Déi Gréng (the Green Party) is setting out to win back the country. After the earthquake of the legislative elections, in which the party lost five of its nine MPs--as well as its fractional status in government--its two co-presidents believe it has found a new lease of life. “Our membership has grown steadily since the last general election,” says Stéphanie Empain.

“That’s 200 new members who have joined us, taking our numbers to just over 1,000 activists,” adds .

200 new members

They put this attraction down to the party’s DNA. “We are a progressive party that looks to the future and fights for its values of freedom, ecology and social responsibility. In a world that is becoming increasingly populist--a populism that is creeping in and taking root in many parties--this appeals to people. For these new members, as for our activists, there is a strong demand for a strong green voice. This is necessary in these times.”

“These new members actively contribute to our working groups in their respective areas.” There are five of these groups, covering the following areas: environment and energy; health; children and education; local authorities; and social affairs.

“It was with [the social affairs group] that the party’s position on pension reform was drawn up,” the co-presidents explain, while “[the local authorities group] brings together all our elected representatives and enables them to share best practice and the challenges they face.”

A sixth working group dedicated to “senior greens” is currently being set up.

A government that neglects social justice

“The congress on 22 March will be an opportunity to call on our members to get even more involved in these working groups. It will also be a time to mobilise the troops.” Stéphanie Empain and François Benoy have taken a hard line on the government’s action.

Firstly, on the social front: “This government is pursuing a policy that neglects social justice. Many people are no longer able to live in Luxembourg because of a lack of housing. And what is the government doing? Tax breaks for investors and developers. That’s not the way to create more affordable housing. The solution is to mobilise empty land and buildings. But the government doesn’t want to do that.”

Regarding the environment: “We have been widely criticised for having an environmental transition policy based more on obligations than on incentives,” says Empain. “And what is this government doing? It’s leaving people on their own and limiting aid so that people are no longer involved in the energy transition. The drive towards a sustainable economy and climate neutrality is not just a private pleasure for déi Gréng. It contributes to making us more resilient in economic and energy terms. And when it comes to security, energy policy is a very important element. I don’t understand how we can encourage people, as this government is doing, to go back to fossil fuels.”

“The most serious example for us is environmental policy,” adds Benoy. “We have an environment minister who does everything but protect the environment. His law on the protection of nature dismantles the environmental policy pursued in recent years.” It constitutes, says Benoy, “dangerous regression.”

A reform of the statutes under study

At the meeting, déi Gréng will detail his roadmap for the next twelve months.

On the political front, a motion will be made public, a resolution to strengthen the country’s democracy that details the party’s commitments in the face of strengthening rightwing populist forces. Among the measures cited are the introduction of a “national action plan for democracy,” the creation of a citizens’ council, the right to vote for foreign residents and the right to vote voluntarily from the age of 16. In the Chamber of Deputies, the party will defend the reform of the law on press aid in Luxembourg and work to strengthen the resources of the media regulatory authority ALIA and the Press Council to combat disinformation.

On an organisational level, déi Gréng will work to strengthen links with economic players and civil society and to reinforce its external communication. In particular, Empain says, it will seek to fight the green-bashing that continues by being more active on social networks such as TikTok and doing fact-checking.

A statutory reform is also being considered and should be addressed at next year’s congress.

This article in French.