A recent survey by the polling and market research institute ILRES reveals that 75% of Luxembourg residents believe a pension reform is necessary, with strong support for increased contributions and supplementary schemes, though opinions remain divided on extending the retirement age.

The debate over the pension reform has been dominating headlines in Luxembourg for months. But what do the residents themselves think? According to a new survey conducted by the survey and market research institute ILRES, a clear majority – 75% – believe that the Grand Duchy needs to rethink its pension system.

As part of the same survey, voters were also asked how they would vote if elections were held this Sunday – offering a snapshot of the current political mood in the country.

In total, 1,841 people took part in the survey. The 1,399 respondents who answered "yes" to the need for reform were then asked four follow-up questions, the most divisive one being whether taxpayers should work longer.

The poll shows that 55% were against extending working life, while 40% supported the idea. The remaining 5% expressed no opinion.

Another proposed measure – raising pension contributions from 8 to 9% across all three social partners – was met with strong support: 72% agreed with the idea, compared to just 21% who opposed it. 6% declined to take a position.

Investing more heavily in supplementary pension schemes was also viewed favourably by respondents, with 76% expressing support. This aligns with growing concerns over the long-term imbalance of the current pension system.

Finally, when asked whether public and private pension schemes should be regulated under a unified framework, a large majority of the 1,399 respondents backed the idea: 59% were "strongly in favour" and 23% "somewhat in favour". Only 13% were opposed.

It's worth pointing out that in April, the IDEA Foundation presented four potential reform scenarios, calling for swift action. According to recent projections, the system is expected to fall into deficit as early as 2026, with Luxembourg's pension reserves potentially running dry by 2045.

The survey, carried out between 8 and 24 April, gathered responses from 1,841 eligible voters via telephone and online. Of the 1,147 phone interviews, 394 were conducted via landlines and 758 via mobile numbers. A further 689 interviews were completed online.

Full methodology and details are available on the website of the independent media authority: Alia.lu.