Luxembourg has made important progress in recent years. In particular, the recent constitutional amendment strengthening the right to abortion is a significant step towards women's self-determination. This right must remain permanently protected, and we welcome this change.

At the same time, however, we must not stop there. The JIF has formulated clear political demands. Many of these demands coincide with Volt's values and political goals. In particular, we support measures for a fairer and more inclusive health and social system, as well as for greater self-determination over one's own body.

That is why our demands include, among other things:

• Universal and unconditional access to healthcare for all people living in Luxembourg – regardless of administrative status, income or insurance status. Health must not be a market commodity, but must be organised as a public good.

• The expansion of a solidarity-based public healthcare system, for example through public health centres, better working conditions in the healthcare sector, the expansion of the tiers payant system and the full coverage of necessary treatments, including psychological care.

• The consistent fight against gender-specific medical inequalities, for example through more research into women's health, the recognition of previously underdiagnosed conditions such as endometriosis or PCOS, and the systematic integration of a gender perspective into medical education, research and practice.

• Strong sexual and reproductive rights, including safe, free and non-discriminatory access to abortion, free contraceptives and comprehensive affective and sexual education.

• The fight against sexist, sexualised and institutional violence as a central public health issue, with better support structures, psychotraumatological care, prevention and training of specialist staff.

• An ambitious mental health policy that takes the social causes of stress, burnout and mental strain seriously, for example through better working conditions, stronger prevention, better care and measures against precariousness and poverty.

• More social justice and economic equality, including measures to combat poverty, strengthen the public pension system and better recognise the realities of life marked by gender inequalities.

However, we noticed something in the media coverage of the feminist march. So far, none of the major news outlets – neither the Luxemburger Wort, nor RTL or L'Essentiel – has mentioned that political parties also actively participated in the march and protests. None of the published photos show a party flag. Given the large number of photos published from the demonstration, this seems at least like a conscious editorial decision.

This raises questions. After all, the march was about clearly political issues, and the JIF, together with other organisations, formulated concrete demands for politicians. In such a context, it would be quite relevant for the public to see which political actors were present – and which were not.

It is also striking that the two governing parties were nowhere to be seen at the march. In general, most of the parties seemed to be absent. Representatives of the LSAP, déi Lénk, the KPL and déi jonk Gréng were clearly visible, according to our observations. On the other hand, no delegations from the DP, CSV, Pirates or ADR were recognisable.

This raises the question of why the media did not pick up on this aspect. The media have an important responsibility to provide citizens with comprehensive information – including information about which political parties are present at social protests, and which are not. Transparency in this regard is part of a lively democratic debate.

For us, one thing remains clear: equality is not a symbolic demand for one day a year, but a permanent political task. As a progressive European party, we are committed to a society in which all people, regardless of gender or identity, can live freely, safely and equally.

International Women's Day reminds us that progress is possible. Now it is time to push forward.

We should not have to choose between celebrating the overthrow of a dictator like Maduro or the collapse of the international order.

But this is precisely the impossible dilemma that the US has presented us with through its intervention in Venezuela. From Sánchez in Spain, who signed a statement warning the US together with several South American governments, to Meloni, who declared the intervention legitimate, reactions in Europe have varied, culminating in a statement by Von der Leyen that was remarkably lacking in political significance. Ironically, this situation shows how the US's new national security strategy exploits internal divisions within the EU to weaken us, a goal that has been explicitly stated.

However, we can choose not to remain inactive in the face of these events. Even given the EU Commission's inability to act, Member States could establish a European constituent assembly – an EU 2.0 – whose representatives would be democratically and directly elected by citizens. They could also take steps to create new supranational alliances to put pressure on authoritarian leaders like Trump and hold them accountable for their actions – possibly abandoning the moral superiority and double standards that have alienated the Global South.

Or even, without wanting to go that far immediately, EU states could finally decide tomorrow to activate Articles 42 and 46 of the Treaties, laying the foundations for a common defence under the supervision of the Parliament. They could also activate Article 311 and lay the foundations for a common tax system by building up their own economic resources, which would have the dual advantage of stopping the financial losses caused by tax evasion by large multinational companies and supporting citizens who are tired of having to choose between financing wars and making a living.

In the face of a concrete threat such as a military attack, those who do not change are doomed to failure. The EU has one last chance to reshape the future. Volt sees the only solution to such a problem in the European countries moving forward together and standing united. Let's seize the opportunity now!

Article by Francesca Romana D'Antuono, Co-President of Volt Europa

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LuxTrust bears enormous responsibility for key digital processes in our country – from government services to education and the financial sector. At the same time, it is a relatively small company. This discrepancy between responsibility and organisational resources is highly problematic. Critical national infrastructure must not depend on an undersized player that clearly reaches its limits in a crisis.

LuxTrust's de facto monopoly position in Luxembourg is particularly serious. There are no serious alternatives and, above all, no functioning backup or alternative systems. If LuxTrust fails, the country comes to a digital standstill. Such a ‘single point of failure’ structure contradicts all the basic principles of security, resilience and risk management, especially in a country that sees itself as digitally advanced and an international financial and administrative centre.

Dependence on a single certificate has become so widespread that a failure has immediate and massive consequences for people's daily lives. Schools are unable to function: teachers cannot enter grades, view student data or fulfil their legal obligations. Banks cannot enable logins or transfers, which causes serious difficulties for both individuals and businesses. Citizens lose access to MyGuichet, cannot submit applications, meet deadlines or even view their own data. The functioning of the state apparatus itself is also severely restricted. A single technical defect is enough to paralyse central social processes.

It is also extremely worrying that this failure occurred at the end of the year, of all times – a period when schools, banks and government institutions are under considerable time and work pressure to complete their tasks. Whether this was a targeted cyberattack or simply an overload of the system is secondary. In both cases, such a scenario should not be possible in a modern constitutional state. The lack of resilience is a systemic failure.

