Business leaders say 'Jo' to foreigner voting rights

(CS) Over 50 Luxembourg business leaders on Wednesday published a newspaper advert in all major newspapers, voicing their support for foreigner voting rights, one of three questions in the upcoming referendum on June 7.

Among the signatories are well-known names from the Luxembourg business landscape, such as EY's Alain Kinsch and KPMG's Georges Bock, but also Paul Helminger of Cargolux or Cactus's Laurent Schonckert.

Publishers Marc Binsfeld and Mike Koedinger have also signed the ad, together with Fernand Ernster of the Ernster bookshops.

Representatives of the cultural scene, such as founder and CEO of Tarantula Distribution Donato Rotunno, or also Jo Kox, administrative director of Casino Luxembourg. For a full list of signatories see the picture below.

In the ad, written in Luxembourgish, the signatories say “yes” to voting rights for foreigners who have lived in Luxembourg for over ten years and who have voted in either a local or European election while resident here.

“We say yes to these voting rights, that are about voting Luxembourgers to the Chamber, because we are of the opinion, that this is a unique chance for Luxembourg and not a threat to Luxembourgers,” the text reads.

“Together with many actors of our society we say yes, because we are convinced that this choice is important for our democracy and right for our country,” the signatories conclude.

Luxembourg nationals head to the polls on Sunday, June 7, in a consultative referendum, which will also decide whether the public is in favour of opening up the vote to teenagers from the age of 16 and limiting ministerial mandates to a period of 10 years.

The Luxembourg government, and the three government parties – the DP, LSAP and déi Gréng – are campaigning for a triple yes. However, they face stiff opposition, with a May survey showing no clear majority for a 'yes' vote on any of the questions.