ADR parliamentary group president Fred Keup emphasised in his speech that the party would be “ready to win the elections”. After the 2023 elections, the ADR secured five seats in the Chamber, thereby achieving its best result in years. The party leadership declares that this dynamic does not wear off.
The parliamentary group leader claims that the current CSV-DP coalition’s governing policies have kept the course of the previous three-party coalition of DP, LSAP and the Greens. From the ADR’s perspective, the government is continuing the left-wing policies of the previous coalition, causing politics to increasingly lose touch with voters.
The ADR presents itself as an alternative, emphasising values such as freedom, tradition, solidarity, family, and security. According to Fred Keup, citizens are suffering from numerous problems that are largely ignored, such as stress, traffic congestion, and the decline of the Luxembourgish language and culture.
Another key point at the congress was the cost of living. Especially, housing market prices were too high, declares Fred Keup. Many Luxembourgers are being forced to move abroad, a situation that weighs particularly heavily on young people. Current policy, he argued, is making this increasingly difficult for them.
The party also took a critical stance on the current discussion about a possible social media ban for young people. For the ADR, such a measure would be problematic. Social media is not a threat to democracy, but rather to those in power, asserts Fred Keup. ADR MEP Fernand Kartheiser expressed similar scepticism towards various initiatives from Brussels, claiming that in his experience the European Union is increasingly trying to restrict freedom of expression online.
The ADR also voiced some positive feedback for the CSV-DP government at the congress, at least on the topic of migration. Southern constituency MP Dan Hardy explained that he welcomes a stricter line from the government on this issue. He was referring to a statement by Family Minister Max Hahn, who said in an interview with the Luxemburger Wort: “We are pleased about every refugee who does not come to us.” According to the MP, an ADR politician would quickly have been framed as xenophobic for such a statement.
Hardy nonetheless emphasised that he calls for a tougher migration policy. The country’s overcrowded refugee facilities show that Luxembourg no longer has the capacity to take in around 2,000 asylum seekers every year.
In terms of foreign policy, Fernand Kartheiser once again advocated for seeking diplomatic solutions in Russia’s war against Ukraine. According to him, dialogue channels with all involved parties should always remain open, including with Russia and the United States. However, he did not share any details about his conversations with Russian Duma MPs.
Regarding internal organisation, the party highlighted its internal restructuring process. Over the past year, three new party structures were established, with which the ADR aims to better support new and existing members and strengthen the party organisation. According to the party leadership, this should also ensure that the ADR’s internal operations run efficiently, ahead of the next elections.
Tribute to Jeff Engelen
The congress closed with an emotional tribute to ADR politician Jeff Engelen. Delegates thanked him for his many years of dedication, with much applause and a standing ovation. Jeff Engelen has been a member of the ADR since 1989 and has stood as a candidate in chamber elections a total of eight times. As an MP, he championed the interests of the north of the country. For many party members, he remains one of the defining figures in the history of the ADR.
