RTL Today – It’s official! : Foreigners no longer need to live 5 years in Luxembourg to be able to vote
The five-year residency clause imposed hitherto on foreigners living in Luxembourg to take part in municipal elections has been abolished. It is a step forward for democracy 11 months from the next deadline.
This could well change the game in the next few municipal elections of June 11, 2023. This Wednesday evening, the Chamber of Deputies broke an old lock which always hindered the path to a wider citizen participation in local democracy in Luxembourg. The Grand Duchy was also the only Member State to continue to impose until now a minimum residence clause before being able to participate in the vote for European citizens living on its territory!
It is history since the deputies voted by a large majority this Wednesday evening in the Chamber (only the ADR voted against) the removal of the 5-year residency clause to allow nationals of another EU Member State and other foreign nationals to participate in municipal elections.
By facilitating access to municipal elections, the government and the relevant parliament are making foreigners, who are increasingly numerous, more involved in local political life.
According to figures from the Ministry of Family and Integration and the Center for Intercultural and Social Studies and Training, 33% (75,226) of foreign nationals were unable to register for the last municipal elections in 2017 on the electoral lists because they had not lived in Luxembourg long enough.
REGISTRATION DEADLINES ON THE LISTS ALSO SHORTENED
From now on, it will therefore be possible to participate directly in the municipal elections, on the sole condition of registering at least 55 days before the election.
This is the other novelty voted on Friday in parliament: the new law extends the deadline for registering foreigners on the electoral lists by 32 days. So that the last day to register on the electoral lists will no longer be the 87th day before the elections, as hitherto, but the 55th. This should have the effect of increasing mobilization since election day is closer.
Remember that although Luxembourgers are automatically registered on the electoral lists, foreigners are still required to take steps to register.
On the other hand, a foreign national will always have to live in the municipality for six months to be able to appear on an electoral list and be elected.
The same law defines the mission of organizing the media electoral campaign and political information programs for the Luxembourg Independent Audiovisual Authority (ALIA). At the request of the CSV, this section was the subject of a separate vote and the green light was given by a majority of only 35 votes.