Maxime Miltgen, Luxembourg City municipal councillor and newly installed co-president of the LSAP, has come out swinging in her first interview with RTL since taking the helm of the party. She accused the current government of failing to show the political courage the country needs, particularly in the field of foreign policy.
Luxembourg was always a country that builds bridges, whether internationally or domestically. Drawing an explicit comparison with the tenure of former Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn, Miltgen argued that Luxembourg once had a clear and recognisable voice on the international stage. “Under Jean Asselborn, we had a clear line in foreign policy and we were heard abroad. That is missing today”, she said. In her view, the current government has allowed economic interests and the desire to avoid confrontation to eclipse its commitment to core values such as human rights and international law.
Turning to social and economic matters, Miltgen expressed deep concern over the growing number of working poor in Luxembourg. She cited figures suggesting that almost 20 percent of working people in the country live at or below the poverty line, and was unequivocal in her position: raising the minimum wage is an absolute must if Luxembourg is to remain a place where people who work can afford to live. She criticised the government for limiting itself to the minimum required by law rather than taking the bold steps needed to tackle social inequality.
Miltgen also called for a genuine tripartite process, bringing together the government and all social partners to find real compromises on the pressing issues facing the country. In her view, meaningful dialogue is currently absent, and a new approach is urgently needed to navigate Luxembourg’s economic and social challenges. People and businesses need support in light of high energy prices. The councillor suggests the idea of a much broader tripartite process, one that goes beyond short-term fixes and addresses the country’s deeper structural issues.
As Miltgen puts it, simply increasing the minimum wage would be a band-aid solution, which may stop some of the bleeding but is not enough to cover or cure the wound. What’s really needed is comprehensive tax reform, a fairer redistribution of wealth, and a sustained expansion of public social housing.
The interview also touched on internal party matters. Miltgen described Paulette Lenert’s decision to leave the Chamber of Deputies and join the Council of State as a huge loss, though one that must be respected as a personal choice. She confirmed that Ben Streff, a former party manager and president of the LSAP’s eastern district, is expected to take up Lenert’s seat in the Chamber, despite having previously been publicly critical of the party. Miltgen embraced this development, suggesting that someone who has challenged the party from the outside could bring a positive and energising dynamic from within. She set the bar high for her new colleague, noting that if a politician should always give 200 percent, she expects Streff will give 300.
Together with Georges Engel, Miltgen will lead the LSAP into the next national elections in 2028. She stopped short of revealing who will be named as lead candidates, but her message throughout the interview was consistent: now is the time for bold action, structural reform and policies that put people first. With the cost of living rising and social challenges mounting, she wanted to make clear that the LSAP under her co-leadership will continue to push for a country where working people can live with dignity.
