The Greens (Luxembourg)
| The Greens | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader |
Sam Tanson and Christian Kmiotek (Co-Presidents) |
| Founded | 23 June 1983 |
| Headquarters |
1, rue du Fort Elisabeth L-1463 Luxembourg |
| Youth wing | Déi jonk gréng |
| Ideology | Green politics[1] |
| Political position | Centre-left[2] |
| International affiliation | Global Greens |
| European affiliation | European Green Party |
| European Parliament group | The Greens–European Free Alliance |
| Colours | Green |
| Chamber of Deputies |
6 / 60 |
| European Parliament |
1 / 6 |
| Website | |
| http://www.greng.lu | |
|
Politics of Luxembourg Political parties Elections | |
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The Greens (Luxembourgish: Déi Gréng, French: Les Verts, German: Die Grünen) is a green[1] political party in Luxembourg.
Party History
1983-1993
The Greens were originally founded in 23 June 1983. In the 1984 election, the party got two seats in the Chamber of Deputies. In 1985, however the party split between two parties one called 'GLEI' (Green List, Ecological Initiative) and the other called 'GAP' (Green Alternative Party). They competed separately in the 1989 election, where each won two seats.
1994-2003
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In 1994, the two parties presented a common list for elections, and won five seats in the Chamber, winning nearly 11% of the vote and making this alliance the fourth force in parliament. In that year's European elections, which coincided with the national elections, the party won one of the six seats allotted to Luxembourg. In 1995, the two parties merged officially. That same year, the Greens' MEP, Jup Weber, left the party again, forming the Green and Liberal Alliance and joining the European Radical Alliance in the European Parliament.
In the 1999 elections, the party lost a considerable number of votes (falling to 9%), but retained its five seats in the Chamber and re-gained its single seat in the European Parliament. It received some competition from the Weber's Green and Liberal Alliance, who received 1% of the vote and no representation.
2004-now
In 2004, the Greens regained the ground that they had lost in 1999 and won two additional seats in the Chamber. Although they won 15% of the vote in the coinciding European elections, placing them third, they retained only their single seat. The party remained in opposition, but was invited for the first time to coalition talks with the Christian Social People's Party.
In June 2009 elections, the Luxembourg Green Party further increased their European score to 16,83% and sent its outgoing MEP Claude Turmes to Brussels and Strasbourg for a third mandate. In the coinciding national elections, the party kept a status quo (+0,13%). Its 7 Members of Parliament (MP) all got reelected. However, its longest serving MP and founding member Jean Huss declared the following day, that he would retire from parliamentary politics in 2011 to the benefit of Josée Lorsché.
In the 2013 general election, the Greens stagnated at 10.1%, th number of seats dropped to 6. However, the party became part of a three-party-coalition government with the liberal Democratic Party (DP) and the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) led by DP's Xavier Bettel. The Greens now have three ministers, responsible for justice, sustainable development and infrastructure, and environment. It is the first time, that the Greens are part of a national government of Luxembourg.
Ideology & Issues
The Greens are a typical green party. Sustainable development are one of their key issues. However, topics such as an ecological tax reform, renewable energy and energy efficiency or the consolidation of pension funds play an equally and ever increasingly important role. Especially in a country such as Luxembourg, pioneer of a new melting-pot society in Europe, equal participation of migrants is of utmost importance.
Furthermore, in its declaration of principles it has outlined, among others, the following priorities:
- Human rights and solidarity
- Democracy
- Social justice
- Structural change of the economy
- Equality between men and women
- Non-violence
- A commitment to a green and social Europe.