In the worst case, such failures could even endanger human lives, for example if critical administrative or financial processes in the health or social sector were blocked. Against this backdrop, any discussion of digital elections based on the LuxTrust certificate seems downright negligent. A failure during an election process would be a digital worst-case scenario and would inevitably lead to a massive and lasting loss of trust in democratic institutions and processes.

The recent incident proves we need European interoperability, not Luxembourg-specific patches.

At the same time, the government must be transparent about the strategic choices it is making. Luxembourg is part of the European efforts to introduce a European Digital Identity (eID) and strengthen cross-border authentication. If the government is de facto waiting for the rollout of the European alternative instead of investing in structural reforms of the current system, it must say so openly.

Citizens, schools, businesses and administrations have a right to understand the roadmap and how long Luxembourg will continue to rely on LuxTrust as a single pillar. 

We also demand that the government lays out a plan on how the transition to European solutions will be organised and what interim safeguards will protect them against further large-scale failures.

Volt Luxembourg emphasises that the core issue is architectural: a critical national infrastructure must not be designed around a single proprietary authentication provider. Luxembourg urgently needs a shift towards open, interoperable standards, so that multiple certified providers public and private can offer secure access to state and financial services. Allowing other secure APIs and standards-compliant identity providers would immediately reduce the systemic risk posed by a single point of failure and align Luxembourg with best practices and European developments.

Volt Luxembourg therefore calls on the government to take urgent actions:

• the establishment of independent and regular monitoring of security, resilience and failure mechanisms for all critical digital identity and authentication services, with transparent public reporting proportionate to the importance of this infrastructure;

• a clear, public roadmap for Luxembourg's transition to European digital identity solutions, including the European Digital Identity framework, with concrete timelines, milestones and interim safeguards, so that citizens and businesses understand how long they will remain dependent on LuxTrust and how continuity of service will be guaranteed; 

• the immediate opening of government and public-service authentication interfaces to secure, standards-based alternatives, enabling multiple certified identity and authentication providers (using recognised open protocols and complying with European regulation) to connect alongside LuxTrust, thereby breaking the existing monopoly and ensuring that no single failure can again paralyse the entire country.

Digital services are critical infrastructure. Their stability, security and redundancy are a government responsibility. Anything else jeopardises not only people's everyday lives, but also their trust in the state and ultimately in our democracy.

This year has been full of energy, encounters and visions for a stronger Europe. Particular highlights included the Marches for Open Borders, where hundreds of people demonstrated against the reintroduction of border controls in Europe, and the Volt Europa General Assembly in Frankfurt, where over 1,700 Volters from all over Europe came together to discuss the future of our continent. Here, we once again saw what makes Volt unique: our genuine European action, across borders, united by common values and goals.

As a European movement, we look back on 2025 with pride: we have continued to work to make Europe more democratic, sustainable and fair. Above all, we have shown that a new political generation is ready to take responsibility for the future of our continent.

Looking ahead to 2026, Volt Europa's key political priorities remain clear:

• Building a strong European transport system in which trains, buses and night connections connect people across the continent.

• Creating a common European defence and army to ensure peace, security and sovereignty in a changing world.

• Working towards affordable housing across Europe, so that having a home is not a privilege but a fundamental right.

• And above all: the goal of a united European democracy in the form of a federal union, sometimes referred to as the ‘United States of Europe’.

This vision is important to us: a Europe that decides, acts and protects together. A Europe that is strong because it is united.

As the year draws to a close, we would like to thank everyone who has been involved, discussed, organised or simply given hope this year. Volt Luxembourg is proud to be part of this European movement and we look forward to a new year full of ideas, actions and progress! Don't hesitate to take a look at our calendar for upcoming events. We look forward to seeing you there.

Happy holidays and a good start to a European 2026!

Our statement remains the same. In our election manifesto for the 2023 Chamber elections, we said and demanded the following, with which we continue to fully agree:

Unfortunately, conservative tendencies can be observed in more and more countries around the world, which has a major impact on women's rights. In June 2022, the US Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 “Roe v. Wade” ruling. With the decision of the constitutional judges, states can now largely or even completely ban abortions. Conservative-ruled states immediately took action. In Europe, too, voices have been heard for some time again opposing women's abortion rights. In 2003, Croatia amended its abortion law and since then doctors have had the right to refuse the procedure on grounds of conscience. For this reason, more and more Croatian women now travel to Slovenia to have abortions in the neighbouring country. In November 2020, Poland also tightened its abortion laws, which were already considered very strict: Abortions in the case of malformations are now considered illegal.

We at Volt are watching these activities with horror. Women have long fought for these rights, which they are now suddenly being asked to give up. Not to mention the fact that strict bans are giving rise to illegal practices that put the lives of aborting women at great risk (both for medical and economic reasons).

The right to abortion is one of the fundamental rights of every woman and pregnant person. We do not want to risk that with a sudden change of government; this fundamental right can suddenly disappear. Therefore, we demand that the right to abortion be included in the Luxembourg constitution (we believe it should be in every European constitution). Our proposal would add a sentence to Article 12 on individual freedom:

No one shall be deprived of the right to a voluntary termination of pregnancy, and no one shall be deprived of the right to a voluntary termination of pregnancy with a maximum exercise period of less than 12 weeks' gestation. (“Nul ne saurait se voir dépourvu du droit à l’interruption volontaire de grossesse et nul ne peut être privé du droit à l'interruption volontaire de grossesse avec un délai maximal d'exercice inférieur à 12 semaines de grossesse.”)

Marches for Open Borders: On Saturday, people from all over Europe took to the streets with Volt to send a message for a strong, open and united Europe.

