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Marc Spautz (left) and Laurent Zeimet, party chairman, (right) from the centre-right CSV party. Archive picture credit: CSV on Facebook 

Luxembourg residents voted for new commune councils on 8 October. On Monday, Déi Gréng local party leaders took stock of their losses in the Luxembourg and centre-right CSV officials of their gains nationally.

CSV: “coalition-compliant with all democratic parties”

The CSV came out as the biggest winner of this year’s local elections. According to a RTL report on 6 November, the CSV gained 4.2% since the last local elections in 2011, taking 209 out of the 600 seats. The CSV was the only party that had candidates in every “Proporz” commune across Luxembourg. Moreover, 21 out of the 46 mayors in “Proporz” communes are CSV members.

“Proporz” communes have more than 3,000 residents and local councils are elected using proportional representation.

Laurent Zeimet, CSV chairman, explained his party’s flexibility in forming coalitions:

“We’ll form two coalitions of three, composed of the CSV, DP and déi Gréng in Esch-Alzette and in Bettembourg. And we’ll also form 12 coalitions with the LSAP, 5 with the Greens, and 6 with the Democratic Party, so that there will be different versions and no reason to claim that we’re steering towards one set direction. We are coalition-compliant with all democratic parties and can cooperate very well.”

Sam Tanson, faction leader (left), and François Benoy (right) from déi Gréng (Green party) are seen during a press meeting on 6 November 2017. Picture credit: Déi Gréng on Facebook
Sam Tanson, faction leader (left), and François Benoy (right) from déi Gréng (Green party). Archive picture credit: Déi Gréng on Facebook 

Greens in opposition

Since the former DP-Déi Gréng coalition in the capital will likely be replaced with a DP-CSV alliance, Déi Gréng entered the opposition in Luxembourg City council. During a press conference on 6 November, they presented their agenda for the new city council term.

The expansion of cycling lanes, the support of housing projects, care centres for children in the Gare district and more public green space were the priorities mentioned by the Greens.

According to RTL, Tilly Metz will be responsible for social affairs, Claudie Reyland for environmental matters, Carlo Beck for school affairs, François Benoy for urbanism and Sam Tanson remains faction leader.