Adehm praised her predecessor Marc Lies as a “dream municipal father” who initiated major infrastructure projects and leaves behind a debt-free municipality. “Many would dream of that”, she said. However, she also acknowledged that Lies’ sometimes hasty decisions caused unrest and overshadowed achievements.
Hesperange has seen its share of negative headlines over the past two years. Two municipal officials were found to have embezzled millions in public funds over a span of two decades. In 2024, the attempted appointment of a family member to a public post sparked outrage before it was reversed. And earlier this year, an official was caught falsifying working hours over several years.
Despite the string of scandals, Adehm insisted the municipality acted transparently each time. “We didn’t lift the famous carpet and sweep things under it. We chose to uncover the full story, as best as we could”, she said.
She pointed out that the embezzlement began long before Marc Lies became mayor and that once he took over as finance minister, controls were tightened and only minor sums were siphoned off. On the family member nomination, Adehm clarified the reversal came after it was found the candidate lacked the required qualifications under the ministry’s criteria.
The political climate in the Hesperange municipal council has also been tense. A leaked email from the local CSV section drew criticism after Marc Lies referred to a Green party councillor, Stephen de Ron, as a “calf.” While the origin of the leak is still unknown, Adehm downplayed the incident, noting that Lies had even added in the email that it could be forwarded, suggesting no malicious intent.
She reiterated her openness to dialogue and said her door remains open to the opposition. “At the municipal level, communication is crucial”, she said.
The discussion also touched on the growing workload for local leaders. In recent years, mayors in Weiler-la-Tour, Bertrange, Weiswampach, and now Hesperange have stepped down, often citing health and workload issues.
In larger communes like Hesperange staffing levels are better, but in smaller ones the burden is becoming unmanageable, Adehm warned. Mayors in communes with over 10,000 residents receive 40 hours of political leave, but even that may not be enough.
Asked whether the system of dual mandates (serving as both deputy and mayor) should be abolished, Adehm said her party, the CSV, is open to discussion. But she also called for solutions that still allow mayors to be heard at national level – possibly through a dedicated “Chamber of Elected Officials.” Local politics, she stressed, plays a crucial role in shaping national policy.
