National Day feels different this year – not only because of Grand Duke Henri’s 25th jubilee, but also due to a world in flux and fundamental changes underway. That was one of the messages delivered by Prime Minister Luc Frieden in his address on the eve of National Day.
Reflecting on the past, Frieden said Luxembourg had long stood for values such as freedom, dialogue, and democracy. These, he said, are the foundations of the country’s success and must be safeguarded alongside social and economic prosperity.
“Nothing worth having comes by itself. That is true for a country and that is true for its people. Peace, freedom, and democracy do not come by themselves. All of it requires commitment. Every single day.”
Frieden described the Luxembourgish nation as one defined by shared values and aspirations.
“A nation is a story and a project for the future. We want to be Luxembourgers, and every day, through our actions, our statements, our decisions, we define what that means. Luxembourg is democratic. We shape our laws through a process in which everyone can participate. We do so through dialogue – with the people, the social partners, the political parties, the civil society.”
In a free Luxembourg, he added, everyone has dignity. In an open country, all who wish to contribute to the shared national project are welcome.
Frieden concluded by stressing that convictions such as these are what hold people together – a sense of unity made tangible when celebrating the country’s achievements and those of its citizens.
The speech is also available in Luxembourgish, French, and sign language.
