An opinion article by DP MP Gérard Schockmel denouncing modern feminism and opposing abortion rights triggered sharp criticism over the weekend, prompting his party to distance itself from his views.

An opinion piece published by doctor and Democratic Party (DP) MP Gérard Schockmel in the Luxemburger Wort sparked strong reactions over the weekend.

The elected representative had sharply criticised modern feminism, claiming it was driven by "deep hatred and intolerance". He also opposed including the right to abortion in Luxembourg's Constitution. However, DP party president Carole Hartmann clarified that her colleague's personal opinion is not a representation of the DP's official position on the matter.

On Monday, the relevant parliamentary committee gave the green light to add the freedom to terminate a pregnancy in the Constitution. The text was approved by a large majority with only Fred Keup of the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) voting against the change. MP Gérard Schockmel (DP), who is not part of the parliamentary committee expressed his strong opposition to the change in an opinion piece published on Saturday in the Luxemburger Wort.

In his article, the DP MP denounced what he described as a "ruthless ideology", which he believes dominates public debate and pits "half the population (women) against the other half (men)". He claims that this "feminism" contributes to polarising and radicalising society, threatening social cohesion.

Schockmel also refers to "systematic discrimination against men", the "forced promotion" of women to positions of responsibility, and a "feminist diktat".

On the issue of voluntary termination of pregnancy, he believes that abortion without penalty up to the 12th week, as currently provided for by law, would be "problematic" because it would deprive the embryo of its right to life. In his view, enshrining this provision in the Constitution would amount to exploiting the fundamental text for "symbolic political" purposes.

DP distances itself

The president of the DP, Carole Hartmann, responded to RTL by emphasising that Gérard Schockmel did not write this article on behalf of the party. She pointed out that there are differences of opinion within the DP and that individual freedom of expression must be respected. She added that the positions expressed in this opinion piece do not reflect the party's historical stance on abortion or feminism, but Schockmel's opinions were known and had already been discussed internally, she added.

Earlier this weekend, the DP Minister for Equality and Diversity, Yuriko Backes was "saddened" that such an article had been published in the year 2025.

And it didn't take long for others to react to Schockmel's opinion piece.

On social media, co-president of the Greens Stéphanie Empain expressed her outrage, while The Left MP Marc Baum stated that Schockmel's opinion piece shows "how far we still have to go before we can live in a truly egalitarian society".