Following a non-binding referendum held on Sunday – in which 57% agreed to continue Nordstad merger negotiations and organise another referendum in 2027 – the municipal council of Bettendorf met for a public session on Wednesday evening to discuss next steps. Although the municipal council did not take any formal decision, it made clear its desire to pursue talks with the mayors of the other four municipalities negotiating the amalgamation, namely Diekirch, Ettelbruck, Erpeldange-sur-Sûre, and Schieren.
The public session was attended by 15 people, including representatives of the citizens’ action group that organised the non-binding referendum, whose representatives expressed their satisfaction with the discussion and the planned next steps for the negotiations. As Bettendorf seeks dialogue with the other municipalities, the main aim of the planned meeting is to gauge the possibility of including Bettendorf once again in amalgamation talks.
In a letter sent on Thursday to the Nordstad spokesperson, Claude Gleis, 2 April is proposed as a potential date for a working session. The letter also states the intention of writing a report that will be made available to the public concerning the discussions taking place during this encounter.
Wednesday’s council session can hardly be described as a true discussion, as only Mayor Patrick Mergen took the floor to address the referendum results. He voiced concerns over voter turnout, emphasising that 21,75% of residents – 375 people – did not participate in the referendum, indicating a high absence rate, he stated.
However, Mergen did not clarify whether this absence rate includes people who are exempted from voting, such as people older than 75.
Nevertheless, the referendum results had a clear impact on the municipal decision-makers, as a press release addressing Bettendorf residents indicated that municipal authorities will seek dialogue with the other four municipalities regarding the inclusion of Bettendorf in Nordstad merger negotiations.
According to the press release, members of the municipal council will be informed of the current state of affairs regarding these negotiations, who will then decide on the next steps.
