The press conference came after , deputy prime minister and minister of labour, and , minister of social security, agriculture, viticulture and rural development, said they would not run for government in the next elections. Discussions regarding candidates in the elections, however, would only be futile, was said at the press conference held before the start of the parliamentary session. The most important thing is that the party is strong in all districts, said party president Yves Cruchten.

The LSAP has reason to be optimistic, with Paulette Lenert in its ranks, who has become . A forthcoming party congress, which will ratify a tandem as the head of the party's list, "will be a beneficial arrangement for both the party and the voters.” The only question is who will team up with Lenert, who has been slated as candidate for prime minister.

Secondly, according to its senior staff, the pandemic has demonstrated "the importance of the welfare state built by LSAP" and which has been "the cornerstone of the fight against the effects of the health crisis.” Support for businesses and individuals was also possible because of initiatives by the party, it said. "The crisis has shown how important the values of equal opportunities, solidarity, security and social cohesion are,” said the party’s leader in parliament Georges Engel.

Working groups for concrete proposals

But the LSAP is already looking ahead. It has announced that five themes will shape its agenda in the coming months: health, labour and social affairs, climate, education and housing. Working groups have been formed and concrete proposals will be made shortly. They will form the basis of the future electoral programme, which will not be "a series of interchangeable slogans, but a real programme for the future of Luxembourg.”

Taxation is not one of the five major themes, even though some LSAP members have called for the return of a wealth tax or the introduction of a tax on companies that have recorded capital gains during the crisis, or a revision of property taxation.

Therefore, "the LSAP will soon put a balanced tax concept on the table. Low incomes, young people and the middle class will be directly affected.” Taxation should not be the only means to an end, it should contribute to "the construction of a democratic society based on solidarity, in which no one is left behind,” said Engel.

This story was first published on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.