Former CSV president Frank Engel left the party after fellow MPs filed charges against him, he was subsequently acquitted. Photo: Matic Zorman, Maison Moderne archive

Former CSV president Frank Engel left the party after fellow MPs filed charges against him, he was subsequently acquitted. Photo: Matic Zorman, Maison Moderne archive

In a few days Frank Engel will officially present his new party. In the meantime, he is keeping the name and the identity of its first members under wraps.

Frank Engel is keeping alive the suspense surrounding the creation of his political party. The former CSV president confirmed that on 21 February he will unveil the name of his political faction, its first members and the political agenda that it will follow.

Marc Ruppert, former secretary general of the DP is one of the confirmed members of Engel's party. He announced on Monday that Luc Majerus (déi Gréng), local councillor of Esch-sur-Alzette handed in his resignation as councillor and as party member of the greens to join the soon to be announced party.

Last month Gary Kneip, former member of the DP and former president of the Luxembourg Confederation of Commerce and former president of the Economic and Social Council, announced that he would join Engel's party as well.

“The party will be launched on 21 February. The name exists, but we will not reveal it until the launch of the party. The structures have just been created and we will unveil the complete agenda of the party at the time of its launch,” said Engel, while also confirming "that there will be many more names” of politicians that will join his brake away faction.

With twenty months to go until the next general election in October 2023, the political landscape is likely to be shaken up.

Engel was acquitted after MPs from his former party filed charges against him for benefitting from a remuneration of €40,000 for seven months, from June to December 2020, as a project manager within the CSV-Frëndeskrees association. His job was to ensure the external representation of the association, the recruitment of new members and the preparation of the transformation of the association into a foundation. This contract was contested by members of his party, who had informed .

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