Housing, healthcare and purchasing power top public concerns, as trust in political parties declines among both Luxembourgers and international residents
The Polindex 2025 study examines the socio-economic climate, political attitudes, trust in institutions, the state of democracy and views on geopolitics among citizens.
When it comes to residents' concerns, material issues are at the forefront: both Luxembourgers and international residents see housing, healthcare, and maintaining purchasing power as the biggest challenges.
Among international residents, the economic aspect is even more prominent. Political scientist Philippe Poirier explains this by saying workers come to Luxembourg to improve their situation. Nearly 70 percent state that the current government is not capable of curbing housing inflation.
Notably, 35 percent of Luxembourgers do not consider any of the established parties capable of meeting these challenges. Among foreign residents, the figure is even 46 percent.
Widespread mistrust towards politics
Although 73% of Luxembourgers and 53% of foreign residents say they are interested in politics, there is at the same time a great mistrust, with both groups reporting over 50% dissastisfaction with the current political situation.
People generally desire more direct politics, for example through referendums (54%). At least 80% of respondents believe that democracy is the best political system. Among the causes of dissatisfaction with the system is above all the feeling that politics does not care about the concerns of ordinary people (67% of Luxembourgers), followed by a feeling of powerlessness and of being excluded from political life.
Among the most trusted institutions, the national health fund CNS ranks first for both groups, followed by the justice system and the army. At the bottom of the list are social networks, which three-quarters of respondents do not trust. So it would by no means be the case that we live in an era of absolute dominance of social media, explains Philippe Poirier.
Politically, Luxembourgers tend to be center-left, and foreign residents slightly more center-right.
Regarding the question of voting rights for foreigners, 40 percent of Luxembourgers are in favor, while 64 percent of foreign residents support it.
As a major political challenge, the Polindex 2025 identifies the need to reestablish a more direct link between politics and the people, and that further consultation measures would not be sufficient. In general, foreign residents are just as much a part of society as Luxembourgers, and the values of the two groups are increasingly converging. A society of economic abundance must evolve into one shaped by political decisions and a shared political language.
War in Ukraine and in Palestine
Respondents are in agreement on their concern about the economic consequences of the war in Ukraine, a concern that persists even after Donald Trump's election. Both groups also express concern about the strengthening of anti-democratic tendencies. On the positive side, people see Trump’s re-election as potentially marking the beginning of a peace process between Ukraine and Russia.
A majority of Luxembourgers and international residents also agree that the Grand Duchy should recognise a Palestinian state and increase its the defence budget.
