Discussions are progressing well between the CSV, the DP and déi Gréng with a view to extending the coalition currently in place in Esch-sur-Alzette into the next legislature.

Although beaten by a hair’s breadth by the LSAP (29.57%) in Sunday’s local elections, the CSV (29.55%) seems to have managed to hold on to its lead. On Sunday night, the three parties in this coalition--which holds 10 of the 19 seats on the local council--had announced the holding of “exploratory talks” to see whether a new agreement was possible. These discussions have now ended, they announced on Thursday.

“We have agreed to continue working together,” explained mayor (CSV).

“These discussions have been a success,” commented , co-chairman of déi Gréng and head of the Greens’ list in Esch. “It was important to establish a basis of trust, a common vision and to see if we were compatible in terms of the priorities we set for the next six years. Some things have changed in the run-up to these local elections, however, particularly within our party.”

Now it’s time for “formal negotiations,” with the aim of establishing a general coalition agreement between the three parties.

With regard to the division of the college of aldermans, agreement has already been reached on a 3-1-1 split. Mischo (CSV, 48), who received the most votes of all the candidates, will retain his position as mayor. The names of the CSV members who will accompany him are not yet officially known, although there is a good chance that they will be André Zwally (CSV, 67) and Christian Weis (CSV, 36). The last two seats should go to (DP, 57) and Meris Sehovic (déi Gréng, 31).

A new DP mayor in Junglinster

In Strassen, déi Gréng joins the former CSV-LSAP coalition to form a new three-party majority. Nico Pundel (CSV, 57), who received the most votes in the municipality, is taking the opportunity to remain mayor for a further six years. This became official on Wednesday evening.

In Junglinster, the DP (36.68%), which won the elections on Sunday evening ahead of the CSV (31.77%), is taking advantage of the situation to win the post of mayor in a DP-CSV coalition in which the balance of power has been reversed. Alderman Ben Ries (DP, 39) took the reins of the municipality.

Finally, in Mondercange, Jeannot Fürpass (CSV, 64) returned to a CSV-DP majority and retained his seat as mayor.

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