Deciding the next move

(JB) Sunday's clear rejection of full foreigner voting rights in Luxembourg closes the door on an idea that would have enfranchised 46 percent of the country's population.

But, far from removing any doubts about the issue, the referendum question appears to have generated more questions about confidence in the government, sovereignty and political inclusion.

“I think the more important issue is that the strong 'no' vote really doesn't change much but it does clarify the reality many of us didn't understand – that the large majority of foreigners makes Luxembourg frightened of losing control of their country,” Paul Schonenberg of the American Chamber of Commerce told wort.lu/en.

Certainly, maintaining sovereignty and attachment to the country's motto “we want to remain what we are” played an important role in the vote, but it was not the only consideration.

Hilary Fitzgibbon of the Irish Club Luxembourg suggested the 'no' vote was intended as a message to the country's leaders, a sentiment that has been confirmed by more than one voter. She said: “Personally, I don't know whether this was people just trying to show they are not happy with the current government. That could be a part of it...I honestly don't think it was meant as an affront to foreign residents. But it might be seen like that.” 

Voting and standing in elections

Others blame the question, one of three posed in Sunday's referendum. The question asked if foreigners should be allowed to vote provided they meet certain criteria, among them a 10-year residence.

But, as some critics point out, the question did not address the other intrinsically linked issue about whether foreigners would then be allowed to stand for election to parliament.

“I thought it strange the fact the government asks for the right to vote but never mentions the right to be elected during the campaign,” Brazil Business Chamber Chairman Laertes Boechat said. “One right goes hand-in-hand with the other. The right to vote and the right to be elected.”

Dean of the Miami University John Dolibois European Center Dr Thierry Leterre said the proposal made in the referendum question was far from ideal. 

“I honestly don't think it was meant as an affront to foreign residents

“It created second class citizens- able to vote but not to be elected,” he said, adding: “It was not a bad move per se as it offered a reasonable compromise. It was nonetheless a compromise against the principal of political equality.”

The information campaign in the run-up to the referendum has also come under fire. Ms Fitzgibbon, an Irish national who campaigned door-to-door in Ireland in the run-up to the referendum on gay marriage, expressed surprise at the lack of direct campaigning with Luxembourg residents.

“It's completely opposite to the way the referendum was run in Ireland (where) every single person was involved. People were going around knocking on doors. (In Luxembourg) I didn't get very much material through my mail box. I didn't see many posters around. I don't know how it was advertised,” she said. 

Moving forward

Despite Luxembourg's 2015 referendum being purely consultative, the government has always said it will respect the outcome, suggesting that full foreigner voting rights will not be considered again, for now.

The next related step by the Luxembourg government will be a reform relaxing the requirements for foreign residents to acquire Luxembourgish nationality.

“If political parties are wise enough to work on a compromise regarding nationality- and in particular get rid of the Luxembourgish language as a precondition, the referendum will be a progress,” said Dr Leterre, looking to the future.

Yet, even with this condition relaxed, gaining nationality to vote may not be an attractive option for everyone, particularly those from countries where they would have to renounced their original nationality to become Luxembourgish.

And for residents who can adopt dual nationality, it is not always appealing. As an Irish national, Ms Fitzgibbon renounced any right to vote in Irish elections when she moved to Luxembourg. She said she wants to vote somewhere but would she adopt Luxembourgish nationality for that right?

“I'm a proud Irish person. I'm very happy with my Irish passport. The only thing that the Luxembourg passport would give me is the vote. I would have to think strongly about taking another nationality,” she said.

“If you are offered something and then it does not happen, it is a potential breach of trust

Breach of trust

Overall, few community leaders expressed surprise at the result of Sunday's referendum, on the question of full foreigner voting rights.

No-one was bitter but, Dr Leterre warns that there is a risk that this result has changed the way foreign residents view their place in Luxembourg.

“The risk is high because voting rights were not adamantly demanded by non-Luxembourgers. It was an offer from the government...If you are offered something and then it does not happen, it is a potential breach of trust.”

Mr Schonenberg is hopeful some of the damage can be repaired by the government, by showing a “commitment to inclusion”. He wants to see the state offer another kind of mechanism that would give foreign residents an “influence commensurate with their contributions.

"That's going to be the challenge going forward. We have to bridge the divide between the foreign and the local community. We will need to figure out ways to bridge the gap for the benefit of the foreign and Luxembourg community.”

Dr Leterre warned against oversimplifying this divide, saying the referendum hides Luxembourg's multi-stratified society. “(the referendum) should not hide that great social divide between state employees and private employees among Luxembourgers. Nor should it lead us to dismiss regional differences and political divisions.

"Among foreigners, there is a great political divide between nationals from the European Union, who carry a common citizenship with Luxembourgers and non-Europeans who cannot," he explained.

Click here to view more articles about the referendum question on foreigner voting right.

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