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The Greens (Luxembourg)
Encyclopedia
The Greens is a Luxembourg
ian green
political party
.
, 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.
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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.
, 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 will retire from parliamentary politics in 2011 to the benefit of Josée Lorsché.
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:
. The Greens delegation is part of the European Green Party
:
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:
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
.
and the Global Greens
.
.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
ian green
Green politics
Green politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
.
1983-1993
The Greens were originally founded in 23 June 1983. In the 1984 electionLuxembourgian legislative election, 1984
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 17 June 1984. Voters elected all 64 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:...
, the party got two seats in the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg
The Chamber of Deputies , abbreviated to the Chamber, is the unicameral national legislature of Luxembourg. 'Krautmaart' is sometimes used as a metonym for the Chamber, after the square on which the Hôtel de la Chambre is located....
. 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
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1989
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 18 June 1989. Voters elected all 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:...
, where each won two seats.
1994-2003
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1994
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on June 12, 1994. Voters elected 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.The election coincided with the 1994 European Parliament election.-Candidates:-Overall results:...
, 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
European Parliament election, 1994
The 1994 European Parliamentary Election was a European election held across the 12 European Union member states in June 1994.This election saw the merge of the European People's Party and European Democrats, an increase in the overall number of seats and a fall in overall turnout to...
, 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
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
, Jup Weber
Jup Weber
Joseph 'Jup' Weber is a Luxembourgian politician.Weber was instrumental in the foundation of the original Greens in 1983, and joined the Green List Ecological Initiative when the party split in two in 1985. After the two halves reunited, Weber was one of Luxembourg's six Members of the European...
, left the party again, forming the Green and Liberal Alliance
Green and Liberal Alliance
The Green and Liberal Alliance was a green liberal political party in Luxembourg. It was led by Jup Weber, who was instrumental in founding the Greens and had been one of Luxembourg's six Members of the European Parliament....
and joining the European Radical Alliance
European Radical Alliance
The Group of the European Radical Alliance was a heterogeneous political group with seats in the European Parliament between 1994 and 1999.-History:...
in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
.
In the 1999 elections
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1999
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on June 13, 1999. Voters elected 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.The election coincided with the 1999 European Parliament election.-Candidates:-Overall results:...
, 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
European Parliament election, 1999 (Luxembourg)
The European Parliament election of 1999 in Luxembourg was the election of MEP representing Luxembourg constituency for the 1999-2004 term of the European Parliament. It was part of the wider 1999 European election...
. It received some competition from the Weber's Green and Liberal Alliance, who received 1% of the vote and no representation.
2004-now
In 2004Luxembourgian legislative election, 2004
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 13 June 2004. Voters elected all 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies...
, 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
European Parliament election, 2004 (Luxembourg)
The European Parliament election of 2004 in Luxembourg was the election of MEP representing Luxembourg constituency for the 2004-2009 term of the European Parliament. It was part of the wider 2004 European election. It was held on June 13, 2004...
, placing them third, they retained only their single seat. The party remained in opposition, but was invited for the first time to coalition
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
talks with the Christian Social People's Party
Christian Social People's Party
The Christian Social People's Party , abbreviated to CSV or PCS, is the largest political party in Luxembourg. The party follows a Christian Democratic and conservative ideology and, like most parties in Luxembourg, it is strongly pro-European...
.
In June 2009 elections, the Luxembourg Green Party further increased their European score to 16,83% and sent its outgoing MEP Claude Turmes
Claude Turmes
Claude Turmes is a Luxembourgish politician and Member of the European Parliament for Luxembourg's Green Party, part of the European Greens.Turmes served as rapporteur on the 2008 draft EU Renewables Directive....
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 will retire from parliamentary politics in 2011 to the benefit of Josée Lorsché.
Ideology & Issues
The Greens are a typical green party. Sustainable development are one of their key issues. However, topics such as an ecologicalEcology
Ecology is the scientific study of the relations that living organisms have with respect to each other and their natural environment. Variables of interest to ecologists include the composition, distribution, amount , number, and changing states of organisms within and among ecosystems...
tax
Tax
To tax is to impose a financial charge or other levy upon a taxpayer by a state or the functional equivalent of a state such that failure to pay is punishable by law. Taxes are also imposed by many subnational entities...
reform, renewable energy
Renewable energy
Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
and energy efficiency
Efficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
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
Participation (decision making)
Participation in social science refers to different mechanisms for the public to express opinions - and ideally exert influence - regarding political, economic, management or other social decisions. Participatory decision making can take place along any realm of human social activity, including...
of migrants
Immigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
is of utmost importance.
Furthermore, in its declaration of principles it has outlined, among others, the following priorities:
- Human rightsHuman rightsHuman rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and solidarity - DemocracyDemocracyDemocracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
- Social justiceSocial justiceSocial justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
- Structural change of the economy
- Equality between men and womenGender equalityGender equality is the goal of the equality of the genders, stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.- Concept :...
- Non-violence
- A commitment to a green and social Europe.
