candidate.
Furthermore, the co-lead candidate of the adr in the southern constituency contended that his party represents a "moderate conservatism" with "significant voter potential." Kartheiser stressed that the adr "doesn't want to be excluded as a party, it wants to be treated fairly."
'No regrets' and 'zen' ahead of Election Sunday
Paulette Lenert, the lead candidate of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), has no regrets regarding her choice to stand as a candidate in the East constituency and hopes for a result on Sunday that aligns with her party's commitment to social justice. The LSAP supports the gradual implementation of a 38-hour workweek and Lenert advocated for the abolition of dual mandates and the consolidation of the current four constituencies into a single national constituency.
Incumbent Prime Minister and lead candidate of the Democratic Party (DP), Xavier Bettel, acknowledges the substantial challenges facing Luxembourg. He aspires to lead a government that can effectively address these challenges but refrained from making any coalition commitments, describing his attitude ahead of Election Sunday as "zen."
Marc Baum emphasised the Left Party's role as a "strong dissident voice" in the Chamber of Deputies, advocating for social progress. Baum stated that voters choosing the Left Party "have everything to gain." The Left Party's vision for 2030 includes implementing a 32-hour workweek with full wage compensation and increasing the top tax rate from 42% to 50%.
