For their Sunday Interview series, our colleagues from RTL.lu spoke with MP Taina Bofferding of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) Taina Bofferding at her chosen location – the Bambësch forest in Luxembourg City, where she often goes to unwind.
Bofferding revealed that she never initially planned a career in politics. Her entry into the field stemmed from a desire to advocate for young people’s interests, driven by frustration with political debates dominated by “mostly old, grey-haired men” deciding what they believed was best for the younger generation.
“I thought, ‘You have no idea what you’re talking about,’” she said, adding, “That’s why I decided to get involved myself.”
Her political career began with the Young Socialists, the LSAP’s youth wing, before progressing to the Esch-sur-Alzette municipal council and later to parliament. From December 2018 to November 2023, she served as Minister for Home Affairs and Gender Equality.
Bofferding described her ministerial appointment as a “great honour,” emphasising that while the role offered the chance to shape policy, it also carried significant responsibility.
Reflecting on her time in government, she expressed gratitude for the opportunity, noting she still views the experience positively. However, she stressed that ministers must confront both planned initiatives and unforeseen crises – with the COVID-19 pandemic being the defining challenge of her tenure.
“It was not the most pleasant time,” she admitted, calling the period “very difficult.” Yet she stands by the government’s decisions, asserting that the measures taken were necessary.
As Minister for Home Affairs, Bofferding prioritised reforming Luxembourg’s property tax system – a long-avoided issue last attempted in 1981, a year before her birth. She acknowledged the reform’s political sensitivity but argued its necessity for housing policy, particularly alongside measures like the mobilisation tax to incentivise development of vacant plots.
Though the reform remains pending parliamentary approval, Bofferding expressed hope the current government will advance it, reiterating that housing affordability is Luxembourg’s “most pressing issue.”
Following the LSAP’s transition to opposition after the last legislative elections, Bofferding acknowledged that while she would have preferred remaining in the majority, she accepts this outcome as part of political dynamics. For her, the priority is continuing to contribute meaningfully – not just critiquing the government but proposing constructive alternatives and engaging in dialogue with majority parties. “The opposition must do more than scrutinise,” she stressed: “We need to bring our own ideas to the table and work with the government where possible.”
She pointed to the upcoming tax individualisation reform as a successful example of such collaboration. Though the LSAP had long advocated for this change, the pandemic and other priorities delayed action during their time in government. Bofferding praised Finance Minister Gilles Roth for proactively consulting opposition MPs on the proposal, calling it “a big societal reform” her party is eager to support.
Housing policy remains another key area where Bofferding sees opposition input as vital. She emphasised the dual role of “inspiring” the government with solutions while serving as a “corrective” force – for instance, by arguing that tax incentives for developers alone are insufficient. Tenant protections and measures to mobilise vacant land, she noted, must also be part of the equation.
As rapporteur for the special parliamentary committee investigating the Caritas scandal, Bofferding spent months examining the case over the course of 20 meetings. The committee heard testimony from numerous stakeholders – including former Caritas board members, banking representatives, and government officials – to piece together the events that led to the crisis.
Bofferding outlined the committee’s two-phase approach: First, establishing the factual timeline and political decisions surrounding the scandal. Second, and crucially, developing concrete recommendations to address legislative gaps and implement safeguards in the social sector. “While no system can offer 100% protection,” she noted, “we can establish better checks and warning mechanisms to prevent future crises of this scale.”
The investigative process presented significant challenges. Some witnesses declined to testify altogether, while others appeared to withhold information. Contradictory accounts further complicated the committee’s work. Despite these frustrations, Bofferding found the experience valuable and looks forward to presenting their findings to parliament next week.
The upcoming report will put the focus on two key questions: the government’s crisis management and the testimony of Prime Minister Luc Frieden. Its release will likely spark debate among parliamentary groups as they formulate their official responses to the committee’s conclusions.
The recent pension reform debate has emerged as a flashpoint in Luxembourg’s political landscape, with Bofferding joining last Saturday’s mass protest organised by the Independent Luxembourg Trade Union Confederation (OGBL) and the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB). The demonstration served as more than just opposition to specific pension proposals – it represented a broader warning about the government’s governing style, according to the LSAP MP.
Bofferding delivered a pointed critique of Prime Minister Luc Frieden’s approach, noting a disconnect between his rhetoric of dialogue and his actions. “While the Prime Minister consistently claims to value social discussion, his decisions tell a different story,” she observed. This pattern has become particularly evident across multiple policy areas including pension reform, minimum wage regulations, Sunday work policies, and retail opening hours.
The MP emphasised that Luxembourg’s traditional tripartite negotiation framework – bringing together government, employer representatives, and unions – has historically been one of the country’s greatest strengths in resolving such matters. The current government’s reluctance to use this established system is creating unnecessary conflict at a time when the country needs unity, Bofferding stated.
She interpreted the large turnout at Saturday’s protest as evidence of growing public frustration with what she characterised as Frieden’s top-down leadership style. The protest was not just about pensions, Bofferding explained, noting that people are demanding clarity and substantive answers to the country’s challenges – not decisions made without proper consultation.
Bofferding expressed particular dismay about the government’s recent national consultation process, which she said ultimately ignored public input. “They conducted extensive surveys only to choose an option that virtually nobody supported,” she noted.
The LSAP politician warned that continued disregard for social dialogue risks increasing polarisation. “A government’s role should be to unite society, not divide it,” she said, adding that the Prime Minister appears not to have recognised that the era of unilateral decision-making is over.
Bofferding highlighted that discontent with Prime Minister Frieden’s leadership style extends beyond opposition circles, noting that even members of his own Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) have called for changes to his governing approach. “The Prime Minister has become controversial even within his own ranks,” she observed, pointing to public statements from CSV politicians who have vowed to oppose key reforms like Sunday work regulations and retail opening hours unless significant amendments are made.
This intra-party dissent, Bofferding argued, reveals deeper governance issues. “It’s concerning when a Prime Minister struggles to maintain support within his own political family,” she said. Bofferding expanded on this, stating, “In principle, we need a strong Prime Minister who has control of the situation – but increasingly, it appears this control is slipping away.”
The LSAP MP concluded that Luxembourg now finds itself with a weakened Prime Minister. Last weekend’s protests, she suggested, represented more than policy disagreements – they were a clear public signal that citizens have reached their limit with the current leadership approach. In Boffering’s view, the message from the streets was unmistakable: Enough is enough.
