My personal presentation on behalf of OLAI

1. What is ‘citizenship’?
Democracy in Luxembourg

2.  Let’s discuss the following:
With your neighbour find a definition of
‘citizen(ship)’and also examples of
actions/behaviour.
2-3 minutes

3.  Ancient Greece is at the origin of citizenship.
Citizens were people who participated in the
decisions of the city. They held civil rights such
as the right to marriage, the right to own
property, free movement, equality before law,
legal protection as well as the right to trade
and other economic activities (excluding
slaves, women and foreigners).

4.  Google: a citizen =
 1. a legally recognized subject or national of
a state, either native or naturalized
 2. an inhabitant of a particular town or city
 “A person who is entitled to enjoy all the legal
rights and privileges granted by a state to the
people comprising its constituency, and is
obligated to obey its laws and to fulfil his or
her duties as called upon”
(businessdictionary.com)

5.  Constitutional monarchy (17/10/1868)
 The 3 powers:
 legislative – creates, discusses and votes laws
(parliament, council of state and the Grand
Duke)
 executive – ensures the execution of laws and
safeguards law and order (government,
Grand-Duke)
 judicial – safeguards the application of laws
(tribunals and courts of justice)

7. The Grand-Duke
Parliament
The seat of the government

8. since octobre 2018

9. Last national elections
in 2018.
Which colour
dominates?
Which political party
could this be?

12. The Prime Minister and the government
Coalition (DP – LSAP – Déi Gréng)
www.gouvernement.lu

13.  60 members of the different parties elected
for 5 years (last election 2018)
And some advisory bodies:
 The Council of State (senate)
 Professional Chambers
 The Social and Economic Council
 The National Council for Foreigners

14. Luxembourg has got 102 communes (2018).
These are local autonomous authorities, they
have an independent budget, political
autonomy under the control of the Ministry of
Interior.
First place to register
upon arrival in the
country.

16.  When were the last elections? Which ones?
 Who can vote in the local (town) elections?
 How many members of parliament are
elected?
 Which parties are in the ruling coalition?
 Who is the current PM?
 Name the 7 parties with a seat in parliament.

17.  1919 women obtain the right to vote
 1972 voting age is 18
 1994 EU citizens able to vote in European
elections
 1999 EU citizens able to vote in local
elections (communes)
 2005 all foreign citizens able to vote in local
elections (communes) if they have lived here
for at least 5 years.

18.  Elections for parliament
 https://youtu.be/YnODUBbHgO0?list=PLI7Crl
-PnBo9eBq29VAyvJxc6bh6Iw1na
 How is government formed?
 https://youtu.be/ZahlP_xwKCk?list=PLI7Crl-
PnBo9eBq29VAyvJxc6bh6Iw1na

19.  There are 4 constituencies for all national
elections (North, South, East, Centre)
 All Luxembourgish citizens are registered
automatically (mandatory vote)
 Citizens of foreign nationality must register
in order to vote in local elections (once
registered it is mandatory from that moment
on)

20.  Local elections (communes) – every 6 years if
registered for at least 5 years and be 18 years
old
 European elections - every 5 years for
citizens of EU) – living in Luxembourg for at
least 2 years and be 18 years old
 General elections - every five years for
Luxembourg nationals and be 18 years old)
 Mandatory vote if registered!

21.  www.luxembourg.public.lu
(info about the country)
 http://www.macommune.lu/en
(info about your local town)
 www.justarrived.lu
 (all useful information)

22.  A conservative country or not?
Three questions
1. Voting age at 16
2. Right to vote for
foreigners (10
years residence)
3. Limitation of
governing time for
ministers (10
years)

24.  Where the Alzette slowly flows,
The Sura plays wild pranks,
Where fragrant vineyards amply grow
On the Mosella's banks;
There lies the land for which we would
Dare everything down here,
Our own, our native land which ranks
Deeply in our hearts.
Our own, our native land which ranks
Deeply in our hearts.

 O Thou above whose powerful hand
Makes States or lays them low,
Protect this Luxembourger land
From foreign yoke and woe.
Your spirit of liberty bestow
On us now as of yore.
Let Freedom's sun in glory glow
For now and evermore.
Let Freedom's sun in glory glow
For now and evermore.
https://youtu.be/5RS0C62vsUI

25.  When the Congress of Vienna (1815) made
Luxembourg a Grand Duchy, a member of the
German Confederation but more importantly, the
country was tied to the Netherlands through a
personal union with King William I. During this
period, Luxembourg flew the Dutch flag, which
looks – apart from different colour shades – very
similar to our current red-white-blue flag.
 The Belgian Revolution in 1830. It was in that
year that Luxembourg flew the flag as we know it
(with lighter colours) for the first time in order to
distinguish itself from the Netherlands.