Hundreds of people took to the streets at border crossings on Saturday to send a message for freedom and against internal European border controls with the ‘Marches for Open Borders’. The action has once again brought the demand for a borderless Europe into the public debate.

A particularly large number of people attended the demonstration in Frankfurt (Oder). In the Polish twin town of Słubice on the other side of the Oder, the demonstration had initially been banned for fear of right-wing extremist riots. The demonstrators from both sides gathered in Frankfurt (Oder) for the march and were invited by the mayors of both cities to a joint citizens' picnic on the Polish side.

In Luxembourg, too, demonstrations were held again at the border triangle on the occasion of the March for Open Borders. The crowd of around 75 demonstrators started in Apach (France) and then marched through Perl (Germany) and across the Moselle bridge to Schengen (Luxembourg), where closing speeches were held.

The marches, coordinated by Volt Germany, took place on the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement – a milestone in European integration that is increasingly being undermined today. Over the last few years, federal governments have introduced and tightened border controls with neighbouring countries without a solid legal basis. "We will no longer accept this restriction of our freedom of movement. That is why we have called on the EU Commission to open infringement proceedings against Germany and now also Poland,‘ says Damian Boeselager, MEP for Volt. ’Today, we are protesting for our freedom at ten border points across Germany."

Stationary border controls have real and damaging effects on European integration, the economy and our individual freedoms. ‘Luxembourg, which has always been a symbol of European unity and cooperation, is particularly hard hit by these controls,’ emphasises Philippe Schannes, co-president of Volt Luxembourg. ‘Without cross-border workers, Luxembourg would be doomed. The border controls are a mockery and are once again fuelling prejudice against people from other EU countries. We want to see European cooperation, not symbolic politics.’

Millions of Europeans who commute, travel or trade across borders every day are affected. For them, border controls mean not only more bureaucracy and waiting times but also rising costs and a lower quality of life. The waiting times for goods alone result in losses of several billion euros per year for businesses.

‘Free travel, trade and the right to live in Europe are important to many people. That's what we're standing up for today,’ said Isabel Arens, co-initiator of the March for Open Borders. Volt will continue to campaign for the preservation and restoration of European freedom of movement – as the foundation of a united Europe that puts freedom, solidarity and humanity above national interests.

(photos by Thorsten Janz, @photogenitaet) 

The demands of the organiser, Rosa Lëtzebuerg, remain the same and are in line with Volt's ideals. Among other things, it is important to us that protection against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender characteristics is finally enshrined in the constitution. Volt also calls for the unrestricted equality of all family forms, in particular the automatic recognition of parenthood for queer and same-sex couples, as well as equal access to parental leave and birth leave.

Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring that trans and intersex people have access to self-determined healthcare that is fully covered by public health insurance. Equally important to us is the legal recognition of non-binary people in order to break down the rigid binary gender system and create space for diverse identities.

(photo by Laurent Blum, Luxemburger Wort)

We know that despite the progress already made, there is still a lot to be done. There is still a lack of comprehensive constitutional protection, comprehensive and sensitive healthcare, and complete equality for all family forms. In addition, inclusive education must be strengthened and queerphobic violence must be consistently combated so that everyone can truly live freely and safely.

For us at Volt, one thing is clear: our commitment to the rights of LGBTQIA+ people will not end until true equality and acceptance for all are a matter of course. We will keep fighting – for a society that celebrates diversity and has no place for discrimination.

The central importance of the Schengen Agreement lies in the abolition of stationary border controls between the participating countries. The agreement is considered one of the greatest achievements in the history of the EU and has significantly advanced European integration.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement, we at Volt Europa were also there to commemorate its significance and stand up for a united Europe. We were able to view the original document on the newly renovated ship and visit the Schengen Museum.

The celebrations were overshadowed by border controls, which are now being carried out not only in Germany but in eleven countries in the Schengen area. This symbolic policy is not only an imposition on commuters and restricts our freedom of travel and trade, it also jeopardises our European values. Volt therefore strongly condemns these border controls (Our statement on the border controls).

European cohesion is more important today than ever before, as it is a shield against global uncertainties and a key to shaping the future: Whether it is climate change, migration, pandemics or geopolitical tensions, no EU country can tackle these challenges alone. Only together can Europe carry weight on the world stage and defend its values. With new threats at its external borders and an uncertain transatlantic relationship, European security and defence policy is also coming increasingly into focus. Trade conflicts with China and the US, supply chain problems and technological dependencies show that Europe must become more economically sovereign.

If the spirit of Schengen leaves our countries and our hearts, we will lose much more than the Schengen area.

(Jean-Claude Juncker, former President of the European Commission)

As part of the solution, Volt wanted to offer women a platform. Together with Volt France, Volt Belgium and Volt Switzerland, we gave women a voice.

Public spaces are places for interaction, encounters and the co-construction of society. As such, they must be representative, diverse and safe.

For several years, my life followed a routine of kids, work and bed. Then my kids became teenagers. And then there were the municipal elections. And the Parity Act [in France]. So I raised my hand, to find out what we were doing with my taxes and also to propose actions for our young people. So I got into politics because of or thanks to the Parity Act. And I haven't been disappointed! Since then, I haven't stopped getting involved in politics, according to my abilities and aspirations. One thing is certain for me now: I no longer want to leave it to others to decide my future, or that of my children. – Anne G.

In Luxembourg, only 21 of 60 (35%) members of the Chamber are women. There are 16 female mayors in 102 municipalities (15.6%). And only 37 of the 225 alderman mandates (16.4%) are held by women.

