In a recent interview with RTL Radio, Mayor of Dudelange and MP of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), Dan Biancalana, delved into his party's opposition work.
There are also beggars in Dudelange, "but they are part of the cityscape, and we have no problem with them," said Mayor Dan Biancalana, who added that the municipality of Dudelange had actively removed all references to a begging ban from police regulations in 2023, a move which he characterised as "a political decision."
Biancalana acknowledged that there had been an uptick in begging in Dudelange during the autumn of 2022. In response, the municipality opted for a proactive and collaborative approach involving social workers, the local business association, and the police. Initiatives included information dissemination and awareness campaigns. Biancalana criticised that repressive measures, such as those observed in Luxembourg City, are naturally "more visible" than social measures.
New government displays "authoritarian traits"
Biancalana stated that the LSAP is ready for opposition work. He underscored the party's commitment to closely monitoring the government's activities and pledged to raise concerns when deemed necessary. According to Biancalana, the LSAP has traditionally served as a "guarantor of the social aspect" within the government's agenda, a role he believes is now compromised under the new government. He characterised the current government as economically liberal with some tendencies toward authoritarianism. According to Biancalana, the latter has been made "abundantly clear" in recent days, referring to recent controversies involving Minister for Home Affairs Léon Gloden and singer-songwriter Serge Tonnar over the begging ban. "Things like that do give you pause," Biancalana said.
According to Biancalana, Prime Minister Luc Frieden emphasised setting explicit fiscal accents within the private sector in the government statement. However, Frieden's approach to social policy remained notably "vague," as Biancalana did not hesitate to highlight.
Another fundamental difference between this government and the LSAP, according to Biancalana, is that under Frieden's leadership, social advancement in Luxembourg is envisioned through inheritance. In contrast, the LSAP advocates for social advancement through a multifaceted approach involving education, equal opportunities, employment, and housing, as outlined by the co-party president.
"I would like to continue"
Expressing his commitment to political leadership, Biancalana revealed his intention to run for the position of Co-Party President once again after the upcoming European elections. He expressed a willingness to continue working alongside Francine Closener, with whom he was elected as a duo two years ago. According to Biancalana, their joint efforts have contributed to the modernisation of the party, and he is eager to sustain and build upon this progress in the future.
