Democratic Party in Luxembourg — Demokratesch Partei (DP)

It is one of the three largest political parties in the country: it currently holds 14 out of 60 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, Luxembourg's main legislative body. The number of seats a party holds can influence the policy direction and government formation.

Founded in 1955, this party is currently under the leadership of Lex Delles. Notably, Xavier Bettel, the former president of the DP and prime-minister of the county till 2023, solidifying the party's significance within the nation's political landscape. Within the Chamber of Deputies, the party ranks as the third-largest, further underlining its influence and importance in Luxembourg's political arena.

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Leaders

Political Guide

The inner life of a party

At its core, the DP operates through a hierarchical framework comprising several committees

Steering Committee

The Steering Committee is the DP's main decision-making group. On the political side, it discusses current issues and sets the party's direction. On the administrative side, it manages day-to-day operations like planning events and overseeing finances. This committee facilitates the decision-making process for major party initiatives.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee's primary responsibility is to carry out the decisions of the Steering Committee and to coordinate the day-to-day operations of the Party, such as organizing events, managing and communicating with the membership. It ensures that the Party's goals are effectively implemented and that the organization is aligned with those goals.

Regional Committees

The DP's influence extends across the country's electoral constituencies, each managed by a regional committee. There are four constituencies in Luxembourg: South, North, Central, and East. In simple terms, they help make sure every part of Luxembourg has a voice in their government. These committees provide essential support and coordination for the party's activities within and between local sections.

Electoral system divides the country into four constituencies. The number of seats allocated to each constituency is proportional to its population

Key personnel profiles

Prominent among the key figures associated with the Democratic Party is the former party president, Xavier Bettel, who has held the position of Prime Minister of Luxembourg since 2013 till 2023. Bettel's tenure as Prime Minister underscores the DP's significant presence and influence within the Luxembourgish government.

Leaders of the party

Xavier Bettel

Following the legislative elections of 20 October 2013, Xavier Bettel was appointed Prime Minister, Minister of State, Minister for Communications and Media and Minister for Religious Affairs on 4 December 2013 in the coalition government formed by the Democratic Party (DP), the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) and the Green Party (déi gréng).

Carole Hartmann

After the 2018 elections, Carole Hartmann became a member of the Luxembourg Parliament for the Democratic Party (DP). She took office on 6 December 2018, representing the East constituency, succeeding Lex Delles, who moved to the government as minister. Hartmann is also a municipal councillor in Echternach and continues to practice law.

Max Hahn

He has been serving as Luxembourg's Minister for Family Affairs and Integration. He has been actively involved in the development and presentation of the national palliative and end-of-life care plan for the years 2023 to 2026, aiming to enhance the quality of care and support for individuals at the end of their life in Luxembourg.

Lex Delles

The politician is currently serving as the Minister for Middle Class, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, and Tourism in Luxembourg. He assumed this role in the coalition government formed by the Democratic Party (DP), following the 2018 legislative elections. Before becoming a minister, he was a member of the Chamber of Deputies, representing the Democratic Party.

Yuriko Backes

Distinguished diplomat and politician from Luxembourg, born in Japan. Since 2022, she has held the position of Minister for Finances, first woman on this post. Representing the Democratic Party, Backes has steered Luxembourg's financial sector amidst the challenges of rising inflation.

Lydie Polfer

Politician and member of the Democratic Party, has held positions like Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and currently serves as Mayor of Luxembourg City. She has been as a Member of the European Parliament and the Chamber of Deputies.

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Other key members of the party

Collet Flesch

Former Mayor and City Council Member

Marc Hansen

Minister for the Civil Service; Minister for Relations with Parliament; Minister Delegate for Digitalisation; Minister Delegate for Administrative Reform

Claude Lamberty

Member of the Chamber of Deputies

Myriam Feyder

Treasurer of the Democratic Party

The DP is the third largest party in the Chamber of Deputies, behind the LSAP. In the 2023 legislative elections, the party secured 18.7% of the popular vote, solidifying its role as a major political force in the country. Previous elections in the country brought

There are 705 seats in the European Parliament.

These seats are divided among member countries based on their population size.

