The electoral commission of déi Gréng, which met on 21 March, unanimously decided in favour of justice and culture minister Sam Tanson as head of the national list for the next legislative elections, the party said in a press release on Wednesday.

This marks the first time that the party is putting forward a candidate for the prime minister’s office. Until now, it always nominated two head candidates for each of the country’s four electoral districts. Under a change of statutes adopted last month, the party decided to elect a national head of list from these eight names.

Together with deputy prime minister François Bausch, Tanson will also lead the list in the “centre” constituency.

There was little doubt that the justice and culture minister would be the national list leader, especially since Bausch had put his name forward.

Party co-chairs Djuna Bernard and Meris Sehovic said they were “happy and proud” of the nomination and “convinced that she is the right person to lead our country in these turbulent times.”

Party members will have to validate the candidacy at an extraordinary national congress to be held next Tuesday, 28 March.

Tanson will enter the election race against the LSAP’s top candidate Paulette Lenert and the CSV’s pick, Luc Frieden. The DP is yet to officially confirm Xavier Bettel as the party’s pick but the incumbent is widely expected to seek a third term in office. 

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