Although the centralised state’s deficit only came out to €99 million, they need to remain cautious, asserts the Minister of Finance, Gilles Roth. The President of Luxembourg’s Independent Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) argued that they needed to distribute their funds better.
In conversation with RTL.lu on Friday morning, the Green Party deputy Sam Tanson stated: “for us, it is more of a mixture of both positions”.
The deputy expressed her appreciation for several measures the government put in place, such as the social support system and tax reliefs. However, that is not enough. MP Sam Tanson criticises the “undifferentiated” approach of the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) and the Democratic Party (DP), who were distributing money like pouring water from a watering can – as she put it. It has been clear since the elections, that the current politics are occurring within a “complicated environment”.
A key concern for the Green Party is the growing allocation of funds toward strengthening national defense, which inevitably diverts resources from other crucial investments. The deputy has already observed stagnation in this area and fears further delays in addressing pressing infrastructural needs. To support increased spending and promote social justice, Sam Tanson advocates for the implementation of capital taxes.
The deputy emphasised that the Green Party is not entirely opposed to the measures introduced in the housing package. For instance, they support the retention of the tax credit on notarised deeds. However, the extension of tax benefits for investments – backed by CSV, DP, the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR), and the Pirate Party until June –remains a point of contention for Tanson’s party. The Greens argue that this extension is contributing to rising prices, particularly for buildings that have not yet begun construction. In these cases, prices have decreased only half as much as those of existing buildings.
Sam Tanson agrees with Finance Minister Gilles Roth and Housing Minister Claude Meisch, who pointed out that the developers need to be held accountable too. The Green Party still calls for a stronger intervention of the government. Additionally, deputy Tanson pressured the government to implement the decision of the state council – taken two years ago – concerning the amendments for a reformed property and mobilisation tax.
On the subject of US customs taxes, Sam Tanson stated that the middle class and the poorest will be affected the most. US president Donald Trump’s policy is not only expensive for the people, it is also “catastrophic” for the environment. To counteract the price inflation due to his tariffs, Trump is focusing on the petrol and gas industry.
Sam Tanson is aware that there can be injustices within international trade, yet that does not concern the US. If it does, then negotiations need to ensue. The green deputy mentioned the European standards’ impact on imports which cannot be neglected under any circumstances.
When asked whether the U.S. president has the right to take a firm stance to spur action, the deputy suggested that Donald Trump’s intentions go beyond promoting fair trade. According to MP Tanson, his primary goal is to replenish state finances in order to justify tax cuts for the wealthy.