I have been involved in Volt since I was 18, and I was able to move up from my local branch in Toulouse to the national office, and stand as a candidate in three elections. This experience gave me confidence and a better understanding of politics, including its less attractive aspects such as the lack of women involved. I think that every party must act for gender equality internally, beyond political discourse. – Élise M.

History is full of talented women who dared to do things and showed the way. Today, too many women do not get involved or dare not get involved in politics.

Having become involved in politics late in life, the trigger was ‘what kind of world will I leave to my grandchildren?’ Volt's main objective is medium- or long-term and corresponds well to their adult life span. But it still needs to be worked on now. In my opinion, my motivation is marked by femininity ... It has to do with transmission to humans, starting with the protection of my own family, other than by a purely financial inheritance, which remains a rather more masculine commitment, in general, of course. – Christine G.

Apprehensions, lack of moral, financial and logistical support, psychological or educational barriers are all reasons why women still withdraw today, even though they have the desire and the skills to participate actively in the political life of their country.

Being a woman in politics means sharing responsibility for our common destiny. Why should it be a problem to be a woman in politics? There is no reason why it should be. Freedom means participation! – Anne Ch.

In our daily lives, we see both women and men encouraging, advising, debating, innovating, reflecting, proposing, organising, using diplomacy and self-control on a daily basis. Having a sense of commitment, listening, being a team player, being strategic, or even resilience, honesty, eloquence, etc. are human qualities and are not related to gender.

Getting involved in politics is difficult, but essential, especially when you are under-represented and have little say in the matter. I chose Volt because this party embodies my values, but also because it truly applies parity and shared leadership. Here, equality is not just a promise, it is a reality built every day. – Valérie C.

There are still many barriers to women's participation in politics, and we are clear-sighted about the battles that remain to be fought. But on this 8th of March 2025, we all want to say together: women have their place in the discussions and the co-construction of our society.

I got involved in politics so that women would be represented, visible and listened to. I'm fed up with this pseudo-parity where politicians speak on behalf of all citizens, including female citizens. I have also joined a European party to ‘duplicate’ parity practices at the European level or in other European countries if they are relevant in the French context. – Christine P. 

We want to send a strong message and a call to action:

We encourage all women to get involved in politics, whatever the nature and degree of that involvement, and we encourage those around them to help them on their journey and support them in their actions!

We call on all political parties to put in place measures to include more women and make it easier for them to get involved!

My political commitment came quite naturally to complement my involvement in associations at the time of the legislative elections of June 2024 because I wanted to work to see the realisation of what I believe in: a federal Europe. I am not committing myself as a woman, but as an individual who has convictions, projects, skills and a lot to learn, just like everyone else. You shouldn't be afraid of the difficulties along the way, you just need to surround yourself with caring people who have the same aspirations for our society. I found a space at Volt that makes room for women, and gives them the support and resources they need to fully develop and flourish in politics. I am committed to strengthening this dynamic because I believe that it is together, and not against each other, that we can truly move forward. – Elisa C.

We started by strengthening parity in the public arena: electoral lists, round tables, media, etc. It is time to take a step further, by creating real spaces for inclusion, expression and projects for women (within parties, in decision-making bodies, etc.), subsidies dedicated to projects by and for women, as well as enhanced external communication. Women need to be present more generally and systematically on the political scene.

I got involved in politics at Volt because I felt that we were in danger of losing Europe, which is the only political organisation that offers hope for me. National politics has had its day; there is nothing new to be expected from it. I don't feel that I have made a commitment as a woman but rather as a person to participate in the perpetuation of Europe, so much the better if I actually participate in the advancement of parity in political life. – Nadine L.

It is high time that our public policies were made by and for all our fellow citizens.

My political commitment was obvious. The fact that I am a woman did not even cross my mind. I was a member of society and if I did not want to regret that it did not represent me, it was up to me to act. Because it is democracy and Europe that I choose after all. Women, daughters, mothers, citizens, let us take and defend our place in the political future. – Marianne R-K.

Elon Musk first used X to help bring Donald Trump to power, and now he has even become part of his administration. Trump, who was previously banned from Twitter for spreading fake news, is now once again allowed to spread disinformation and hate on X along with all the other populists. In recent months, we have seen Musk's vision for the once independent Twitter: the platform is being used as a political weapon to weaken European countries. Extreme voices that suit Musk and Trump well are amplified by X, critical voices are suppressed and disinformation is given free rein. This undermines our democracy and gives Musk and Trump a power that no one should have.

Although X is also an important platform for Volt, it has now become so far removed from our values that we are drawing the line here. We must never forget that social networks in private hands are not a public space and that the rules are not set by us, but by the owners. Musk's new algorithms suppress freedom of speech and cause tweets outside the right-wing populist spectrum to fizzle out – no matter how much you may shout.

That is why we are now deciding that we no longer want to play by these rules. We are now deciding to turn our backs to X, in the hope that other politicians will follow us. This is an exciting step. X gave us the reach that platforms like Bluesky and Mastodon don't directly offer. But Volt stands for progress like no other party. Together, we are fighting for a world in which social media connects rather than divides; in which extremism is reduced rather than amplified. In which we better regulate tech companies. A world in which we create our own European social media guided by values.

The Hague can no longer stand by and watch as an American tech billionaire divides us, weakens us and undermines our democracy. Everyone with an X-account, including non-politicians, has the opportunity to break X's dominance. You can all make a difference with your own #eXit and give the alternatives a chance.

So remember: As of today, we can only be found outside of X. We are already ‘tweeting’ on Bluesky and in the European open-source project, the Fediverse, on Mastodon. We hope to see you there as well.

Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/voltluxembourg.org

Mastodon: https://toot.community/@voltluxembourg

The members of Volt Luxembourg were joined by: Slavomír Maňásek from Volt 🇨🇿 Czechia (and representative of Volt 🇪🇺 Europe), Inês Bravo Figueiredo from Volt 🇵🇹 Portugal, Antoine Jendzio--Verdasca from Volt 🇫🇷 France and Mike Winkel from Volt 🇳🇱 Netherlands. It was a pleasure for us to welcome so many Volters who had travelled such long distances.

Thanks to the required majority, the following items were voted on:

• Validation of the 2024 cash register

• Adoption of the 2025 budget

• New composition of the board

• Amendment of the statutes

The new statutes can be found here: ➡️ To the statutes ⬅️

The board now consists of 6 members, namely:

• Aurélie Dap, co-chair

• Philippe Schannes, co-chair

• Daniel Silva, general secretary

• Conny Jaroni, treasurer

• Lara Marwaha, events and social media lead

• Alexandre Moreno, community lead

After the assembly, we went out for lunch together and showed our friends who had travelled from further afield the capital of Luxembourg.

Volt Luxembourg is looking forward to a new year in 2025 and will continue to advocate for pragmatic and new policies! In the years to come, we will have to continue to stand up for foreigners living in Luxembourg, because the disparity is growing ever greater. With 47.2% foreigners, just over half of the population is eligible to vote in national elections. In the last municipal elections, only 20% of foreign residents exercised their right to vote and only 1.9% of elected officials do not have Luxembourgish citizenship. In other words, there is an enormous disparity between the population, the electorate and those elected. And it is precisely this democratic deficit that we must address in the future, by motivating foreigners to make more use of their existing right to vote and by advocating a general right to vote for all residents in Luxembourg.

In the wake of Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. presidential election, we find ourselves at a moment of profound reflection. The rise of populist, nationalist ideologies on both sides of the Atlantic presents a grave challenge to the values of cooperation, solidarity, and peace that Europe has worked so hard to build. This is not just an American issue – it is a global one, and it is felt deeply in Europe.

The victory of Trump and similar movements in Europe show us the strength of political forces that seek to divide and weaken our societies. These forces thrive on fear and distrust, encouraging division over unity. This is not the path forward. The answer to the challenges we face is not more fragmentation, but greater unity. Now more than ever, Europe must stand together, as we are stronger when united, and vulnerable when divided.

A united Europe is not a luxury – it is a necessity. Geopolitical instability, economic uncertainty, and environmental crises demand that we act together, with a common purpose. As the world’s largest single market, Europe has the power to shape its future, but only if it remains united. Recent events remind us that global power dynamics are shifting, and Europe must build its own economic and military independence. If we fail to do so, we risk becoming exposed to the pressures of external powers, including those of a retreating U.S.

The political fragmentation within Europe only weakens our position. The rise of nationalism in countries like Hungary, Poland, and France threatens to pull Europe apart, undermining the very foundations of the European project. Though these movements promise safety in isolation, history shows where such paths lead. Fragmentation leads to instability, to conflict, and to a Europe vulnerable to external manipulation.

But there is hope. History has shown that when Europe stands together, it becomes stronger. We must recommit to European integration – economically, politically, and militarily. The road ahead will be difficult, but we have the strength to walk it, together.

Volt continues to believe in a Europe that is united in its diversity, resilient in the face of challenges, and committed to peace and cooperation. We will not let forces of division prevail. We will build the future Europe deserves: a Europe of solidarity, of prosperity, and of shared purpose.

This vision cannot become a reality without your help. It is time for those who believe in the power of a united Europe to come together. That is why we call on you to join Volt, the pan-European movement dedicated to a future of cooperation, mutual respect, and shared progress. Together, we can rise to the challenges ahead, united in our determination to build a Europe that stands strong in the world.

United, we rise. Divided, we fall.

➡️ Join Volt today and help us to uphold and strengthen the values of solidarity and unity within Europe!

The march from France through Germany to Schengen in Luxembourg demonstrated against the newly introduced border controls at Europe's internal borders.

The march, supported by a broad coalition of parties and civil society (Volt, associations of Young European Federalists (JEF), the European Movement, the Europa-Union, Pulse of Europe, the Rhineland-Palatinate Pirate Party and PdH), emphasises the broad commitment to maintaining a borderless Europe that prioritises unity, cooperation and freedom. A total of 250 people took part in the demonstration.

In a series of speeches, the groups emphasise that border controls are not a solution to the challenges of European migration policy and criticise the increasing populist, nationalist rhetoric. On the contrary, the pseudo-solution threatens one of the most important symbols of European unification.

‘We are here to protect the principles of the European Union. We want to debunk the right-wing narratives that have become mainstream positions, and we want to show that the idea of open borders and a united Europe is the reason for our success,’ says MEP Kai Tegethoff (Volt), summarising the aim of the march.

The groups agree that only a common European approach can sustainably overcome the challenges of migration and integration policy.

JEF's national chair Melanie Thut is highly critical of the German government: "Germany is attacking a cornerstone of European integration. Germany is violating European law, the Schengen Borders Code. And it is breaking its own promises: where is the federal Europe from the coalition agreement that we have fought so hard for as JEF?"

According to the Schengen Borders Code, border controls are only permissible “under exceptional circumstances” as a “last resort” and for a clearly defined reason. The blanket orders by Germany, France and the Netherlands do not meet this requirement. They noticeably restrict the everyday lives and freedoms of everyone, especially people who live near the border, but also travellers, commuters, international students and apprentices. However, they also cause economic losses due to the difficult border crossings.

Philippe Schannes, co-president of Volt Luxembourg, emphasised the importance of the Schengen Agreement for Luxembourg: "Open borders have made our country what we are today. Luxembourg is Europe, needs Europe and we at Volt Luxembourg will always defend the European freedom of movement. At a time when divisions fuelled by populism are threatening to undermine the foundations of our union, it is our duty to uphold the European idea of unity and cooperation. We must stand together for a Europe without borders, for a Europe of peace, prosperity, freedom and progress."

