The DP’s candidates Lydie Polfer and Camilla Cuppini discuss their top priorities for the city and integration in the capital.
Top 3 priorities
An open city: “We’re dedicated to making all our residents feel at home in our cosmopolitan capital,” says mayor Lydie Polfer who is running for office again. The capital wants to be “open and welcoming to all,” she says, by offering “a wide range of high-quality services that strengthen community ties and make it easier for residents to come together and meet,” for example, through cultural and sports activities and green spaces.
A sustainable city: The city targets becoming CO2 neutral by 2035, says Polfer, “and keeping the quality of life in the city as high as possible.” Over the coming years, the DP wants to renovate the 190 buildings owned by the city to make them more energy efficient and to reach 80% of electric vehicles in the public bus network, among other initiatives.
A city that’s future-proof: “As a municipality that looks to the future, it is vital to view urban development as a long-term endeavour,” says Polfer. “It is therefore essential to invest wisely in infrastructure to cope with demographic growth but also future demands and challenges.” Schools, cultural facilities, parks, sports grounds and buildings but also technical and underground infrastructure must keep in step with the city’s expansion.
“This also applies to the development of all mobility-related infrastructure,” from sustainable mobility to the tram and individual transport. “Last but not least, the development of the existing real estate and housing infrastructure is of utmost importance,” says the incumbent, adding that thousands of homes will be created in new developments, such as StadePark, Nei Hollerich and Porte de Hollerich.
Integration matters
Camilla Cuppini is running for town council in the upcoming election Photo: Romain Gamba/Maison Moderne
Have an impact: Camilla Cuppini has been a member of the City of Luxembourg’s integration commission since 2014. “I decided to take a step forward by running as a candidate for the DP, hoping to have a greater impact in the local community’s life,” she said after joining the Democratic Party for the upcoming election.
Intercultural integration: “The fight against isolation and the promotion of contacts between residents from diverse cultural backgrounds is the challenge that our society faces, especially after the pandemic.” To help bring people closer together, “intercultural integration actions at the local level will be essential for creating a welcoming society where everyone can thrive and contribute to the community.”