The death of Max Hengel in mid-August created a vacancy in the Chamber of Deputies. However, as of Thursday, Luxembourg’s parliament is once again at full capacity with 60 MPs, following Ricardo Marques’ oath of office.
The 31-year-old graduate psychologist ranked fifth on the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) list in the Eastern constituency during the 2023 elections. A municipal councillor from Echternach, Marques is only the third MP in the history of the Grand Duchy with Portuguese origins, following Félix and Liz Braz. He identifies with the social wing of the CSV and aims to focus on mental health issues.
At around 2.10pm, Ricardo Marques was officially sworn in as an MP in the Chamber of Deputies, marking a highlight in his political career, which began in Echternach in 2017. He was somewhat unexpectedly elected to the municipal council that year, and in 2020, he even joined the municipal executive board (“Schäfferot”). Initially, Marques was hesitant to run for the CSV.
In an interview with our colleagues from RTL Télé, Marques explained that he struggled to accept the candidacy because he was still studying in Paris and later working in the French capital. He felt it would be impractical to stand for election when he was not frequently present in the area. He recounted a memorable moment when the then-mayor of Echternach, Yves Wengler, told him, “But Ricardo, someone has to come last.” Marques clarified that Wengler’s remark was intended positively, emphasising that every candidate contributes to a campaign, stating, “Even the one that comes last allows the one that comes first to achieve a good result.”
Ricardo Marques was sworn in on World Mental Health Day, which is rather fitting for a trained psychologist. He emphasised the importance of focusing on prevention in mental health initiatives.
According to Marques, prevention must begin early, targeting primary schools as well as crèches and drop-in centres (“maisons relais”), because “this is where the children are.” He emphasises that “a child never exists alone; a child always exists in an environment,” making it crucial to include that environment in discussions about mental health. While many factors influence a child’s development, Marques identifies parents as the most significant. “Parents are the experts of their children, and it’s important to consider the entire environment in which a child grows,” the CSV MP stated.
Faith also plays a role in the life of the 31-year-old politician. He believes that Christian values, such as helping one’s neighbour, should be integrated into daily life. Social issues are another priority for Marques.
He aims to strengthen the social wing of the CSV and is eager to contribute to discussions on social matters.
Ricardo Marques holds both Luxembourgish and Portuguese citizenship, which he views as equally important to his identity. He notes that he is only the third MP of Portuguese origin, a situation he attributes to the perception that politics seemed distant from that community. Now, he hopes to help change that narrative.
