Laurent Zeimet voted CSV secretary general

(CS) The CSV national congress saw Laurent Zeimet elected as secretary general, with Michel Wolter confirmed as chairman, amid calls for party unity and ongoing reforms.

Zeimet, mayor of Bettembourg and Luxemburger Wort journalist, earned 63% of votes. The 37-year-old thereby takes over from Marc Spautz, who instead wishes to focus on his role at the head of the CSV parliamentary group. Zeimet was able to assert himself over Serge Wilmes, CSV deputy and president of the party's youth branch CSJ.

Meanwhile, Wolter was re-affirmed as CSV chairman with 83% of votes, with no one running against him.

No national congress without Juncker

Luxembourg's premier used the opportunity to highlight the importance of tackling rising unemployment, as well as reforming public services. Pensions, wages, and education, were addressed by Juncker, as well as the need for sound public financing.

Voicing support for Luc Frieden's financial politics, Juncker did not want to speak about austerity measures, but rather what he termed a “politics of sensible strictness.”

Saying he was still in favour of the Tripartite, he called on the support of the social partners, while making clear that it was the role of the government and the parliament to reach political decisions.

“Politics is a team sport”

With the 2014 elections in sight, the party's leaders also called for internal unity. Outgoing secretary general Marc Spautz said that even though matters were always up for discussion internally, it was necessary for the party to speak in one voice. “Politics is a team sport,” he said.

“We cannot create the impression that there are several parties within the party,” added Juncker.

Chairman Wolter in the meantime used the opportunity to once again proclaim that an outright smoking ban was not currently an option for the CSV, saying that a solution should be found in coalition talks.

Issuing a mild blow against the party's junior coalition partner, Wolter said the LSAP's role in the coalition should not be to simply go against the CSV. “It's about standing up for the country. Anything else is ridiculous.”