The 2018 election saw a decline in vote share and seats for the three traditionally dominant parties — the CSV, LSAP and DP — at the benefit of smaller parties, particularly the Pirate Party, which entered parliament for the first time, and the Greens, whi achieved their best ever electoral result with 9 seats. This latter performance allowed for Bettel's governing coalition to obtain a narrow majority of 31 seats and remain in place with minor changes in government composition, including the appointment of the Greens' Félix Braz as Deputy Prime Minister alongside Etienne Schneider.
Date
There was some debate about when the election ought to be held. Article 56 of the Constitution of Luxembourg defines that deputies are elected for a five-year term, which would mean holding an election by October 2018, five years after the 20 October 2013 snap election. However, article 123 of the Electoral Law of 2003 states that "In case of dissolution of the Chamber, the end of tenure dates for deputies elected after the dissolution, will occur in the year following the opening of the fifth ordinary session." Since the fifth ordinary session would be opened in late 2018, the election would need to be held in 2019, likely concurrent with the June 2019 European Parliament elections, exceeding the constitutional five-year term. The electoral law was thus seen as conflicting with the constitution, and the politicians intended to amend the law and hold general elections in October 2018.[1][2] The law modification of 15 December 2017 removes June as month for regular parliamentary elections and instead fixes the election date when the parliamentary term expires, meaning five years after the previous election.[3][4]
Electoral system
Map of Luxembourg's constituencies with number of seats
Only Luxembourg citizens may vote in general elections. A proposal to extend voting rights to foreigners who have lived in Luxembourg for at least 10 years and have previously voted in a European or local election in Luxembourg, was decisively rejected in a 2015 referendum. Voting is mandatory for eligible Luxembourg citizens who live in Luxembourg and are under 75 years of age.[6] Luxembourg citizens who live abroad may vote by post at the commune in which they most recently lived in Luxembourg.[7] Luxembourg citizens who were born in Luxembourg but have never lived there may vote by post at the commune in which they were born.[7] Luxembourg citizens who were not born in Luxembourg and have never lived there may vote by post at the commune of Luxembourg City.[7]
Campaign
On 2 March 2018, the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) announced an electoral alliance with the Wee 2050-Nee 2015 movement, which had formed itself as a citizen's movement fighting for the "3 x no" in the 2015 referendum. This agreement gives the movement up to eight slots on the ADR's lists.[8]
On 16 October Grand Duke Henri gave Xavier Bettel the task of forming the next government, with the DP, LSAP and DG announcing that they would participate in coalition talks.[10] On 17 October coalition negotiations started between the three parties, with an agreement due to be finished before Christmas.[11] It was expected that the LSAP would take the EU Commission post in the next government, while the DG would increase their influence on ministries.[12] The coalition was confirmed and Bettel was reappointed Prime Minister on 5 December 2018.[13]
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