Luxembourg - June 2023

Legislative amendments were approved to comply with planned constitutional changes, which entered into force on 1 July 2023. The amendments expand voting rights for people with disabilities, allowing adults under guardianship (previously excluded from the right to vote) to participate in local, legislative and European Parliament elections. The changes also make it possible for these citizens, as well as voters with mental deficiencies, to be accompanied in the voting booth, previously only possible for physically infirm or visually impaired citizens. Separately, the law on parliamentary inquiries was adapted to account for constitutional amendments allowing a commission of inquiry to be established at the request of one third of deputies, geared towards anticipating problems the commissions may encounter in practice. A third law was approved to govern the Chamber of Deputies’ processing of legislative initiatives proposed by citizens, a right granted by the revised constitution.

Sources: Chamber of Deputies (1), Chamber of Deputies (2), Chamber of Deputies (3), Chamber of Deputies (4), Chamber of Deputies (5), Chamber of Deputies (6), Luxembourg Times

On 11 June, Luxembourg held local elections to elect municipal councillors, aldermen and mayors, which occur every six years. The Democratic Party (DP) held on to its majority in Luxembourg City and increased its vote share from 18.2 per cent to 20.6 per cent across the country compared to the 2017 local elections. The Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) won the greatest share of votes (26 per cent), followed by the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) who won 21.3 per cent of the vote. It was the first time foreign residents were able to vote in local elections immediately after moving to Luxembourg following the 2022 electoral reforms, which removed requirements to reside in Luxembourg for five years in order to access the vote. A total of 50,093 foreign voters registered for the elections, aided by information and awareness raising campaigns. 61 per cent of the candidates were male and 39 per cent were female (compared to 36 per cent for the latter in 2017).

Sources: Luxembourg Times, ALDE Party, Delano (1), Delano (2), Official elections website of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (1), Official elections website of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (2)