How Luxembourg parties navigate common policy grounds when campaigning

If you are tired of constant election battles, messy campaigns, unpredicted coalitions and clashing narratives, Luxembourg’s general elections  will be a refreshing change. Scheduled for October 8th, the Chamber of Deputies is set to elect 60 seats. So how do Luxembourg parties campaign when they find commonality on major policies?

Homogeneity in Luxembourg’s electoral system

Luxembourg’s electoral system stands out with compulsory voting, with an exception of certain groups such as Luxembourgers living abroad and citizens over 75 years of age. However, in a population of around 660,000, 47 percent are foreigners who cannot vote in general elections. Foreigners represent the poorest and the most productive share of the population, mostly employed in non-skilled jobs or in the private sector. The Luxembourgish citizens are mostly middle-class/above-middle-class and are employed in the public sector. This results in the country having a small but a very homogenous electorate, which all parties cater to. As Luxemburger Wort journalist Diego Velazquez observes, “The specifics of this electoral system push all parties to the centre as no one wants to promote radical change”. Most parties agree on topics such as EU integration, foreign policy, gender equality, mobility, LGBTQI+ rights and sustainable transition. The overlap in ideologies between parties like the Greens and Christian Democrats is strikingly evident.