Around 500 people registered for the CSV's summer gathering, with the general secretary, parliamentary faction leader and party president giving speeches before the celebrations kicked off in full.
The speeches focused on the tripartite, as general secretary Alex Donnersbach declared other countries could be envious of how Luxembourg negotiates its social model. Distinct praise was reserved for Prime Minister and party leader Luc Frieden, for "his ability to calmly and decisively get all partners around the negotiating table, to work together constructively and find solutions for the country's wellbeing."
Faction leader Laurent Zeimet looked back at the situation a year ago. "The atmosphere was slightly tense and the PM made a joke. Today he has promised not to make a joke, right?!"
The "joke" failed to land among the trade unions in particular and Zeimet wanted to avoid Frieden landing himself in hot water once again. This year, Zeimet took it upon himself to grill, not sausages at the barbecue, but their political opposition.
"When you listen to them [the opposition], notably our colleagues in the LSAP, you might think we lived in the poorhouse of Europe. Everything is awful and everyone is poor and every day is difficult, and so I ask myself, who knows how long the LSAP were in government?"
Whilst for some opposition parties everything is awful, for others, everything is too easy. Zeimet quoted the ADR next:
"We just have to sit down with Putin. It's that easy. And give him what he wants, it's that easy. Then we don't have to invest in defence, we can just do whatever Mr Putin or Mr Trump wants, and today they mentioned Iran, the partners of tomorrow, apparently. So I just want to say if these are the options for the red-white-blue party [ADR], then their homeland means nothing to them. They're not ready to invest another cent in defence. That shows how much they carry Luxembourg in their hearts."
Zeimet also discussed the recent polling for his own party. "There's one survey, and another, and the comments say, the Prime Minister is falling down the ranks, and then he climbs back up, how can this be explained? Well, because he doesn't own a dog."
Foreign minister Xavier Bettel continues to enjoy broad public support, according to recent surveys, while Frieden failed to make the top 10.
Frieden then took to the stage to talk about his recent trip to the NATO summit in Ankara, as well as bestowing certificates upon some graduating students before the CSV summerfest, and he touched upon his reasons for practising politics with the CSV.
"I do this to make Luxembourg a place where we can live together in peace, in freedom, prosperity and social cohesion, not against one another. This doesn't happen on its own. We need a CSV that agrees on this as its goal. Both at home, in Europe and beyond."
Although the Prime Minister's speech was serious, the end drew some laughs despite the lack of jokes, as he wished the guests bon appétit with beer and grilled sausages.
