Reform Agenda 2028 – Why the LSAP now needs the courage to look to the future

The greatest threat to the LSAP today is not the government. The greatest threat would be to spend the next two years solely on being in opposition.

Opposition is part of democracy. It monitors, criticises and highlights alternatives. But it is not an end in itself. A party that wants to shape the future again must not limit itself to pointing out the mistakes of others. It must develop its own solutions. That is why the LSAP should now set itself the task of drawing up a Reform Agenda 2028 for Luxembourg.

The time has rarely been more favourable for this. There is sufficient time between now and the general election not only to draft an election manifesto, but also to develop a viable plan for the future. For Luxembourg is facing changes that can no longer be addressed with short-term, isolated measures.

The housing crisis, rising living costs, healthcare, long-term care, pensions, digitalisation, artificial intelligence, the energy transition, climate protection, demographic change and geopolitical uncertainties are all transforming our country simultaneously. These challenges are directly interlinked. Housing construction affects purchasing power. A good education system determines our economy’s capacity for innovation. A competitive economy creates jobs, funds the welfare state and provides the financial scope for public investment. Politicians must no longer treat these interrelationships in isolation.

It is precisely here that the historic mission of social democracy lies. It has always been successful when it has combined economic progress with social equity. Not growth versus justice, nor justice versus growth – but both together. A strong welfare state needs a strong economy. And a strong economy needs social cohesion. One cannot be sustained in the long term without the other.

A Reform Agenda 2028 should therefore be more than just a new party manifesto. It could become an open process for shaping Luxembourg’s future. The LSAP should invite trade unions, employers’ organisations, chambers of commerce, local authorities, the academic community, universities, social and environmental organisations, as well as representatives of all generations, to reflect together on the future of our country. Good policy is not forged behind closed doors. It emerges where different interests converge and responsibility is taken.

Equally important would be an open dialogue on reform within the party itself. Differing opinions are not a sign of weakness. They are an expression of a vibrant people’s party. What matters is not whether there is controversial discussion, but whether joint decisions emerge from this debate. Unity does not grow through silence, but through mutual respect and a willingness to take responsibility.

Equally crucial is close cooperation between the party and the parliamentary group. The parliamentary group contributes parliamentary experience and legislative expertise, whilst the party is familiar with the concerns of its members, local authorities and civil society. Together, these form the basis for reforms that are technically sound and socially grounded. A reform agenda must not be formulated by a select few – it must be supported by many.

Above all, however, it must be credible. It must not become a mere wish list, but must be financially viable, economically sound and capable of securing a majority in society. Major reforms succeed only if they combine social security with economic dynamism. Anyone wishing to secure lasting prosperity must consider both aspects together.

The opposition offers a unique opportunity to do just that. It provides the necessary distance from day-to-day political business and creates the space to think long-term. Anyone who spends this time solely on parliamentary criticism is squandering the chance to fundamentally renew their own profile.

National elections are not won only in the final year of the election campaign. They are prepared years in advance. If the LSAP wishes to return to government in 2028, it must have the courage today to rethink Luxembourg. A Reform Agenda 2028 would not be merely an election campaign tool. It would be a commitment to the vision of a party that does not wish to assume responsibility only when it is in government, but begins to do so whilst in opposition.