Highlighting a noteworthy lapse, the Green Party criticizes the absence of a declaration from the municipal executive board (Schäfferot), nearly six months after the elections. This delay prompts the Green Party to accuse the majority in Kehlen of “flying blind.”
Larry Bonifas, the sole Green Party councillor in Kehlen, points out that the municipality is on the cusp of significant growth, especially with the Elmen project on the horizon. Bonifas remarks, “The municipality is practically running behind developments. There is substantial ongoing activity, including the construction of a large school, which we hope will materialise soon. Additionally, there are plans from the former and current majority to build a new sports hall with a swimming pool. Clearly, there is a lot in store for the municipality.”
Responding to the criticism, CSV Mayor Félix Eischen rejects the notion that the municipality is struggling to catch up to growth. Eischen states, “We are currently developing an infrastructure ready to accommodate 10,000 residents. While I don’t know when we will reach this population milestone, it certainly won’t take another 20 years. This reflects a long-term approach, as we anticipate the inevitable growth. The infrastructure we are constructing is ready to accommodate these future residents.”
Mayor Eischen provides insights into the delayed declaration of the executive board in Kehlen, explaining that the coalition, having already been in place for the past six years, opted for a deliberate pace due to their familiarity with each other. This sentiment is echoed by the first alderman Marc Bissen from LSAP, who underscores another key reason, stating, “Given our current financial situation, we must exercise caution in steering our direction. We are committed to avoiding a short-term approach, intending to align political declarations with developments in our financial figures and budget.”
While the Democratic Party (DP), the second opposition party, also expresses a desire for an earlier release of the executive board declaration, Councillor Patrick Krecké is more measured in his critique compared to the Green Party. Krecké notes, “Communication may not always be optimal, and in that regard, I agree with Mr Bonifas from the Green Party. However, characterising it as a complete blind flight might be a bit harsh.”
The CSV and LSAP have scheduled a meeting on Monday, 11 December, to approve the executive board declaration, with plans for its publication on the same day. Subsequently, the declaration is slated to be presented to the municipal council on 22 December.
In an interview with ‘Luxemburger Wort,’ Mayor Félix Eischen noted that the last executive board declaration, six years ago, was only presented in January. Larry Bonifas, responding to this, laughed and pointed out that the elections in 2017 were held in October.
