Déi Gréng’s election committee last week nominated Tanson for the post after changing the parties statutes earlier in the year to allow a national head of list for the first time. And 180 party members at an extraordinary congress on Tuesday unanimously confirmed the nomination.
“In the next months, it’s about convincing people as much as possible to be part of our movement, to bring the country forward together with us,” Tanson said during her remarks. “I ask for your trust and support. I have great respect and humility for this task. Above all, I really want to go down this path together with all of you.”
I have great respect and humility for this task.
In a wide-ranging speech, Tanson spoke about the need to protect the climate and stop pitting the environment against other policies in a zero-sum game. It’s not a question of if or when to act, but it must be “now and immediately,” she said, calling the fight against climate change, "the all-determining challenge of our generation.”
Luxembourg, she said, is small and flexible enough to become a sandbox and pioneer on environmental policy and circularity.
Tax reform, index, housing
The candidate for PM spoke about the need for a fairer tax system, which for example places less burden on single parents. A tax reform had been slated by the government DP-LSAP-déi Gréng government in 2019 but was then abandoned during the pandemic as government subsidy programmes saw state spending skyrocket.
She also defended Luxembourg tripartite model in which the government, labour unions and employer organisations work on compromise solutions during economic crises. The model is a mechanism to maintain social peace, she said, but added that it doesn’t guarantee social justice.
Tanson very tentatively said that it was important to “keep an eye” on the indexation of wages to ensure that it benefits those who need the adjustment of wages to make up for inflation while also allowing businesses to still make payroll.
“We have a lot to do,” she said on housing, defending housing minister Henri Kox (déi Gréng) and adding that “there are no easy solutions” to a crisis that has been decades in the making. “We are all responsible together,” she said, adding that a push for more affordable and publicly owned housing was necessary alongside measures to combat speculation.
There is buildable land available for 124,000 housing units--which could house around 300,000 people--Tanson said, adding that environmental concerns must also be part of this discussion. Opposition party CSV has regularly pushed for expanding the country’s perimeter of buildable land to get more of it on the market. However, analysts--for example from the Observatoire de l’habitat housing monitor--have said there is no need for such a measure.
“Optimism through action”
Trust in politics must be restored, Tanson said, also to combat misinformation and populism that breed in digital echo chambers and alternative realities.
“You have changed this country,” she told members of the party, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.
Tanson also recognised her own privilege, saying she grew up in a home full of books, learning, museums visits and support. “It is so important that we do everything for every child in this country to have the same opportunities,” she said.
And as a mother she called for a “movement of all mums and dads” to leave their children a liveable world.
Optimism through action, optimism of hard work, well-developed concepts and concrete results are what define us.
“Optimism through action, optimism of hard work, well-developed concepts and concrete results are what define us,” Tanson said. “We stand for anticipative policies, which looks for solutions to today’s problems and answers for future challenges. And we want to take responsibility.”
Tanson’s remarks were met with frequent applause and party members rose to a standing ovation. Some people were wearing buttons with the words “I wanna dance with Sambody” printed on them.
Deputy premier, defence and transport minister François Bausch introducing Tanson said it is time for Luxembourg’s first female prime minister, “but not just any woman.” Luxembourg’s social democrats--the LSAP--with Paulette Lenert are also entering a female candidate.
“You don’t live for your ego. You don’t make policies for yourself,” said Green party co-chair Djuna Bernard, welling up as she called Tanson an inspiration for many of the party’s young women. “We stand behind you,” said co-chair Meris Sehovic. “We’re creating the future.”