In an interview with RTL, Marc Goergen reflects on his political journey with the Pirate Party (Piratepartei), detailing internal tensions, his evolving relationship with co-founder Sven Clement, structural reforms within the party, and strong criticism of the government's approach to pensions and parliamentary politics.
Marc Goergen invited RTL to meet him at the skatepark in Pétange – a place where he used to spend a lot of time in his youth. He still appreciates the atmosphere today, describing it as a vibrant mix of sport and street art.
Although he once spent many hours at this park, Goergen never ended up pursuing skating. Instead, he ventured into politics, albeit unintentionally. He says he never made a conscious decision to become a professional politician and still doesn't fully identify as one. His political involvement, he explains, stemmed from a desire to change things he was dissatisfied with in Pétange.
Goergen recalls that around the age of 18 or 19, a local party approached him. At the time, he was unhappy with several issues in his neighbourhood, especially those affecting young people. He agreed to join their cause and gradually got involved. But, as he points out, the goal was never to build a political career.
His first taste of politics came in 2005, when he stood for the Democratic Party (DP) in the local elections in Pétange. It was a good experience, he says, but there was little political momentum within the local DP section. When the party left the local council in 2012, Goergen left too, and at that point, he thought his political chapter had closed.
However, that changed when he attended a data protection protest as an activist. It was there that he met members of the Pirate Party, who invited him to run in the elections in the southern constituency. He accepted, although he admits he had no idea how successful the Pirates would become.
A growing party and emerging tensions
The Pirate Party first contested the national elections in 2013, narrowly missing out on a seat in parliament. According to Goergen, the breakthrough came in 2018 when the Pirate Party won two seats in parliament, following success in the 2017 local elections. The party secured seats in Pétange – which helped demonstrate to voters that a vote for the Pirates wasn't wasted.
He believes the party's continued success, including a third seat in the 2023 parliamentary elections, can be attributed to the fact that, unlike many Pirate parties abroad, the Luxembourg section had avoided major internal conflict for a long time.
That changed, however, with the fallout from the MALT project case. The controversy triggered heated internal disputes, particularly between Goergen and party co-founder Sven Clement. Tensions arose over how the party should repay money owed to the National Reception Office (ONA) as a result of the MALT case.
Strained ties with Sven Clement
Goergen says he and Clement had enjoyed a strong working relationship until the MALT case erupted. He had joined the Pirate Party at Clement's personal invitation and says they had worked well together, even becoming friends outside of politics. That made the rupture all the more painful, he states.
Goergen admits he felt deeply disappointed and angry once the scandal surfaced. Both he and Clement, he reflects, probably said things in the heat of the moment that they wouldn't say today.
Despite the emotional impact of the conflict, Goergen acknowledges that it is possible to rebuild trust. He sees signs that Clement is moving in the right direction and acting differently – both in the party's leadership and in his parliamentary work – compared to before the scandal.
The two MPs have since established a professional rhythm and are able to work together, Georgen explains.
Looking ahead: The future of the Pirate Party
Goergen is open about the party’s internal struggles over the past year. The clash between himself and Clement wasn't the only one, as six elected representatives have left the Pirates during that time. That, he says, takes a toll.
He reflects that these were people he and others had helped build up and support over the years – trusted colleagues whose efforts contributed to the party's success. Losing them wasn't just a political loss but also a personal blow, and he admits it took time to process emotionally.
In response, the party has restructured, Georgen said. New statutes were introduced, and a five-member leadership team now guides the party, helping to move away from the image of a one-man operation, he noted. According to Georgen, these structural changes are already bearing fruit, with more members actively participating at local level.
Disillusionment with parliamentary politics
However, Goergen is critical of how politics works in the Chamber. What bothers him most, he says, is that decisions are too often made based on party lines and image management rather than good policy.
He explains that what frustrates him is seeing parliamentary work driven more by personal political marketing than by the actual needs of the public. Too often, he argues, political players are more focused on how they present themselves.
Harsh words for the government on pensions
Goergen also has strong criticisms for the government's handling of the pension reform. When the Pirates were invited to participate in reform discussions, he chose not to represent the party. He believed the government had already made up its mind and wouldn't seriously consider alternative input. Sadly, he says, that suspicion was confirmed, as the talks amounted to little.
Still, he recognises a positive shift in this government compared to the previous one: a greater awareness that money needs to be earned before it can be spent on social measures. The current focus on strengthening the economy, he says, is a good one.
That said, Goergen remains sceptical of the government's approach to pensions. He points out that while the government talks about strengthening the economy, some of its proposals, such as increasing the retirement age or warning of empty social security coffers, send the wrong message and show a lack of compassion. He believes this area still reflects poorly on the coalition and that it needs serious improvement.
He does agree with the general idea that resources must be earned before they can be distributed, especially in a country like Luxembourg, where redistribution is so crucial. However, he thinks the current government hasn't quite grasped the social reality for many residents.
In his view, the government's approach can feel emotionally disconnected. He suspects that because of mounting resistance from trade unions, the coalition will eventually be forced to soften or revise its approach to pension reform.
Staying the course
As for his own future, Goergen says he's committed to staying with the Pirate Party, provided it remains in its current form. He wants to stand again in the next parliamentary elections and defend his seat. Looking back on the past year, he says he's proud to have stayed on board during a turbulent time.
