Frustrated by what they see as symbolic citizen engagement and lack of action on key issues like road safety and local commerce, the Luxembourg City Green Party is challenging the city's ruling coalition to deliver on its promises.
The Luxembourg City Green Party has expressed dissatisfaction with the local government's policies, particularly regarding road safety and commerce. Despite the majority coalition between the Democratic Party (DP) and the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) pledging to prioritise the development of the city's 24 neighbourhoods, the Green Party argues that little progress has been made.
They claim that citizen participation in these initiatives has been largely symbolic, and significant challenges persist. To address these concerns, the Green Party plans to gauge public opinion directly.
At a recent press meeting held at the church in Merl – a location chosen deliberately to illustrate poor neighbourhood design – local councillor François Benoy highlighted the shortcomings in the municipality's approach. He criticised the recent, costly reorganisation of the area, noting that it failed to improve traffic safety or create a space that fosters community interaction.
Benoy emphasised that traffic safety, particularly for cyclists, remains a major issue, and cites recent accidents on the city's bicycle network. Additionally, the Green Party believes the municipal executive board ("Schäfferot") has missed opportunities to stimulate local commerce. For instance, vacancies on Avenue de la Gare in the City are a growing concern. While the municipality conducts numerous analyses, the Green Party criticises the lack of follow-up action.
To address these issues, Green Party member Fabricio Costa proposed converting Avenue de la Gare into a pedestrian zone by rerouting buses via Rocade. Costa argued that this change would enhance the street's appeal, benefiting both the neighbourhood and local businesses.
The Green Party also suggests that the municipality should take a more active role in acquiring and leasing commercial properties to better support local commerce.
The DP and the CSV have organised "Aperi-tours," events designed to give local residents a platform to voice their concerns. While Green Party local councillor Linda Gaasch welcomes the initiative, she noted that there has been feedback suggesting these events are merely an alibi exercise, leaving many questions unanswered.
Gaasch raised concerns about how the proposals made during these tours are being considered by the municipality and questioned whether all residents' voices are truly being heard. She also called for a comprehensive report, written by an independent body, that would be compiled and published following these events.
The Green Party also lamented the apparent lack of focus on critical issues such as schools and mobility. In response, the party plans to launch its own online platform to facilitate citizen participation. Further details can be found on the Luxembourg City Green Party's website.
Full report by RTL Télé (in Luxembourgish)