Representation
Seats in the Chamber of Deputies
| Year | Votes | Seats | Deputies[3][4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 5,2% | 2 | Jup Weber (1984-1989) Jean Huss (1984-1987) Guy Bock (1987-1989)[5] |
| 1989 | 12,5% | 4[6] | Jup Weber (1989-1994) Nick Clesen (1989-1994) |
| 1994 | 10,9% | 5 | Robert Garcia François Bausch |
| 1999 | 9,1% | 5 | Robert Garcia (1999-2003) Dagmar Reuter-Angelsberg (2003-2004) [5] François Bausch |
| 2004 | 11,6% | 7 | Felix Braz Henri Kox |
| 2009 | 11,7% | 7 | Felix Braz Henri Kox |
| Election year | % of overall vote | # of overall seats won | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 11.7 | 7 / 60 |
 0 |
| 2013 | 10.13 | 6 / 60 |
 1 |
Seats in the European Parliament
After the 2009 European Parliament elections the party has one representative in the European Parliament. The Greens delegation is part of the European Green Party:
| Year | Votes | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 6,1% | 0 |
| 1989 | 10,4% | 0[7] |
| 1994 | 10,9% | 1 (Jup Weber) |
| 1995 | /[8] | 0 |
| 1999 | 10,7% | 1 (Claude Turmes) |
| 2004 | 15,0% | 1 (Claude Turmes) |
| 2009 | 16,83% | 1 (Claude Turmes) |
Communal government
Since 1993, the party has also competed on the communal level.
Currently, the Greens have 58 local mandates: 39 communal councilors, 16 échevins in 13 communal coalitions, and five mayors, one of whom is a woman. (Tilly Metz in Weiler-la-Tour) The other four mayors are:
- Camille Gira in Beckerich, also a Member of Parliament
- Pierre Bormann in Neunhausen
- Henri Kox in Remich, also a Member of Parliament
- Gaby Frantzen-Heger in Vianden
Since 2000, the Greens have supplied an échevin in Esch-sur-Alzette in a coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party and, until 2005, The Left. The party's échevin is deputy Felix Braz.
In 2005, the Greens won 17,3% and 5 mandates in Luxembourg City. This result had as a consequence a historic coalition change with the Greens ousting the Conservatives as traditional coalition partner. The deputies François Bausch and Viviane Loschetter became échevins in Luxembourg City in a coalition with the liberal Democratic Party.[9]
Organisation
Organisational structure
The Congress is the highest organ of the party, which sets out the party's strategy and political course. It is open to all members of the party. Every two years the congress elects the leadership of the party's organisation. This consists of two speakers, an executive committee, the party board in which the party's youth wing and women's organisation are also represented, an executive council that represents the congress, the treasurer and a financial control board.
Linked organisations
Déi Jonk Gréng is the party's youth wing. The Women's Council represents the women of the party.
International organisations
The Greens are member of the European Green Party and the Global Greens.
See also
- Green party
- Green politics
- List of environmental organizations
- List of political parties in Luxembourg
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Parties and Elections in Europe: The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck
- ↑ Josep M. Colomer (24 July 2008). Comparative European Politics. Taylor & Francis. pp. 221–. ISBN 978-0-203-94609-1. Retrieved 13 July 2013.
- ↑ Chambre des Députés du Grand-Duché du Luxembourg [ed.]: La Chambre des Députés. Histoire et Lieux de travail; Luxembourg; mai 1994
- ↑ Hausemer, Georges [ed.]: Luxemburger Lexikon. Das Großherzogtum von A-Z; Luxembourg; 2006
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 According to a rotation principle, some deputies left the Chamber after only half of the legislature to make room for other elected deputies from their party.
- ↑ Two green parties, the Gréng Lëscht Ekologesch Initiativ (GLEI) - (Green list ecological initiative) and the Gréng Alternativ Partei (GAP) - (Green alternative party) ran for 1989 elections. Both received 2 seats independently.
- ↑ The same two parties also ran for 1989 elections to the European parliament. Therefore, neither the one, nor the other received enough votes to get a mandate.
- ↑ In 1995 Jup Weber left the re-unified Green Party. Therefore déi gréng lost their seat in the EU-Parliament.
- ↑ Fréderique Moser: "Les Verts/déi Gréng. Changer plus vite les choses"; dans: PaperJam, p. 68ff; Septembre/Octobre 2008; Luxembourg
External links
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