📷 Photos by Thorsten Janz (@photogenitaet)

We share the demand of AHA (Alliance for Humanism and Atheism) that a secular state must, with the utmost caution and complete transparency, provide information about the funds used to receive a religious leader. It is essential that the public knows exactly how and for what state funds are used to ensure that no disproportionate expenditure is incurred.

In addition, we call for a critical examination of the problems of the church. It is of the utmost importance that the demands of organisations such as CID Fraen a Gender and Christian feminists are seriously and critically discussed. These demands include, among other things,

1. Gender equality within the church: Women should have the same rights and opportunities as men, including the opportunity to become priests. The continued discrimination against women in church offices is no longer appropriate and urgently needs to be reformed.

2. Addressing cases of abuse: The church must deal with cases of sexual abuse transparently and consistently and support the victims. There must be no cover-up or delay in investigating these crimes.

3. Modernisation of church teachings: The church should adapt its teachings and practices to today's social realities, particularly with regard to LGBTQ+ rights and the role of women. The church's rigid and often backward positions are at odds with the values of a modern and inclusive society.

Volt Luxembourg believes in freedom of belief and religion, but we want to emphasise the need to question and discuss religious practices and norms in order to promote a just and modern society. We therefore call for an open and critical debate on the role of the church and its practices in today's world.

On 9 September 2024, the German Minister of the Interior, Nancy Faeser, announced that temporary controls would be introduced at all German land borders next Monday. The reasons given to justify this were to limit irregular migration and to protect internal security from the current threats posed by Islamist terrorism and cross-border crime. Such controls had already been in place for a few months prior to the men's European Football Championship, and before that during the Covid pandemic.

Volt strongly condemns these controls. For one thing, these controls violate the Schengen Agreement, which abolished stationary border controls at the internal borders of participating states. These new border controls are completely arbitrary and anti-European. Germany only borders on countries that are in the Schengen area and, apart from Switzerland, only on EU countries. There is no significant reason why the freedom of movement of all citizens who are in the Schengen area should be restricted in this way. Germany has no major problem with irregular migration or with crime coming from abroad. The problems that do exist can be solved within the country and there is no danger that would come upon other European countries – it is a spectre of populist xenophobia, probably the knee-jerk reaction of a supposedly social democratic government, explained by the successes of the right-wing extremist party AfD. Apart from all that, it is not even clear what exactly should be checked during these border controls. Not least, it costs the German state an enormous amount of money that would be better invested, and it costs civil servants who are needed elsewhere because they have to stand on motorways and carry out randomly ordered checks with no purpose or sense.

This action by a single country shows two things: firstly, that we are not safe from fascism, racism or arbitrary discrimination within Europe, and secondly, that the EU and the Schengen Agreement are not strong enough and that we need a federal Europe in which countries cannot easily implement arbitrary acts of restriction of freedom that violate human rights.

Volt recognises that Europe does not have a good migration policy and that many grievances can be traced back to this. We are also aware that a poor bureaucracy, a lack of distribution of refugees across all European countries and politicians who mostly just stand by and do not react can lead to feelings of foreign subjugation, being overwhelmed and being helpless. Volt has already made extensive proposals in its programme for the European elections on how to implement better refugee and migration policies. (Moonshot Programme, Humane Migration, pp. 59-81)

Only together can we solve the problems of the 21st century, only together are we strong. That is why we strongly condemn Germany's arbitrary border controls.

Volt is fully committed to supporting human rights, especially those of minorities and the LGBTQIA+ community. The petition N° 3198 submitted to the Chamber is hate speech that is inhumane and completely characterised by ignorance of scientific facts. It is clearly directed against queer people – even if it claims that it is not. Because those who want to prevent children from being educated also want to prevent children from learning about the existence and rights of LGBTQIA+ people.

Volt is shocked by the many people who have signed this petition. The reasons given show a lack of knowledge of the curriculum, psychology and modern biology. We want to take this opportunity to debunk the petition's arguments once and for all and clarify the importance of education around sexuality in general and LGBTQIA+ issues in particular.

Debunking the allegations of the petition

Introducing these topics at an early age can disrupt children's psycho-educational development.

➡️ Wrong! There are no studies that suggest anything of the sort. It is also unclear to what extent it could interfere with children's development - after all, we are talking about facts here, about biological and psychological findings. Children get the information that there are things outside the prevailing heteronormativity. On the contrary, teaching children about different sexualities and identities from an early age makes for more harmonious coexistence. It goes without saying that this must be done in a child-friendly way – just as there are different methods in biology lessons, depending on the age, to teach children how reproduction works in humans.

Many are calling for schools to introduce LGBTQIA+ topics. The results of a survey of more than 700 pupils from 24 sixth and 26 ninth and tenth grades in 20 representatively selected Berlin schools of all standard school types show that teachers should make sexual and gender diversity more visible on the one hand and not themselves (unintentionally) behave in a discriminatory manner, but rather intervene against discrimination on the other: “The multi-level analyses show how helpful it is for teachers to address sexual diversity. The more different year groups and subjects in which lesbianism and gayness were discussed, the better the pupils knew about LGBT and the more positive their attitudes towards LGBT were.” (Ulrich Klocke, 2012)

A government [...] should exclude the teaching of LGBT issues from programmes for minors or offer options where families can decide whether or not their children participate.

 ➡️ Wrong! According to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, educational professionals have the legal mandate to support children in their individual personal development, to protect them from danger and to reduce disadvantages. Every child, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation or other social aspects, has the right to free development of their personality, to a non-discriminatory learning environment and to participation.  UNESCO also emphasises in its International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education that LGBTQIA+ issues are part of comprehensive sexuality education. UNESCO repeatedly emphasises the importance of comprehensive sexuality education.