Seats in the Chamber of Deputies
| Year | Votes | Seats | Deputies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1984 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 17 June 1984. Voters elected all 64 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
5,2% | 2 | Jup Weber Jup Weber Joseph 'Jup' Weber is a Luxembourgian politician.Weber was instrumental in the foundation of the original Greens in 1983, and joined the Green List Ecological Initiative when the party split in two in 1985. After the two halves reunited, Weber was one of Luxembourg's six Members of the European... (1984-1989) Jean Huss (1984-1987) Guy Bock (1987-1989) |
| 1989 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1989 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 18 June 1989. Voters elected all 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
12,5% | 4 | Jup Weber Jup Weber Joseph 'Jup' Weber is a Luxembourgian politician.Weber was instrumental in the foundation of the original Greens in 1983, and joined the Green List Ecological Initiative when the party split in two in 1985. After the two halves reunited, Weber was one of Luxembourg's six Members of the European... (1989-1994) Nick Clesen (1989-1994) Jean Huss (1989-1992) Robert Garcia (1992-1994) François Bausch François Bausch François Bausch is a Luxembourgian politician. He is currently a member of the Chamber of Deputies and communal council, as well as an échevin, of Luxembourg City. He is leader of the Greens in the Chamber.... (1989-1992) Jean Geisbusch (1992-1994) |
| 1994 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1994 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on June 12, 1994. Voters elected 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.The election coincided with the 1994 European Parliament election.-Candidates:-Overall results:... |
10,9% | 5 | Robert Garcia François Bausch François Bausch François Bausch is a Luxembourgian politician. He is currently a member of the Chamber of Deputies and communal council, as well as an échevin, of Luxembourg City. He is leader of the Greens in the Chamber.... Renée Wagener Camille Gira Camille Gira Camille Gira is a Luxembourgian politician for the Greens. He is a member of the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, representing the Nord constituency since the 1994 election.... Jean Huss |
| 1999 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1999 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on June 13, 1999. Voters elected 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.The election coincided with the 1999 European Parliament election.-Candidates:-Overall results:... |
9,1% | 5 | Robert Garcia (1999-2003) Dagmar Reuter-Angelsberg (2003-2004) François Bausch François Bausch François Bausch is a Luxembourgian politician. He is currently a member of the Chamber of Deputies and communal council, as well as an échevin, of Luxembourg City. He is leader of the Greens in the Chamber.... Renée Wagener Camille Gira Camille Gira Camille Gira is a Luxembourgian politician for the Greens. He is a member of the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, representing the Nord constituency since the 1994 election.... Jean Huss |
| 2004 Luxembourgian legislative election, 2004 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 13 June 2004. Voters elected all 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies... |
11,6% | 7 | Felix Braz Henri Kox François Bausch François Bausch François Bausch is a Luxembourgian politician. He is currently a member of the Chamber of Deputies and communal council, as well as an échevin, of Luxembourg City. He is leader of the Greens in the Chamber.... Camille Gira Camille Gira Camille Gira is a Luxembourgian politician for the Greens. He is a member of the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, representing the Nord constituency since the 1994 election.... Viviane Loschetter Claude Adam Jean Huss |
| 2009 Luxembourgian legislative election, 2009 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 7 June 2009, together with the 2009 election to the European Parliament. All sixty members of the Chamber of Deputies were elected for five years... |
11,7% | 7 | Felix Braz Henri Kox François Bausch François Bausch François Bausch is a Luxembourgian politician. He is currently a member of the Chamber of Deputies and communal council, as well as an échevin, of Luxembourg City. He is leader of the Greens in the Chamber.... Camille Gira Camille Gira Camille Gira is a Luxembourgian politician for the Greens. He is a member of the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, representing the Nord constituency since the 1994 election.... Viviane Loschetter Claude Adam Jean Huss |
Seats in the European Parliament
After the 2009 European Parliament elections the party has one representative in the European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
. The Greens delegation is part of the European Green Party
European Green Party
The European Green Party is the Green political party at European level. As such it is a federation of green parties in Europe.-History:...
