Since almost every party is nowadays focusing on green issues, why should people still vote for the Greens? And will the contentious heating debate in Germany play any role here in Luxembourg?
“Germany is Germany and Luxembourg is Luxembourg, those discourses should not be conflated. It is a fact that nobody in Luxembourg will have their gas or petrol heater taken away”, assured Bernard.
“Why vote for the Greens? Because the challenges in our society are enormous and start on a local level. Is there a safe way to the grocery store or school, are there green town squares with shade for when the hot summer comes, am I being supported in the energy transition by my municipality, these are all choices that will be enormously important in the next six years and the Greens offer solutions.”
Is it possible to counteract climate change as much on a municipal level as on a national level?
“I would not say that there is competition, they are actually very complementary. The matter of the fact is that it is very concrete on a municipal level, it is here where citizens feel changes so it is easier to convince them, and I think it is very important in these times to show people why it is important to make a joint effort towards climate neutrality. ... I already said it, this can affect the energy transition, energy cooperation where citizens invest together in solar or wind, the design of public spaces, mobility.”
Bernard concluded: “I think that is really the point where people can receive concrete incentives for their everyday lives on how their municipality can be more green, more sustainable, and more liveable.”
Does Luxembourg City candidate François Benoit stand a chance against the candidates from the Democratic Party (DP) and the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV)?
“Of course I see a chance, we have an enormously competent team and we have a duo at the helm with a vision for a fresh wind and which stands for change. I think Luxembourg City has reached a bit of a status quo, but there are urgent challenges and the Greens have an idea how to tackle these: better cohabitation, better mobility, particularly in terms of cycling lanes, and how urbanisation needs to change. Here I see concrete proposals from the Greens.”
What is the Greens position on the introduction of a ‘municipal police’, as proposed by the DP and the CSV?
“For us it is evident that the police was extremely understaffed when Greens’ Minister Henri Kox took over. Since 2020, we recruited over 900 people on a national level ... and we are proud of that. We now need to strengthen people’s sense of security, that the police is visible and ... close so that if something happens, people have an immediate interlocutor.”
Bernard elaborated: “We also think that urbanism plays an important role on the municipal level, how can spaces be designed so that everyone feels safe.”
You will run for office in Mamer where the CSV and the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) have been at the helm for over two decades. What would be your first project if elected?
“I have lived in Mamer for 30 years, it is my home town and it has changed massively and grown for the better. Still, what I miss and what I would change is to protect our historic town centres, the old farms and that we create an awareness of our cultural and historic heritage.”
