Carlo Feiereisen became mayor of Schifflange on 1 August 2025, despite having received the highest personal vote in the 2023 municipal elections. The Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) also emerged as the largest party, winning six of the council's 15 seats, ahead of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) with five.
Under the coalition agreement, however, CSV politician Paul Weimerskirch remained mayor for the first two years of the term.
Speaking to RTL, Feiereisen said he had no regrets about the arrangement. He described it as a "gentleman's agreement" between the LSAP and CSV that allowed Weimerskirch to complete several projects that were particularly important to him.
Feiereisen added that the two-year period had also helped him prepare for the role after spending six years in opposition, when he did not have full access to every municipal file.
He praised Weimerskirch for continuing to give his full commitment until his final day in office and said the handover had taken place on a friendly basis.
The mayor also discussed the redevelopment of the former Metzeschmelz industrial site between Schifflange and Esch-sur-Alzette.
The wider project is expected to accommodate thousands of residents and jobs, although Feiereisen clarified that less than 10% of the site lies within Schifflange. He said a maximum of around 1,000 people were expected to live on the Schifflange section, rather than several thousand.
He nevertheless described the development as a major opportunity for the two municipalities to work together and create a smooth transition between Schifflange and Esch.
Feiereisen explained that the new district is intended to serve as a model development, with plans for a largely car-free neighbourhood and innovative approaches to areas such as water conservation.
He said he was pleased to be involved in shaping the project before the first residents are expected to arrive. Feiereisen also noted that the tram is currently due to reach the Metzeschmelz site in 2032.
A shortage of places in Schifflange's maisons relais has been one of the municipality's most pressing problems.
Feiereisen disputed the suggestion that around 800 children had been on the waiting list. He said the municipality had opened an annex at the Lydie Schmit school over the past 12 months, allowing more children to enter after-school care.
The current waiting list stands at 53 children, according to the mayor.
He acknowledged that the situation remained extremely difficult for affected families and said he had personally spoken to several parents who had been asked to find alternative arrangements.
Feiereisen explained that the municipality is awaiting approval to open another facility. This would provide places for approximately 40 additional children, he said.
He said this would still leave several families without a place, but further capacity is expected next year. A currently closed school is due to reopen, while another maison relais annex is planned at the Albert Wingert school, he added.
The coalition's goal, he said, was to ensure that every child in Schifflange could eventually receive a childcare place.
Schifflange is also preparing for the construction of a new education campus that will include a European school.
Feiereisen welcomed the government's decision to choose Schifflange for the project, noting that infrastructure for the international school already exists on the site where the future school campus is planned.
For the municipality, however, the new primary school and sports facilities planned for the site are equally important, he said. The project is expected to include a new swimming pool and facilities that will be available not only to pupils but also to local sports clubs, according to Feiereisen.
Although the LSAP has expressed reservations nationally about the expansion of European schools, Feiereisen said he did not expect to face pressure from his party for supporting the Schifflange project.
He argued that the municipality was primarily pleased to be receiving a secondary school and that this did not necessarily conflict with the wider political debate about the European school model.
The mayor nevertheless acknowledged concerns about additional traffic. Schifflange plans to work with the National Roads Administration to redesign nearby streets and prevent them from becoming "racetracks", he said.
Feiereisen rejected the idea of merging Schifflange with neighbouring Esch-sur-Alzette.
Although Esch and Schifflange are closely connected and already cooperate on projects including Metzeschmelz, he said a political merger was not under discussion in Schifflange and was probably not a serious issue in Esch either.
He also dismissed possible mergers with Kayl or Mondercange, saying Schifflange was satisfied with its current position.
The municipality would continue working closely with all of its neighbours, he added, but a merger was "absolutely not a topic" at present.
Schifflange is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, with events planned to continue into 2027.
The programme begins on Monday, 6 July, with what the municipality describes as a modern anniversary ceremony at the SummerBar on Place Grande-Duchesse Charlotte.
Feiereisen said that holding the ceremony at the SummerBar was intended to create a more relaxed atmosphere than a traditional formal event.
The municipality has planned activities throughout the anniversary year, with events intended to appeal to a wide audience, he said.
The celebrations would be extensive but "nothing ostentatious", Feiereisen concluded.
