The argument for not holding a referendum on constitutional reform, to say that it is not a comprehensive reform but four bills, is "bogus", according to MP Fernand Kartheiser. "The real reason is both simple and primitive: they are afraid of the result," he said. Photo: Alain Piron

The argument for not holding a referendum on constitutional reform, to say that it is not a comprehensive reform but four bills, is "bogus", according to MP Fernand Kartheiser. "The real reason is both simple and primitive: they are afraid of the result," he said. Photo: Alain Piron

The ADR used the occasion of its first conference after the summer period to criticise the absence of a referendum for the adoption of a constitutional reform, a broken promise according to the MPs, while criticising what they saw as an oppressive health policy. 

Like déi Lénk, déi Gréng and the LSAP before them, the ADR MPs also held their first political conference after the summer break. This was an opportunity to take a stand on some upcoming legislative deadlines.

The vote on the reform of the Constitution, scheduled for the second half of October, aroused the ire of the ADR. It will take place in parliament but not by referendum, as originally planned.

This is why the leader of the political party, Fernand Kartheiser, will be tabling a letter inviting other parties to support the introduction of a referendum. "The four parties behind this reform (DP, LSAP, déi Gréng and CSV, editor's note) have each promised a referendum, but none of them is keeping their electoral promise. We will see how they respond to my invitation,” says the MP.

According to him, their argument for not holding a referendum, which consists in saying that they won’t introduce a global reform but four bills, is "false.” "The real reason is both simple and primitive: they are afraid of the outcome,” said Kartheiser.

Against the covid law

The other legislative deadline is the vote on the next covid law, which will not benefit from the votes of the ADR deputies any more than the previous ones, warned Kartheiser. "Our position remains the same: we do not want any infringement of fundamental rights,” he argued.

During the "parliamentary day,” ADR MPs were able to discuss agriculture and taxation. On the agricultural side, the party proposed that farmers should be able to benefit from a tax system that would allow them to "balance out the good years and the bad years,” with a tax facility that would ease taxes in a difficult year.

In general, there is a political consensus pointing against any tax increase. And if such an increase does take place,  the revenues should be dedicated to debt repayment, in order to avoid it being an electoral gift for future elections.

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