RTL Today - Sunday interview with Pirate MP Ben Polidori: 'Wanting to get involved and act for the people'

Following a successful sports career and three years in politics, Ben Polidori has transitioned into the role of a Pirate Party MP, serving in the Chamber of Deputies for the past five months.

Born and raised in Differdange, the Pirate MP spent many years playing football in the southern region. Throughout his active sports career, the six-time U21 national player secured the championship title twice with F91 Differdange. However, his football shoes are now safely stowed away - Ben Polidori's current focus now lies on his family and on national politics.

For the past 5 months, the 34-year-old father has been serving as a member of the Pirate Party in the Chamber of Deputies. The former football player entered politics because, in recent years, things haven't always gone as planned for him. Instead of just complaining, Ben Polidori decided to "get involved in politics" - he wanted to make a change and with the Pirates, he found the party that best represents his values.

However, when he joined the party, he didn't expect to be "in the front line." His candidacies both in local and national elections demonstrated the trust people have in him.

Um Walowend an der Walzentral vun de Piraten. / © RTL Archiv

Education and family, the top political priorities

The first couple of days in the Chamber were "extremely interesting", according to Polidori. An MP's work is always different, and it is difficult to have an established picture of it. In his 5 months as an MP, Polidori learned that collaboration with other parties is immensely important.

"Ultimately, one works for the people, and it's crucial that, when another party brings forward a good idea, one supports it. However, one must also remain firm and not be swayed when they don't agree with an idea. An MP must have the courage to put forward their own proposals. Polidori's political priorities primarily focus on education and family, but as an IT professional, he is also keenly interested in digitisation. In fact, he is particularly interested in artificial intelligence as he sees significant advantages in this domain, albeit with some risks. "We must approach this topic with care. If we do this, then I believe we can can do very innovative and interesting things in the near future with it."

D'Piraten-Deputéiert an der Walzentral vun der Piratepartei. / © RTL Archiv

Polidori's goal for the next 5 years is "to listen to the people, understand their problems, and bring them into the Chamber for discussion."

As a Northern MP, he is clearly focused on the people from the northern part of the country. In order to be able to be there for his constituents, and focus on his current mandate, the Pirate decided against running for the European elections. He explains: "For me personally, it was important that the people who voted for me in October can be sure that they can fully count on me for the next 5 years." At the same time, his decision was also family-oriented.

"Bumpy start" for the new government

Polidori described the first month of the new CSV-DP government as "bumpy." On one hand, too many "small things" had happened, and on the other hand, many MPs had already painted an unfavorable picture. The begging ban, in particular, contributed to this overall perception; it wasn't a "healthy start" for the government. Indeed, this policy seems not to favor the socially vulnerable at all; it doesn't "help the people here in the country who need it the most."

Football and computer science have always been Polidori's passions. When asked whether he missed his previous job at the Post as IT specialist, he admitted, "Of course, I'd be lying if I said I never miss it." He had a great company and an excellent team, and his work was more than just a job. However, he consciously made the decision to fully dedicate himself to politics, and he's ready to embrace that choice.

Family life at the centre

Balancing family duties with political responsibilities is "not always easy." The absence of fixed working hours and the varied nature of each day pose challenges. In addition to parliamentary duties, there are meetings and conferences extending beyond regular hours. "You want to be available and engage with people. This often happens after working hours, and it's essential for me to strike a balance with my family life."

However, with the support of the right partner and a "healthy and effective collaboration," he finds it achievable. The MP, who used to "start work early" to be home sooner, now structures his time to be "more present in the morning." This enables him to share breakfast with his daughter, accompany her to school, and then head to work.

Apart from engaging in sports like running or hitting the gym, his wife and child play a significant role in providing him with alternative perspectives and helping him relieve stress.