In Luxembourg, the role of Prime Minister is almost a permanent position. Anyone who gets there will stay there comfortably for many years. And you can be sure that the political line on important economic or international issues will not change. Seen from Italy, the political stability of the Grand Duchy appears almost like a moon. Xavier Bettel, the liberal politician and the first European leader to marry a person of the same sex in 2015, has been at the country’s helm for ten years. He came to this position after his time as mayor of the city of Luxembourg, after his predecessor Jean-Claude Juncker finally decided that 18 consecutive years at the helm of the country could be enough: it was also unthinkable to give up the prospect of joining the European Commission lead. Luxembourg will vote on Sunday, October 8, and Bettel’s ability to remain at the helm of the Grand Duchy is at stake. According to polls, his re-confirmation is at risk because the Christian Social Party, Luc Frieden’s CSV, is the best party. However, once the counting of ballots is completed, there will be many variables in Parliament, considering that some small parties with populist tendencies have also appeared on the political scene, such as the Pirate Party or the far-right Alternative for Democratic Reforms. But the truth is that the pathos in Europe surrounding the fate of the Grand Duchy after the elections is just above zero: whatever happens, the EU’s smallest founding countries will remain in line with the bloc’s larger countries in economic and international terms Decisions that matter. But behind Luxembourg’s enviable stability lies a surprising democratic anomaly that borders on serious vulnerabilities.
Two countries in one (lowercase)
The population of the Grand Duchy – which with its 660,000 inhabitants is the second smallest country in the EU after Malta – is almost exactly divided into two when the polls open for the renewal of Parliament: half are required to vote, the other half do not even have the right. Yes, because Luxembourg is one of the two EU countries (along with Belgium and another twenty countries around the world) that provides citizens who are regularly registered on the electoral lists with not only the right but also the obligation to cast their vote to give away. In the Grand Duchy, abstention is punished with a fine of between 100 and 1,000 euros – unless there are proven reasons. However, this only applies to those who are citizens eligible to vote. It is a shame that, according to the latest demographic estimates from the beginning of the year, 47.4% of Luxembourg’s population is made up of foreigners who are residents but do not have citizenship. As is well known, the country has built its economic boom since the 1960s by attracting banks and large companies, as well as renowned international, political and legal institutions, to its territory with a strategy of aggressive “fiscal seduction”. And so it has increasingly become the expat country par excellence. They live and work – with more or less continuity – and thus contribute to the wealth of the Grand Duchy. But in many cases they remain away from public life in the host country and are excluded from citizenship – voluntarily or because it is difficult to meet the requirements. To acquire Luxembourg nationality, five years of continuous residence in the country is required. But also the passing of two exams that certify knowledge in just as many subjects that are considered indispensable: civics – a priori not an insurmountable obstacle – and the Luxembourgish language – a special mix of Germanic origins and French influences. Bittersweet sounds are of great interest, but not necessarily accessible to everyone.
The right to vote can wait
And so the country, in which the foreign population, not the “local,” is growing in numbers, will go to the elections in October 2023 with aphasia in half of its residents. A significant error, especially considering that those excluded from the surveys are the most dynamic and productive part: almost 90% of the country’s private sector workers. Hardly more than half of “real” Luxembourgers, on the other hand, often work in the public sector and have a great interest in maintaining the stability of the system that protects them. Voters, most of whom work in the public sector, want to protect their privileged position. For foreigners, the biggest problems are property prices, Luxembourgish lessons and traffic. A topic well known to Luxembourgers, as they often work in the public sector and therefore have interests and priorities that often differ from those of the “guests”. Perhaps for this reason, locals have clearly demonstrated their refusal to weaken the integration criteria for expats in recent years: in June 2015, the population rejected the referendum proposal to expand the right to vote in political elections with an overwhelming 78% no for resident foreigners . “The message is clear and well understood: we will respect the result,” said Liberal Prime Minister Xavier Bettel, who had also proposed this reform. Welcome to work, but not to influence the country’s political decisions.
Cover photo: Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel arriving at the European Council – Brussels, 30 June 2023 (EPA/OLIVIER MATTHYS)
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