Michel Lemaire on politics, free speech, and the future of northern Luxembourg

Reflecting on the political scene more broadly, Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) MP Lemaire criticised a growing trend of personal ambition in politics. He remarked that some individuals seem to treat political parties like interchangeable socks, choosing them not based on conviction but as a way to advance their own careers. He even suggested that narcissism had become a problem in political circles. Recalling his own entry into the ADR in 2015–16, he noted that he had joined the party during a difficult period, driven by commitment rather than self-interest.

One of Lemaire's core political concerns is freedom of speech. He expressed alarm over the potential consequences of the European Union's Digital Services Act, arguing that it could impose excessively harsh penalties for spreading so-called false information. He raised concerns about "trusted flaggers", organisations that, in his view, may be too closely aligned with government interests and might gain disproportionate control over online content. While he acknowledged that certain statements are clearly false, he argued that more complex issues, like the origin of Covid-19, remain open to debate and should not be censored.

That said, Lemaire did recognise some positive elements of the Digital Services Act, including its measures to combat child exploitation online. He also agreed that foreign powers like Russia should not be allowed to meddle in European democratic systems. In his view, the role of politics is not to police opinions, and he emphasised that the ADR does not seek to silence anyone's views.

Regarding the recent scandals by MEP Fernand Kartheiser from the ADR, Lemaire stated that Kartheiser is not only engaging in dialogue with Russian representatives, but that he also regularly speaks with Ukrainian counterparts.

According to Lemaire, Kartheiser holds difficult conversations with Russian officials, during which he defends the rights of minorities, but he also actively seeks dialogue with Ukrainian delegations present at the European Parliament. Lemaire insisted that these two engagements are not contradictory and confirmed that Kartheiser had agreed with him that ADR MP Tom Weidig's visit to Ukraine was a positive initiative.

Regarding the controversy surrounding Roby Mehlen's departure from the ADR, triggered by Kartheiser's visits to Russia, Lemaire distanced himself from Mehlen's accusations. Mehlen had claimed that Kartheiser was pandering to pro-Russian audiences, but Lemaire disagreed with this characterisation, stating that Mehlen was entirely within his rights to leave the party, and adding that their personal relationship remained amicable.

Although currently serving as a councillor in Clervaux, Lemaire dismissed any interest in becoming mayor, quipping that "Lemaire will never be le maire". He explained that such a role requires a very different profile and does not appeal to him personally.

Instead, he intends to focus his efforts in parliament on representing the northern region of Luxembourg, which he believes suffers from notable deficits in infrastructure. He pointed to areas like healthcare and transport, highlighting that these shortcomings are not just a matter of funding but also result from structural issues. He strongly supported the idea of establishing a university hospital in the region to offer full medical degrees and proposed increased support for doctors wishing to set up practices in the north.

Listen to the interview here (in Luxembourgish):