A petition launched by former teachers-union president Daniel Reding recently reached the necessary threshold of 4,500 signatures, in order to be debated in parliament. With only a narrow 4,550 signatures, the Committee on Petitions will first investigate the signatures before then organising a public hearing on said question. Reding is asking for a complete ban […]
The government’s ambiguity on the sharing economy is a problem
Luxembourg’s Ministry of the Economy supports sharing services such as Airbnb, yet the minister of transport has banned the ride-sharer Uber. This contradiction won’t have escaped those who follow government policy closely – and who can only be surprised by the gulf between deputy prime minister Etienne Schneider (LSAP) and transport minister François Bausch (déi […]
“Fraktiounszwang”: How Luxembourgish MPs let themselves be bullied into following the party line
“Who’s in favour? Who’s against? Who abstains?” The questions asked by parliamentary chairman Mars Di Bartolomeo (LSAP) aren’t that different from those of any other parliament in Europe. Yet Luxembourg is different, if only due to its size. Indeed, any legislature that could fit into your average pizzeria is unquestionably small. But, with only 60 […]
“Do I know you?” Luxembourg’s intense focus on individual candidates for election
The campaign leading up to Luxembourg’s parliamentary elections on 14 October has been quite the sideshow. Don’t be surprised if, during your visit to the Schueberfouer funfair in Luxembourg City, someone in a suit and coloured tie hands you a flyer, a pen, some chewing gum, a fan or some other gadget to mark the […]
[ZOOM] Wissen schafft Wissenschaft
Zwischen dem 25. Juli und 8. August nahmen zwei Schülerinnen der Europaschule in Mamer am London International Youth Science Forum in Großbritannien teil. Lavinia Kadar und Inès Bahlawane hatten sich mehrere Wochen mit dem Thema Desinfizierungen von Wunden, und dem potenziellen Risiko durch endotoxische Gifte auseinandergesetzt. Hierbei ging es darum herauszufinden ob Stoffwechselprodukte von absterbenden […]
The LSAP’s plan to reduce “social envy” will create more of it
For Luxembourg’s upcoming parliamentary election, there will be firsts for nearly every party. The centre-left CSV will bring out some fresh logos as well as Claude Wiseler, a lead candidate who battled through a leadership contest where, in the past, candidates seemed self-evidently put in place. The liberal democrat DP will be running with the […]
Luxembourg’s dwarf-party conundrum
Ten parties are running in Luxembourg’s parliamentary elections on 14 October. Eight are running in all four of the country’s electoral districts, while two of them – Demokratie and Déi Konservativ (the Conservatives) – are only on the ballot in one or two districts.