Under the agreement, Lydie Polfer (DP) will remain as mayor, while Serge Wilmes (CSV) will become the first alderman. He will take on responsibity for urban development (in collaboration with the mayor), parks and green spaces, architects, IT and business relations.

The college of aldermen will be composed of a team of seven, Polfer announced on Friday 10 November. Simone Beissel (DP) will continue to be responsible for infrastructure, new construction works (water, electricity and gas) and sports. Patrick Goldschmidt will take over environment and mobility, hygiene and forests. Colette Mart (DP) will keep education, while Isabelle Wiseler-Lima (CSV) will take over the youth, social work and gender equality portfolios. Laurent Mosar (CSV) will be responsible for the budget and finances.

Both sides said the agreement was based on “respect” and “trust”.

6 priorities

Lydie Polfer said that the 6 priorities flow naturally from the unique situation of Luxembourg city. Due to the massive increase in resident population and employment, housing and mobility are the two priorities.

Other priorities are urban development, education and social cohesion, the environment and security. On the latter point, Polfer indicated that studies with police and the judiciary would be conducted to see where further CCTV cameras could be installed, with a particular focus on the area around the central train station. The mayor also noted the willingness of the new college of alderman to have more police officers on the streets, as their staff numbers in the capital had not increased in line with the rise in population.

Further details will be unveiled on 4 December.

Party politics

Questions were raised as to why Maurice Bauer (CSV), who had won more votes than Laurent Mosar, was not named on the executive of the council. Serge Wilmes explained that the local CSV section had undergone a renewal in terms of younger candidates, so Mosar was the only one with previous experience as an alderman,and therefore had been nominated unanimously by the local CSV section to take up the post. Bauer is set to be spokesperson for the CSV section on the council.