Paulette Lenert took on the role as LSAP party leader going into the next legislative elections. Xavier Bettel has repeatedly said that he is ready for a third term as Prime Minister (DP), but who will be their great rival on the CSV side? Potentially former Minister of Finance, Luc Frieden?
The suspense is nearly over: At 7.30pm on Wednesday, the next CSV leader will be announced.
RTL: Your goals in the spring of 2021 were to renew the party and prepare the next generation for the elections. Did you reach those goals?
Claude Wiseler: Yes, I consider having succeeded in fulfilling these two objectives. Firstly, it was a question of getting out of a dip for the party (reference to the Frank Engel affair, Eds. note). A difficult year for us. But I believe that I have succeeded in calming the party down and reorganising it. We have new statutes, a co-presidency, a co-general secretariat. The reorganization of the head of the party, but also constituencies, sub-organisations have been set up.
For the second objective, that of rejuvenating our cadres in the party, I am extremely satisfied. Just look at our management committee, our national committee - it’s very, very young. And it is the same phenomenon on our lists for the municipal elections, including more women and a younger, more diverse group.
Who embodies this new generation of CSV?
My co-president Elisabeth Margue, deputy and municipal councilor (in Luxembourg-City) is certainly one of these new faces of a new CSV. Then you have our two general secretaries, Stéphanie Weydert, mayor of Rosport-Mompach, and Christophe Hansen, MEP, who are at the centre of the party’s organisation and who are faces that represent the future of the party. As someone from the “old generation”, I have a lot of pleasure working with these three.
What are, according to you, essential qualities a party leader must have?
The first thing is that they must bring the party together, and outside of the party be a unifier for the voters. They must bring competence, because in Luxembourg and Europe we are facing very difficult times. So the mastery of politics is an obvious skill. It is also necessary for the candidate at the top of the list to display the sensitivity that is required right now in dealing with social issues.
Who would be capable of becoming Prime Minister?
Certainly a number of politicians are capable of taking on this role. But I believe that now is not the time to talk about names since we are going to have a national council this Wednesday evening where this discussion will be conducted. We have very strong, very competent, very empathetic personalities in our party.
Could you name a few...
Honestly, choosing a lead candidate for a party is a very important and very sensitive moment. Not only for the party but also for the voters concerned. We will have this discussion on Wednesday.
The decision on a lead candidate is not just a personal decision. It is a question of having, around this candidate, a group of people who make it possible to work together as a team. We have to put that in place as well.
Luc Frieden is in a good position to become number 1. Does he embody the renewal of the party?
I am not going to discuss one candidate or another they embody this or that. The president of the party will explain his choices and the reason for his proposal on Wednesday. The press and the public will assess whether the candidate meets the criteria. Above all, we will see the results... in October”.
What would you say to Serge Wilmes, who is placed just behind you in the Politmonitor?
I think that Serge Wilmes is doing a very good job as First Alderman of the City of Luxembourg. And if I understood correctly, Serge will be at the top of the list for the municipal elections. He has my absolute and complete support.
