On 11 June, Luxembourg heads to the polls to elect local mayors and representatives across the country. For the first time, foreigners living in the grand duchy can vote, regardless of the length of their stay, after a five-year residency requirement was scrapped last year. The move aimed to boost participation by Luxembourg’s large international community in municipal politics after only 22.8% voter turnout in the last local elections in 2017.
“We were the only country in the EU that had this five-year requirement. In other EU countries, you could vote immediately,” said family and integration minister Corinne Cahen (DP). In addition to widening the scope of eligible voters, non-nationals can register to vote up to 55 days before the election, down from 87. This year’s deadline falls on 17 April at 5pm.
Local elections are a rare opportunity for foreigners in Luxembourg to make their voices heard in politics. “In a democracy, everybody must participate,” said Cahen. “We want you to get involved in our country, in our communities. We want you to volunteer, to meet people. We want better living together.”
We want you to get involved in our country, in our communities. We want you to volunteer, to meet people. We want better living together.
To those hesitating to get involved because they don’t plan on staying, the minister said: “Don’t live in the future. You live here today. Participate where you live today. It makes you stronger when you leave--take something with you, perhaps a new language, new life experiences, social experiences--and it makes you stronger if you decide to stay.”
In many ways, communes are the beating heart of the country. Town halls have an important say on the development of housing and infrastructure, transport and essential services, such as water and waste management. They manage pre- and primary school education, daycare facilities and playgrounds but also sports, culture and tourism infrastructure.
“Communes are closest to the people and very often the first port of call. In everyday life, you are permanently dealing with your commune, directly or indirectly,” said Emile Eicher, president of Syvicol, an interest group representing Luxembourg cities and communes.
Municipalities can also make or break business projects. Sanem and Differdange, for example, opposed plans in 2018 for a rockwool factory to start production in their communes, despite government support at the time. The company eventually set up shop across the border in France.
“There are national, regional and municipal zones for big companies,” explained Eicher. “The time is over where we said we welcome as many businesses as possible to the country.”
The sleeping giant
Luxembourg’s foreign voters are a sleeping giant. In the last local elections in Luxembourg City, there were 37,706 Luxembourg residents in the capital compared to 90,698 foreigners. While 27,722 Luxembourgers went to vote--with voting compulsory for them--only 6,677 foreigners turned out, a rate lower than the national average. More than 80,000 non-nationals are eligible to cast their ballot this year.
“When you have nearly 72% of non-Luxembourgish residents in Luxembourg City, of course we don’t want a minority to decide for the majority,” said Cahen. “The nationality isn’t what matters. What matters is what you want for your city.”
Voting is one thing, running for office another. Out of 3,575 candidates who ran for election in 2017, just 270 were non-nationals. But only 15 out of 1,119 elected officials in the last municipal elections were foreigners. As a result, while the international community makes up 47% of the country’s population, they account for just 1.3% of local politicians.
“A lot of parties have international sections. But a lot of people have double nationality, so they are registered as Luxembourgers, which perhaps makes the statistics not quite right,” said Cahen. “I don’t care if you are Dutch, Danish or Syrian. If you have ideas, work in your party. And, if you want, become a candidate. It’s about getting involved.”
The government, as in previous election cycles, has launched the I Can Vote campaign to encourage non-nationals to sign up and political parties, too, are vying for expat votes. Déi Lénk in Luxembourg City in January launched a door-to-door campaign to sign up foreigners in districts they said are underserved, such as Bonnevoie, the Gare and Hollerich.
It is the larger communes in particular that are struggling to attract voters.
“First of all, Luxembourg City has the highest rate of non-Luxembourg residents. Secondly, people who come to Luxembourg often first move to the city. And we see in the statistics that people who have been in Luxembourg for less than five years and young people are registered much less. So here you get all of these things together in Luxembourg City.”
Key issues
While the intricacies of party politics can be overwhelming, it is worth taking the time to get clued up about what communes, current leaders and hopeful candidates are planning on doing about some of the key issues facing the country.
Luxembourg City, for example, is one of the biggest landowners in the grand duchy. An analysis by the Observatoire de l’habitat--a housing market monitoring body--last year revealed the commune as owning more than 50 hectares of buildable land. One hectare is roughly the size of one football field.
“There are communes that should grow, others that aren’t supposed to. This is specified in the land use plan,” said Eicher. “These communes are on the frontline. It’s not enough to build housing but everything around it too--schools, daycare, the logistics...”
And while the government sets the agenda for country-wide transport plans, communes have some autonomy in designing roads and cycling paths on their territory, parking opportunities and the space they grant to different modes of transport.
It’s not enough to build housing but everything around it too--schools, daycare, the logistics...
“It’s not just about cycling paths but also pavements and accessibility,” said Eicher. “A lot of pavements aren’t accessible for persons with disabilities. This needs a lot of investment.”
Voting is a right, which has been granted to more people in Luxembourg than ever before in this upcoming local election. It is also a responsibility, and in a country where it is compulsory for nationals to vote, it is widely considered a civic duty.
“I don’t know it differently,” said Cahen about turning out on election day. “It’s part of democracy. Even if you give a blank sheet of paper, that’s also an expression of something. Election is a nice day. You see your neighbours, meet a lot of people. It’s a bit like a national holiday. So, be part of it.”
To paraphrase and slightly amend John F. Kennedy’s famous words: ask what you can do for your commune, and what your commune is doing for you.
Four areas where communes have their say
Housing: While the housing ministry manages rent subsidies, some communes run additional welfare programmes and affordable housing schemes. By voting on general and special development plans--known as PAG and PAP--town councils impact growth although they are subject to a national land use plan, which sets out areas for urban development in the country. Through the so-called “pacte logement”, communes develop housing in agreement with the government.
Transport: The government sets the agenda for country-wide mobility strategies, including motorways and country roads, the rail network and overland bus services. But communes play an important role in developing their local infrastructure, such as cycling paths, parking, car-free zones or pedestrian areas. They also work to make infrastructure accessible, for example designing lowered pavements for persons with disabilities or adding tactile paving.
Schools: Communes manage pre- and primary school infrastructure as well as the “maison relais” daycare facilities. They also decide how school buildings are designed, opening up pathways for different learning styles versus traditional classroom teaching. Communes ensure enrolment, school transport and the general smooth organisation of day-to-day operations. Education policy, including curricula, is the authority of the government.
Business: Commune budgets are fed by the state but also financed through local business tax revenue. While the government grants business licences, communes have some say on land use as well as operating permits for classified establishments, such as restaurants, night clubs, office buildings or technical facilities. Communes can also team up to form regional industrial zones, co-developing infrastructure and the use of resources.
How to register
To register to vote, non-nationals can either visit their local town hall or sign up via by providing their Luxembourg matriculation number, current address and last foreign address.
Voting is mandatory once registered. Postal voting is available, and exemptions apply in case of last-minute professional or personal affairs taking the registered voter outside of the country. Registered voters who move commune before election day will automatically have their vote transferred to their new place of residence.
provides information about voting and how it works.