When Jean-Claude Juncker (CSV)--whose term as prime minister ended in 2013--was in power almost 70% of voters supported the government while the current administration has an approval rating of 51%. The opposition registered an even lower ratio with just 31%. Trade unions and employers did not fare much better with 39% and 37%, indicated the so-called Politmonitor survey commissioned by RTL and the Luxemburger Wort.

“This tells us that the institutions currently have a problem with the people’s perception,” Tommy Klein, client service director at TNS Ilres, told RTL. “One can speculate that this has something to do with the disconnection of the entire political system, where people have less interest in what is really happening in the parties and identify less with the parties.”

The war in Ukraine and the pandemic were the two major topics of concern for voters. While 54% worried that a Nato country might begin a military intervention in Ukraine, 81% were wary of a European economic and financial crisis. Just over half (52%) of the respondents in the survey felt that Luxembourg should allocate more public money into its army.

After the pandemic dominated life for two years, nearly three quarters of those who took part in the study welcome the scaling down of pandemic-related restrictions. Just over half (52%) believe that mandatory vaccination against covid-19 should be required and 34% are convinced that the pandemic will end by the end of the year.

The government and lawmakers have yet to conclude a discussion whether a vaccine mandate for over-50s and healthcare staff should be introduced ahead of a potential next virus wave in the autumn and winter. An expert council earlier this year had recommended making the jabs obligatory.