In secondary education in Luxembourg, LGBTQIA+ issues are covered in many different subjects: biology, language, life and social studies. The aim is to give students a neutral understanding of how the world works. In an interview with L'Essentiel, Raoul Scholtes, biology teacher and president of the teachers' union Féduse/Enseignement-CGFP, emphasises that it is unacceptable to make these subjects optional. He compares this to the question of whether parents should decide whether their children learn where Chile is just because they have a different opinion. (Marion Mellinger, 2024)

The most important task of public education is to ensure that schools focus on the acquisition of basic academic skills.

➡️ Wrong! Education has significantly more tasks, which are also recognised today. Education should develop the personality and enable a fulfilled life. Education should prepare well-trained specialists for the labour market and keep our economy competitive. Education should secure peace and democracy and pass on our cultural knowledge across the generations. In this respect, an educational institution is also purely subject to scientific and ethical consensus. It cannot take into account the private views, opinions, beliefs or religions of individuals if this runs the risk of going against the facts – this does not fulfil the educational mandate of the state. At least in most European countries, all girls, regardless of their religion, have to take swimming lessons, all children learn about different world religions in joint “Life and Society” lessons (regardless of their own religion), in biology they deal with human reproduction and the theory of evolution, in history they learn in a neutral way about the worst and most brutal human conflicts of the 20th century and ultimately have teaching staff of the most diverse nationalities, skin colours, sexualities, genders and religious denominations. Throwing a spanner in the works of any topic just because it doesn't suit you personally is not only ignorant, but also disrespectful towards your own child. Because, contrary to what others make out, the local school provides education, not indoctrination. A ban is tantamount to burning books – the facts are hushed up.

Why sexual education around gender diversity is so important

Compulsory education makes it essential to take sexual and gender diversity into account in schools. In contrast to other contexts, children and young people cannot escape school and spend a large part of their time in school. A hostile or ignorant atmosphere therefore affects their well-being, their learning success and their educational opportunities. At the same time, compulsory education offers a unique opportunity to reach all people, at least at a certain age. If a society wants to reduce prejudice and discrimination and promote acceptance of diversity, it must start at school for pragmatic reasons alone. Teachers and other educational professionals therefore have a special responsibility towards young LGBTQIA+ people. “Empirical studies show that existing gender stereotypes hinder children in their development.” (Petra Focks, 2022)

What's more, this absurd argument about personal intolerance is being played out on the backs of queer young people. This is because they are plagued by mental problems even more than all other young people - due to intolerance and a lack of understanding from their peers. Heteronormativity forces queer young people to question themselves even more than young adults already do and leads to depression or suicide more often than cis/hetero young people. “LGBTQ+ young people are more likely than their peers to experience a mental health difficulty and may be less likely to draw on specialist support due to fears of discrimination.” (Town et al., 2022)

And the school is hugely important here: “Present data highlights that LGBTQ youth are at a heightened risk for numerous health and educational concerns. Such concerns can be attributed to a [...] lack of school curricula and policies that value LGBTQ diversity, and the existence of overall hostile and exclusionary school climates. The level of warmth and positivity in a school environment can positively impact LGBTQ students' experiences and their subsequent health and educational outcomes.” (Leung et al., 2022)

It is the responsibility of schools, which are such an important institution for young people, to ensure the mental health of all their students and to teach our values of tolerance, human rights and human dignity. “Teachers and other educational professionals have a special responsibility towards [LGBTQIA+ children] because children and young people cannot escape a potentially derogatory or ignorant atmosphere at school due to compulsory education. Furthermore, all children and young people can be reached at school to learn about the situation of LGBT* people and to accept other ways of living and loving.” (Ulrich Klocke, 2020)

If we deny schools the right to teach about diversity, we are also burying our values of tolerance, openness and human dignity. Volt will always defend these values and stand up for a free society, without censorship, political freedom and free from indoctrination. Every child, indeed every person, has a right to be informed. A right to education. A right to knowledge. And schools are the most important body for defending these rights.

Last but not least, we would like to draw your attention to the excellent and comprehensive publication ‘Let's Talk about Sex!’ from the Ministry of Health in 2020, which is an educational guide for teachers.

Sources:

• Petra Focks (2022): Erziehung und Bildung jenseits von Geschlechterstereotypen. W. Kohlhammer Verlag, S. 76.

• Ulrich Klocke (2012): Akzeptanz sexueller Vielfalt an Berliner Schulen

• Ulrich Klocke (2020): Sexuelle und geschlechtliche Vielfalt in der Schule

• Leung et al. (2022): Social support in schools and related outcomes for LGBTQ youth: a scoping review

• Town et al. (2022): A qualitative investigation of LGBTQ+ young people’s experiences and perceptions of self-managing their mental health

• Marion Mellinger (2024): Petitionäre wollen LGBTQ-Themen aus Schulen verbannen

• https://www.regenbogenportal.de/infoartikel/lsbtiq-in-schule-und-jugendarbeit

• UNESCO et al. (2018): International technical guidance on sexuality education: an evidence-informed approach

• https://www.unesco.org/fr/articles/pourquoi-leducation-complete-la-sexualite-est-importante

• Direction de la Santé (2020): Let’s talk about Sex!

After negotiations with both Greens/EFA and Renew Europe, Volt held a membership vote on their MEPs’ group affiliation. A majority of 87% voted in favour of joining the Greens/EFA group.

Co-Presidents of Volt, Mels Klabbers and Francesca Romana D´Antuono: “Today is an historic moment for European politics. Our newly elected MEPs will represent voters all over Europe – regardless of their nationality. This is what makes us unique. This is how we aim to change politics for the better.”