6 seats

are granted to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in the European Parliament

96 seats

are held by Germany, the most populous EU state, and the neighbor of the GDL

The Demokratesch Partei holding one of these seats means they have a say in the decisions made at the European level. This seat not only allows them to influence laws and policies that affect Luxembourg but also those that impact the wider European community.

The party and its cornerstones

It began in the late 1960s, when the Democratic Party underwent a strategic shift. Becoming more centrist has allowed them to work with both the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) on the right and the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP) on the left. For the moment, they sit between these two parties.

Party views visualization

The political landscape is rather diverse in Luxembourg. Source of the data: politpro.eu

The DP is known for its strong advocacy of civil liberties

Women's rights

It notably legalized abortion and divorce and abolished the death penalty between 1974 and 1979.

Minorities

The party focuses on issues affecting minorities: migrants, LGBTQ+ and single parents.

Secularism

DP is explicitly secular, which holds more significance than its electoral performance suggests.

The DP has been a leading influence in getting other Luxembourg parties to think more globally. They did this by working in several important directions, both those that are specific to Europe and those that are global and important to all of mankind.

Protection of the environment

Protection of human rights

European Union

Political program

The Democratic Party (DP) of Luxembourg has outlined an extensive political program that addresses critical challenges and envisions a sustainable future for the nation.

You can see the complete program on the PD website, but for your convenience, we provide you a direct download link of the program and a condensed summary of their key priorities below.

Sustainable investment initiatives

Public housing

Middle-class relief

Quality of life

Responsible energy transition

Enhancing competitiveness and attracting talent

Innovations and future

Electorate demographics

The party is popular among various important members of the society

Government workers

Salaried employees

Self-employed workers

High-income families

Since 1970, the capital of Luxembourg — Luxembourg City — has always been governed by a mayor from the Democratic Party (DP). Currently, the experienced and dedicated Lydie Polfer holds the esteemed post, a position she has held since 2013, marking a significant period of stability and growth for the city. Polfer, a stalwart of the DP, has worked tirelessly to implement policies that reflect the party's liberal and progressive ideals, focusing on sustainable development, housing, and transportation improvements.

Lydie Polfer, the mayor of Luxembourg City. Photo from the DP Flickr page

Emergence as a major party: 1950s-1960s

Photo from Wikimedia Commons.

• The Democratic Party (DP) traces its history back to the founding of the Liberal League in 1904.
• The present-day party was established on April 24, 1955, succeeding the Democratic Group, which included liberal-oriented resistance fighters aiming to shape the political landscape.
• In 1959, the DP secured 11 seats in the Chamber of Deputies, briefly participating in a large coalition with the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) and the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP).
• By 1964, the DP returned to six seats, but in 1968, it absorbed the Popular Independent Movement, experiencing a resurgence and gaining 11 seats. This allowed it to enter the government with the CSV under Prime Minister Pierre Werner.

Government and reforms: 1970s

Gaston Thorn

Prime Minister of Luxembourg from 1974 to 1979 and president of the European Commission from 1981 to 1985

• The DP remained in coalition with the CSV until 1974, when it gained substantial support in the 1974 legislative elections, securing 22.2% of the votes and 14 seats. This shift led to coalition negotiations with the LSAP, resulting in the DP securing key ministerial positions, including Prime Minister Gaston Thorn.
• Despite economic challenges, the coalition implemented significant social reforms, including the abolition of the death penalty (1974), no-fault divorce (1975), and abortion legalization (1978). Plans for a nuclear power plant in Remerschen, supported by the DP, were abandoned in 1977.

Modern times and the Democratic party: 1980s-2023

Xavier Bettel

Politician, lawyer. The 22nd Prime Minister of Luxembourg since December 4, 2013. Former leader of the Democratic party from 2013 to 2015

• In 1979, the DP with Gaston Thorn, and the LSAP's support, faced Werner in the elections, but the CSV won. In 1980, Gaston Thorn became President of the European Commission, and Colette Flesch replaced him as ministe
• The DP's fortunes waned in the 1984 legislative elections, losing one seat, and trailing the LSAP. The LSAP formed a coalition with the CSV.
• The DP remained in opposition until 1999 when it became the second-largest party in the Chamber of Deputies.
• After the 2013 legislative elections, the DP negotiated a three-party coalition with the LSAP and the Greens, with Xavier Bettel as Prime Minister.