More than 300 members gathered in Dudelange on 16 March 2025 for the LSAP national congress. The left-wing party's co-presidents, and Biancalana – who is also mayor of Dudelange – take stock of the highlights of this annual event.

At the national congress on 16 March, you proclaimed your determination to be a bulwark against the far right. What were your reasons for this?

Dan Biancalana (D.B.) – These parties put democracy and the democratic process to the test, and that's why we also see ourselves as a cordon sanitaire, both at local and national level. The Socialists have always fought the far right and that will continue to be the case.

When you say far right, is the party you are targeting the ADR in Luxembourg?

Francine Closener (F.C.) – Of course, and other parties that may emerge in the coming years.

D.B. – Even if they present positions that may appeal, we must not support them politically, to give them as little legitimacy as possible in their political positioning.

F.C. – We don't want to give the extreme right the legitimacy of being a party like all the others, because that's not the case. Because the great danger is to turn them into 'normal' parties.

Did the fact that the ADR won an extra seat in the Chamber of Deputies at the last legislative elections worry you?

F.C. – It's always worrying when the far right wins, but I think that in Luxembourg we've always been lucky to have social peace because we had strong delegations and trade unions. And the Luxembourg model is based on tripartism, where the government has always taken into account the opinions of all the social partners before making decisions, and that was our strength. So it's important for the current government to realise that social peace is also a way of fighting the far right.

Some opposition parties and trade unions are worried that social dialogue has deteriorated with the new government.

D.B. – Let's just say that at the moment, it's being put to a very severe test. The OGBL and the LCGB are putting up a united front on many issues; we can thank the government for that at least.

Labour peace and social dialogue are in danger, which is once again fuelling the extremes.

Dan Biancalana, co-president, LSAP

Is the Luxembourg social dialogue model currently in danger?

D.B. – Social dialogue is not what the current government is doing. It's not enough to listen, as we also need to work actively to find solutions, a compromise. There must be something in it for everyone: the government, employers, unions and employees. It's not enough to say 'we'll listen to you and then do as we please', which is the government's current approach. So yes, social peace and social dialogue are in danger, which is once again fuelling the extremes.

It seems that at the CSV level, the social component no longer has a say. That's why, at the congress, we also insisted that LSAP is the alternative to the current government and that we are the best way forward.

F.C. – We don't just want to criticise; we want to show better alternatives. During their time in the in the opposition,  the CSV was 'destructive', but didn't offer a solution. Which they continue to do while in power; just look at this pension reform bill and the debates this Wednesday (19 March, ed.).

You also want to be the party of peace. In what way?

D.B. – LSAP has always been a pro-peace party; a pacifist tradition has always been present within our party. But in the current discussions in Europe, in relation to Ukraine, Russia, the Rearm Europe programme or even the change in position of the United States, the subject of defence is very present. I believe that Luxembourg is ready to assume its responsibilities, and we have also supported the Prime Minister in the House on this issue. But we still have to be careful about rearmament; we don't want to get into this bellicose spiral.

F.C. – Of course we support the plan presented by the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, but we are keeping a close eye on what is going to be done and on how the Luxembourg government is now going to act, not to the detriment of the welfare state. We will be watching this with a great deal of concern.

Do you have the impression that the social dimension is less present in the current government?

D.B. – Yes, and that worries us. It makes a difference whether LSAP is in government or not, and that's also the feedback we get from the field.

F.C. – We get the impression that it's no longer a priority. The balance is tipped more towards the security aspect, whereas, for us, it's people who are at the centre. It's not up to people to adapt to the laws, but for the laws to be made for humans."

The reform of the statutes was also adopted at the national congress, what are the main changes?

D.B. – The aim was to modernise them and also to adapt them to the reality of how the party operates. They are the continuation of a resolution that was taken at last year's congress. The aim is to have more internal democracy within the party, greater transparency, more consultation with our members, and more regular feedback on decisions taken within the party. A lot of sections have also sent us their thoughts on the subject, so it shows that the sections have really got down to this work of thinking about the statutes, and have given us feedback."