26.  In 2006, MP Michel Wolter introduced a
legislative proposition to exchange
Luxembourg’s flag for the red lion ensign. He
argued that the similarity with the Dutch flag
often caused confusion and that the red lion was
more popular and aesthetically pleasing.
 He added that the red lion held overwhelming
historical significance and symbolized freedom
and solidarity. During World War II, it for example
represented one of the main symbols of
resistance against the Nazi occupation. Even
though the initiative was supported by
Luxembourg’s Alternative Democratic Party
(ADR), it also met harsh political resistance.

27.  Opponents argued that the change would
simply be too expensive, and that the red lion
was a belligerent symbol standing for an
unwelcome return to nationalism and the
nation state.
 Fun fact: the red lion is the official ensign for
ships registered in Luxembourg and is also
used for aviation. Officials decided to use the
ensign in this context to avoid confusion with
the Dutch flag. (rtl.lu/today)

28.  Knowing what is going on in the country is
also one positive aspect of getting integrated.
Cette photo par Auteur inconnu est soumise à la
licence CC BY-NC

29.  Radio in English (mornings) on Radio ARA
www.ara.lu
 Written press in English (online)
www.luxtimes.lu
 Magazines and English-speaking websites
www.delano.lu
www.chronicle.lu
 News on TV or Facebook: RTL TODAY (also
available as an app) www.rtl.lu

31.  The first Constitution was drafted in 1841, two years
after the independence of Luxembourg in 1839,
followed by the Constitutions of 1848 and 1856.
 The current Constitution of Luxembourg dates from
17 October 1868. Since then, the current Constitution
has been revised multiple times.
 The Luxembourg Constitution is a written
constitution of the rigid system. Because of its
fundamental nature, the Constitution is less prone to
changes than ordinary law.
 The current Constitution is composed of 121 articles,
divided into 13 chapters. It describes the constituent
foundations of the State, the guarantee of the rights
and liberties of the citizens and the organisation of
the powers.

32.  Freedom of opinion, of religion and of speech
 Freedom of assembly and association
 Right to security
 Right for family life, person’s home and
correspondance
 Right to equality
 Right to education
 Right to employment and social solidarity
 Right to vote and be elected

33. Can you think of some?

34. In return to ensure social cohesion:
You are obliged to
 assist people in danger (call 112)
 bear witness in case of accident or violence
 declare and pay one’s taxes
 send children to school (until age 16)
 respect the environment and common heritage
for future generations
 Vote when registered
Among others

35. One example:
 Health system www.cns.lu if you are registered
(all workers are), your medical visit invoices can
be partially reimbursed (invoice to be sent to
CNS* with bank details + social security number)
and all medication covered by prescription a
significant part of the cost is directly deduced at
local pharmacy/chemist.

*Caisse nationale de santé – 125 route d’Esch
2980 Luxembourg

36. All the information a citizen/foreigner needs.
All areas covered: taxation, employment,
citizenship, family, education, transport,
housing, health, immigration
On MyGuichet.lu you can also view some of
your personal data held by the Luxembourg
authorities, check the data and correct it if
necessary, and receive and print out official
documents (eDelivery), from your 100% secure
personal space.

37.  Info about job market www.adem.lu (national job
agency) and Inspection du travail et des mines
www.itm.lu (work related issues)
Ex. 40 hours contract / 26 days paid leave / 11
public holidays - If a public holiday falls on a day
on which the employee would not normally be
working, the employer must grant the employee a
compensatory day of leave.
If their company's specific business circumstances
prevent the employee from taking leave on a public
holiday, the employer must pay the employee
extra.

38.  Info about professional training or adult
courses www.lifelong-learning.lu
 Chambre de Commerce
 Chambre des Métiers
 Luxembourg Business school
 Info about Education in Luxembourg
www.men.public.lu

39.  Literacy taught in German and French (school
books, subjects content, writing and reading).
 Compulsary education from age 4 to 16.
 Luxembourgish mostly as oral communication.
 Teaching of foreign languages is very important
(50% of all lessons).
 4th language is English in secondary schools.
 Some private international schools (French
bac/English IB or A Levels).

41.  For any issue or concern regarding protection
of consumers, there is a national agency that
will inform and support you.
 www.ulc.lu (Union luxembourgeoise des
consommateurs / de Konsumenteschutz)

42. From a multicultural society to an
intercultural society

43.  Different cultures meet, interact and try to
understand each other.
 From these encounters attitudes and
behaviours can change.
 All the cultures mutually enrich each other.
 Values: being open, respecting differences,
mutual understanding, being tolerant,
promoting equal opportunities…
 Mutual compromise = adaptation

44. 30th Nov +1st Dec @LuxExpo The Box
(Kirchberg)
11:00-19:00