After MP and Hesperange Mayor Marc Lies announced that he is taking a political hiatus, the question arises: how does the Chamber of Deputies manage such decisions?

Marc Lies, the mayor of Hesperange and president of the Chamber's Home Affairs commission, on Monday announced that he will be taking a break from his local and national mandates, and that he resigns from his position as president of the commission.

According to Laurent Scheeck, Secretary General of the Chamber of Deputies, the commission will now need to elect a new president. However, Lies will remain a member of the commission and could potentially be re-elected to the presidency.

As MP, taking a break from duties is permissible as long as it is formally justified in writing to the Chamber, Scheeck further explained. He noted that this practice is in fact not strictly regulated, as lawmakers are elected to a mandate rather than bound by an employment contract.

Within parliamentary commissions, MPs may designate substitutes to represent them. Scheeck further said that during plenary sessions, another MP may cast a vote on their behalf through a proxy, though this does not apply to votes requiring a two-thirds majority or to nominations, such as for the position of ombudsman.

An MP risks losing their mandate only if they miss more than half of the plenary sessions over two consecutive years, Scheeck noted, admitting that this situation has never occurred. Additionally, Scheeck announced that efforts are underway to adjust regulations, ensuring a distinction is made between MPs who neglect their duties and those who are absent due to illness.