Luxembourg

Politics in Luxembourg is particularly driven by its population growth and urbanization, which have given rise to a plethora of new issues such as mounting house prices. With its growing foreign-born population, both the government and the public continue to debate current laws regarding voting rights. Luxembourg does not allow non-citizens who are resident in the country to vote in national elections or referenda, meaning that more than 40 per cent of the current population has no political representation at the national level. While some attempts at expanding voting rights for non-citizens have succeeded, they have not been universally welcomed, with full voting rights rejected in a non-binding referendum in 2015. This has also led to a renewed focus on nationalism and identity politics, including debates over the country’s language. Survey data also show problems with racially motivated discrimination and violence. The government is addressing concerns, primarily through a national action plan on integration, which includes anti-discrimination measures and the promotion of diversity and equal opportunity.  

Looking ahead, it will be important to watch Checks on Government, as some experts have raised concerns about insufficient government transparency in terms of public as well as press access to official government documents.  Additionally, Luxembourg’s lack of ethnically/racially disaggregated data and gaps in laws criminalizing hate speech and hate crimes remain a concern in the context of worries about identity politics. Lastly, Luxembourg struggles with environmental protection. The country has made significant progress with wastewater treatment, but poor ecological quality and the high risk of pollution from agricultural sources may impact biodiversity and public health over the years to come. Together, these issues may impact Social Rights and Equality.