Democratic Party (Luxembourg)

The Democratic Party sits on the moderate centre-right of the political spectrum in Luxembourg. Since the late 1960s, thanks to the secularisation of Luxembourg and the CSV, the party has moved gradually towards the centre, to allow it to form coalitions with either the CSV or LSAP.[29][30] Now, it could be seen to be to the left of the CSV, in the centre, and with more in common with the British Liberal Democrats or German Free Democratic Party than with liberal parties in Belgium or the Netherlands.[29][31] However, the CSV usually prefers forming coalitions with the LSAP to those with the DP, pushing the DP to the economically liberal right.[7]

In economic policies, the DP is a strong supporter of private property rights, free trade, and the free market, although under Thorn's government, the DP greatly increased public sector employment.[32] Taxation plays a major role in the party platform. It is also a supporter of agriculture, particularly the wine industry.[32] It long advocated the advancement of nuclear power, but scrapped plans to build a plant at Remerschen, and now supports renewable alternatives, although not opposing nuclear power in principle.[24] Indicating its priorities, when in government, the DP has usually or always controlled ministries in charge of Transport, Public Works, the Middle Class, the Civil Service, and Energy.[33]

The DP is the most outspoken party in support of civil liberties. Between 1974 and 1979, it legalised abortion and divorce, and abolished the death penalty.[23] It also focuses its attention on the issues of minority groups, particularly migrant groups, but also homosexuals and single mothers.[32] Unlike the Catholic CSV, the DP is notably anti-clerical, which gives it more importance than its electoral performances would suggest.[30]

The DP has led the CSV and LSAP in becoming more internationalist in outlook, focusing on the European Union, environmentalism, and advocacy of human rights abroad.[32] It is the most vocal supporter of European integration, even in a particularly pro-EU country.[34] The party puts great emphasis on the role of the United Nations, and Thorn served as President of the UN General Assembly. The party is centrist on national security, supporting membership of NATO, but having worked to end conscription.[34]

The DP has been consistent in its advocacy of the middle class,[32] and consequently has a very distinctive class profile.[35] When in government, the DP has always held the office of Minister for the Middle Class.[33] Most DP supporters are civil servants, white-collar workers, self-employed people, and those on high incomes.[17] This group has been fast-growing, further focusing the party's electoral socio-economic appeal.[31]

The party's most successful areas electorally are Luxembourg City and its wealthy suburbs, where those groups are concentrated.[31] The Mayor of Luxembourg City has come from the DP since 1970, and the party and its liberal predecessors have been out of the office for only seven years since the foundation of the Liberal League in 1904. The city lies in the Centre constituency, where the DP challenges the CSV for the most seats. However, the party also has some traditional following in Est and the Nord,[31] consistently coming second in each.

The party has notably more support amongst young people,[35] whilst the CSV, LSAP, and (recently) the Alternative Democratic Reform Party tend to receive the votes of older people.[17] Unlike the CSV and LSAP, the DP is not affiliated to a major trade union. The party is particularly popular amongst male voters.[17] Despite its anti-clericalism, DP voters are no less religiously affiliated than the general population.[35]

The leader of the party is the president. Below is a list of presidents of the Democratic Party, and its predecessors, since 1948.

• Lucien Dury (1948–1952)
• Eugène Schaus (1952–1959)
• Lucien Dury (1959–1962)
• Gaston Thorn (1962–1969)
• René Konen (1969–1971)
• Gaston Thorn (1971–1980)
• Colette Flesch (1980–1989)
• Charles Goerens (1989–1994)
• Lydie Polfer (1994–2004)
• Claude Meisch (2004–2013)
• Xavier Bettel (2013–2015)
• Corinne Cahen (2015–2022)
• Lex Delles (2022–)

• Liberalism in Luxembourg

• Dumont, Patrick; De Winter, Lieven (2003). "Luxembourg: Stable coalition in a pivotal party system". In Wolfgang C., Müller; Strom, Kaare (eds.). Coalition Governments in Western Europe. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 399–432. ISBN 978-0-19-829761-1.
• Hearl, Derek (1987). "Luxembourg 1945–82: Dimensions and Strategies". In Budge, Ian; Robertson, David; Hearl, Derek (eds.). Ideology, Strategy, and Party Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 254–69. ISBN 978-0-521-30648-5.
• Hearl, Derek (1988). "The Luxembourg Liberal Party". In Kirchner, Emil Joseph (ed.). Liberal Parties in Western Europe. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 376–95. ISBN 978-0-521-32394-9.
• Thewes, Guy (October 2006). Les gouvernements du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg depuis 1848 (PDF) (in French) (2006 ed.). Luxembourg City: Service Information et Presse. ISBN 978-2-87999-156-6. Retrieved 13 April 2010.
• Schulze, Isabelle (2007). "Luxembourg: An Electoral System with Panache". In Immergut, Ellen M.; Anderson, Karen M.; Schulze, Isabelle (eds.). The Handbook of West European Pension Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 804–53. ISBN 978-0-19-929147-2.

• Official website