To avoid open petitions being penalised by the suspension, the 42-day signing period will be shifted, the parliamentary petitions committee agreed on Wednesday.

This means that the 11 public petitions which opened on 13 March will have 37 days starting 15 April to collect electronic signatures. Signatures gathered before the suspension date will remain valid.

The suspension also applies to paper petitions. Any signatures from 13-18 march will be taken into account. To avoid breaching physical distancing recommendations, the committee stopped accepting paper signatures from 19 March onwards. Collection can resume on 15 April for a further 37 days, though that date could be extended depending on the evolution of the virus.

Citizens may continue to submit new petitions to the committee during the self-isolation period. The committee will continue its work analysing and validating documents.

Anyone aged over 15 and with a Luxembourg social security number may participate in a petition in Luxembourg. Petitions which surpass 4,500 signatures are subject to a debate in parliament.