Following discussions in the parliamentary committee on institutions, The Greens (déi gréng) have criticised the majority coalition’s stance on introducing a permanent citizens’ council. The issue was discussed on Monday, with the question of whether Luxembourg should establish a citizens’ council similar to the model used in the German-speaking Community of Belgium.
According to The Greens, however, the majority parties – the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) and the Democratic Party (DP) – have no real intention of moving forward with such a reform or embedding it institutionally. In a press release (GER), The Greens said that, during a meeting of the parliamentary committee on institutions, the CSV and DP had effectively buried the introduction of a permanent citizens’ council.
Instead of building on existing experiences, the majority parties were accused in the press release of relying on delaying tactics and questioning the need for increased citizen participation altogether.
MP Joëlle Welfring of The Greens argued in the press release that, at a time when democracy is under pressure, greater citizen participation is not a luxury but a necessity. She pointed in particular to an analysis by the Chamber’s scientific unit (FR), which found that Luxembourg is ready to institutionalise citizen participation, and argued that the key question is now whether the CSV and DP have the political courage to follow through.
In the press release, Welfring criticised what she described as a lack of “political courage” on the part of the CSV and DP. She pointed to what she called contradictory statements from majority MPs during the committee meeting as evidence that this political will is missing.
The proposal would see participants in such a citizens’ council selected by lot. According to earlier analyses by the Chamber’s scientific unit, such a model could strengthen the legitimacy of democratic institutions and give a voice to foreign residents.
Previous initiatives in Luxembourg, such as the Luxembourg 2050 citizens’ committee and the citizens’ council on climate, have already tested similar approaches.
Despite the criticism, The Greens stated in the press release that the party would continue to put forward concrete proposals to strengthen democratic participation in Luxembourg.