Damian Boeselager, MEP and co-founder affirms: “Volt aims to have its own group in the European Parliament to become a truly European party. Until then we ask our members to decide where we sit. I am happy Volt members followed our recommendation to sit with the Greens/EFA, as the Group has been supportive of our mission to act on EU reform, humane migration rules, a competitive economy, the transition to climate neutrality and social justice. We also hope that this strengthens the Greens/EFA to be part of the von der Leyen majority to safeguard the Green Deal.”

Anna Strolenberg, MEP: “The fight against right-wing populists is at the heart of Volt´s agenda and one of the reasons why the movement was founded. To us, the Greens/EFA is among the groups that is most credible in countering right-wing populism and it is clear that Volt members, from all over Europe, feel the same.”

The five MEPs explained the decision in a press conference on Monday.  

Volt wins five seats in the European Parliament

In a strong showing of our pan-European appeal, Volt has secured a total of 5 seats in the European Parliament, winning 2 seats in the Netherlands and 3 seats in Germany. Notably, in both countries our results allowed us to claim a final seat ahead of far-right parties, reaffirming our success in advocating for inclusive democracy over divisive politics.

Across 15 countries, over 1.4 million European citizens cast their vote for the Volt vision. We take immense pride in this mandate as it represents a resounding call for reform and renewal at the heart of the European project.

Our newly elected Volt MEPs are:

• Damian Boeselager (Germany)

• Anna Strolenberg (Netherlands)

• Kai Tegethoff (Germany)

• Reinier van Lanschot (Netherlands)

• Nela Riehl (Germany)

These five representatives will collaborate tirelessly in the European Parliament, promoting Volt's vision for a stronger, more integrated, and truly democratic Europe that addresses challenges like climate change, economic renewal, and security through unified, evidence-based policies.

Volt is not a national party, but a European one. We don’t have Dutch or German seats. We have European seats in the European Parliament. Damian, Anna, Reinier, Nela, and Kai represent all members of Volt Europa.

Reflection on the Luxembourgish Campaign

Policy over people

At Volt, we fundamentally believe that good governance stems from prioritizing policy over individual personalities. While this approach may be unconventional in Luxembourg, it underpins our core values of rational, solution-oriented decision-making for the benefit of all Europeans.

Voting by Mail

A significant challenge we identified during this campaign is the timing of voting by mail in Luxembourg. Many voters cast their ballots before the peak of campaign activities, suggesting the need to reevaluate the campaign timeline to ensurevoters have access to comprehensive information before making their decisions.

Non-Luxembourgish Electorate Exclusion

It is worrying that the marginalisation of the non-Luxembourg electorate continues. This problem, highlighted in our complaint to ALIA, underlines the need to overhaul the way in which information reaches these voters, in order to ensure that all residents can participate in the electoral process in full knowledge of the relevant information. If this is not the case, the public service media should be provided with the necessary means to exercise their duty to inform the entire population and not just citizens who are proficient in Luxembourgish.

The same applies to the debates broadcast on Chamber.tv.

We will continue to advocate reforms that give information and a voice to all residents, not just Luxembourg nationals.

Strengthening Campaign Regulations

Strong regulations governing campaign activities are needed, especially on social media. Reinforcing ALIA's mandate to regulate these activities is crucial for maintaining fair and transparent elections. ALIA needs to have a steadfast capacity to intervene during the campaign. We are still waiting for a response to our complaint, and its relevance diminishes as time passes post-election. As a result, English and French-speaking citizens were not given access to relevant information about the election campaign.

Volt Luxembourg would like to take this opportunity to thank all voters who have placed their trust in us by voting for us. Our hard work as volunteer candidates has paid off, as we started from practically scratch after the corona pandemic. None of our candidates had previously held a political office and we are not yet well known on the Luxembourg national parliamentary scene.

Thanks to all our supporters, we have been able to communicate our idea of a united Europe, our common pan-European project, more than ever before.

Now more than ever, we need your support so that we can believe in our dream of a united Europe again, after the European victory of more and more right-wing extremist parties. That's why: become a member or make a donation (or both at the same time! 😉), so that we can continue to fight against right-wing populism.

Watch the interview on RTL! (in Luxembourgish)

RTL writes the following about the interview:

Volt describes itself as a European party that also has lists in various countries. The politician does not accept the fear that a stronger Europe would make small countries weaker: ‘A small country like Luxembourg would be nothing without Europe. That is simply a fact, as we can already see from the way Luxembourg has developed. Luxembourg has already benefited a great deal from the EU and can only benefit further if we work together more.'

Europe faces major challenges

However, the party would also be in favour of continuing to supply Ukraine with weapons and is also striving for a European army. Large countries would have more soldiers, but the advantage would be that resources could be shared between the member states. Luxembourg is strong in all areas of technical expertise: ‘If we now build an infrastructure, logistics or something like that here, you could say that in a European army, Luxembourg would provide the logistical part.'

A European basic income for everyone

The idea of a European basic income would mean that anyone earning less than a certain amount would no longer have to pay taxes, but would receive money instead, according to Philippe Schannes in the interview. The Volt programme stated that everyone would receive at least 500 euros, an amount that would have to be variable depending on the country and region: ‘Let's not kid ourselves that southern Italy is different from Norway, that's clear. That means you have to adjust it so that everyone has the purchasing power they need.’

Climate neutrality is important for Europe

The Green Deal is not enough for Philippe Schannes. The climate is the number one problem of the future. The pandemic and the current wars have diverted the focus a little, but it remains the central problem facing humanity.

At European level, one would like to see a parliamentary group, which would be ambitious but not unrealistic. Volt Luxembourg would also be part of this European project and one would hope that the message would also get through in Luxembourg.