The Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP), led by Petitions Committee president Francine Closener, abstained from the vote. The LSAP had proposed setting the quorum at 0.6% of the total number of residents and cross-border workers. Speaking to our colleagues from RTL.lu, Closener emphasised the need for a sustainable approach, highlighting that the current pace of 28 public debates in two years is unsustainable. The LSAP aims to safeguard the integrity of public debate, hence the proposal for a new threshold.
The new rules, subject to a vote at the next committee meeting, include measures to deter frivolous submissions. Petitioners failing to attend a scheduled debate without valid reasons will be barred from submitting new petitions for two years. Additionally, ministers will be required to propose a debate date within four months of petition approval.
While the majority coalition supports the change, opposition parties expressed reservations, preferring to retain the existing 4,500-signature requirement.