:
| Year | Votes | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 European Parliament election, 1984 The 1984 election to the European Parliament was the first since the inaugural election of 1979 and the 1981 enlargement of the European Community to include Greece. It was also the last before the accession of Spain and Portugal in 1987.... |
6,1% | 0 |
| 1989 European Parliament election, 1989 The 1989 European Parliamentary Election was a European election held across the 12 European Community member states in June 1989. It was third European election but the first time that Spain and Portugal voted at the same time as the other members... |
10,4% | 0 |
| 1994 European Parliament election, 1994 The 1994 European Parliamentary Election was a European election held across the 12 European Union member states in June 1994.This election saw the merge of the European People's Party and European Democrats, an increase in the overall number of seats and a fall in overall turnout to... |
10,9% | 1 (Jup Weber Jup Weber Joseph 'Jup' Weber is a Luxembourgian politician.Weber was instrumental in the foundation of the original Greens in 1983, and joined the Green List Ecological Initiative when the party split in two in 1985. After the two halves reunited, Weber was one of Luxembourg's six Members of the European... ) |
| 1995 | / | 0 |
| 1999 European Parliament election, 1999 The European Parliament Election, 1999 was a European election for all 626 members of the European Parliament held across the 15 European Union member states on 10, 11 and 13 June 1999. The voter turn-out was generally low, except in Belgium and Luxembourg, where voting is compulsory and where... |
10,7% | 1 (Claude Turmes Claude Turmes Claude Turmes is a Luxembourgish politician and Member of the European Parliament for Luxembourg's Green Party, part of the European Greens.Turmes served as rapporteur on the 2008 draft EU Renewables Directive.... ) |
| 2004 | 15,0% | 1 (Claude Turmes) |
| 2009 | 16,83% | 1 (Claude Turmes) |
Communal government
Since 1993, the party has also competed on the communalCommunes of Luxembourg
The communes of Luxembourg are the lowest nation-wide administrative division in Luxembourg. They conform to LAU level 2.Within the hierarchy of administrative subdivisions, communes come directly below cantons, which are directly below districts. Communes are often re-arranged, being merged or...
level.
Currently, the Greens have 58 local mandates: 39 communal councilors, 16 échevins in 13 communal coalitions
Coalition government
A coalition government is a cabinet of a parliamentary government in which several political parties cooperate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament...
, and five mayors, one of whom is a woman. (Tilly Metz in Weiler-la-Tour
Weiler-la-Tour
Weiler-la-Tour is a commune and small town in southern Luxembourg. It is located south-east of Luxembourg City. The commune's administrative centre is Hassel....
)
The other four mayors are:
- Camille GiraCamille GiraCamille Gira is a Luxembourgian politician for the Greens. He is a member of the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, representing the Nord constituency since the 1994 election....
in BeckerichBeckerichBeckerich is a commune and small town in western Luxembourg, in the canton of Redange. The town was founded in 1678 during the Fall of Stuarts. It lies close to the border with Belgium....
, also a Member op Parliament - Pierre Bormann in NeunhausenNeunhausenNeunhausen is a commune and village in north-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Wiltz, which is part of the district of Diekirch. The commune is the smallest in population and population density in Luxembourg. The administrative centre is Bonnal., the village of Neunhausen, which...
- Henri Kox in RemichRemichRemich is a commune with city status in south-eastern Luxembourg with just under 3,000 inhabitants. It is the capital of the canton of Remich, which is part of the district of Grevenmacher. Remich lies on the left bank of the Moselle river, which forms part of the border between Luxembourg and...
, also a Member of Parliament - Gaby Frantzen-Heger in ViandenViandenVianden is a commune with city status in the Oesling, north-eastern Luxembourg, with over 1,500 inhabitants. It is the capital of the canton of Vianden, which is part of the district of Diekirch. Vianden lies on the Our river, near the border between Luxembourg and Germany., the town of Vianden,...
Since 2000, the Greens have supplied an échevin
Échevin (Luxembourg)
An échevin is a member of the administration of a Luxembourgian commune. Together, they form the collège échevinal , which helps the mayor run the administration...
in Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette is a commune with city status, in south-western Luxembourg. It is the country's second city, and its second-most populous commune, with a population of 29,853 people...
in a coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
The Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party , abbreviated to LSAP or POSL, is a social democratic political party in Luxembourg.The LSAP is the second-largest party in the Chamber of Deputies, having won 13 of 60 seats at the 2009 election, and has one seat in the European Parliament...
and, until 2005, The Left
The Left (Luxembourg)
The Left is a left-wing and socialist political organisation in Luxembourg. The Left was formed on 30 January 1999 by a group of like minded activists, many of them affiliated with existing political parties, notably the Communist Party of Luxembourg , the New Left, the Revolutionary Socialist...
. 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
Democratic Party (Luxembourg)
The Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is the major liberal political party in Luxembourg. One of the three major parties, the DP sits on the centre-right, holding moderate market liberal views combined with a strong emphasis on civil liberties, human rights, and internationalism.Founded in...
.
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 PartyEuropean Green Party
The European Green Party is the Green political party at European level. As such it is a federation of green parties in Europe.-History:...
and the Global Greens
Global Greens
The Global Greens is a global network of Green parties and political movements. It was founded in 2001 in Canberra, Australia at the First Global Greens Congress, where the Global Green Charter was approved. The Second Global Greens Congress was held in 2008 in Sao Paolo, Brazil...
.
International Comparison
Internationally the Greens which combine green political goals with a cooperative attitude can clearly be compared to the German Alliance '90/The GreensAlliance '90/The Greens
Alliance '90/The Greens is a green political party in Germany, formed from the merger of the German Green Party and Alliance 90 in 1993. Its leaders are Claudia Roth and Cem Özdemir...
.
See also
- Green party
- Green politicsGreen politicsGreen politics is a political ideology that aims for the creation of an ecologically sustainable society rooted in environmentalism, social liberalism, and grassroots democracy...
- List of environmental organizations
- List of political parties in Luxembourg