Ali Ruckert argued that there is still room for a communist party in today’s Luxembourg, which he described as a ‘fundamentally unjust’ capitalist system. In Luxembourg, he continued, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Ruckert blamed rising inequality on major corporations and their investors, who he believe have undue influence.
According to the KPL president, a third of Luxembourg’s households fail to make ends meet at the end of the month. The fight for greater justice requires a communist party, said Ruckert.
The KPL depends on partners, Ruckert further noted. He described the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) as an “ally” for being the only major union in Luxembourg to stand against a manipulation of the wage indexation during last year’s tripartite negotiations.
The KPL also has close ties with the General Confederation of the Civil Service (CGFP) and the Letter Carriers’ Union, elaborated Ruckert. Although they also share similar ideas with Luxembourg’s leftist Dei Lenk party, Reckert described contact between the party and the KPL as less frequent.
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At present, the KPL only holds positions on the municipal and aldermen councils of Differdange and Rumelange, respectively. Ruckert explained that while they hope to be reelected in both towns, they are also eying a return to the municipal council of Esch-sur-Alzette.
Ruckert acknowledged that a seat in the Chamber of Deputies remains a major goal for the party as this would allow them to present their ideas to a broader public. Finding enough people to run is not an issue, he said.
However, he also acknowledged that the KPL is currently not reaching enough young people due to a lack of means. The party’s youth group has in the meantime been tasked with working out a solution, said Ruckert.
The KPL president emphasised that communism is as important as ever because capitalism is facing a permanent crisis, unable to solve economic, social, or environmental problems. Communism can show alternative avenues, he further noted.
Ruckert concluded the interview with an example of how to justly distribute wealth through public ownership of corporations.
