Our statutes

Articles of Association dated May 14, 2022

Automatic translation

This is the German translation of the statutes of the political party FOKUS. written in French. This translation was largely produced by machine and checked by us in an appropriate form. Nevertheless, we do not guarantee the accuracy, reliability or correctness of this translation. The statutes in the French-language original are authoritative.

  1. Fokus is a Luxembourgish political party that unites people who support liberal, social, European, reformist and humanist values and concepts and therefore rejects alliances with political entities that oppose the same values and concepts.
  2. The values of Fokus are set out in the Declaration of Principles, which was approved by the National Congress on the basis of a proposal submitted by the National Committee. This declaration is subject to future amendments.
  3. The seat of the political party Fokus is located in Esch-sur-Alzette, 14, rue Emile Eischen. By decision of the National Committee, it may be moved to any other place in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg(note: the current seat is 25 rue du Nord, 4260 Esch-sur-Alzette).
  4. Focus is constituted for an indefinite period.
  5. The duration of mandates is specified in years. By resolution of the National Committee, any mandate within the party may be extended if exceptional reasons so require.

  1. The organization and operation of Fokus is based on rules of procedure.
  2. All actions of Fokus are based on a code of ethics, which every member undertakes to observe under penalty of expulsion.
  3. The members of Fokus respect the Declaration of Principles, the Rules of Procedure, the Code of Ethics and loyally support the political actions of Fokus. They support Fokus candidates in elections.
  4. The members of Fokus undertake, under penalty of expulsion, not to be or become a member of another Luxembourg or European political entity or to promote such an entity.
  5. The National Committee approves the Rules of Procedure and the Code of Ethics and any subsequent amendments by a majority vote.
  6. The Rules of Procedure and the Code of Ethics shall apply to the members in an appropriate manner 14 days after their publication.

  1. Unless otherwise specified, a member who is unable to participate in a vote may not be represented in person or by proxy. Voting by postal vote is also not permitted.
  2. Subject to any provisions to the contrary in these Articles of Association, collective resolutions of the FOKUS Members shall only be valid if they are passed by a simple majority of the members present. Abstentions and blank or invalid ballots are not counted.
  3. In the event of a tie vote for a vacant position, the member with the most seniority in the party wins. If a division is not possible in this way, the youngest candidate wins.

  1. Any group of six or more members may submit an amendment for a vote at a national congress.
  2. Any group of three or more members may submit an amendment for a vote at a regional convention, provided that the signatory members reside in the constituency concerned.
  3. An amendment must be submitted in writing in Luxembourgish, German or French. It must contain the factual context in which it is submitted and clearly formulate the proposal to be put to the vote. It must contain the names and addresses of the undersigned members and be duly signed by them.
  4. Any amendment must be within the framework set out in the Declaration of Principles and the Code of Ethics. It may not deal with a topic that has already been dealt with in an earlier, largely similar motion / request submitted within eighteen months prior to it.
  5. Amendments must be submitted to the General Secretary of the party at least ten days before the planned vote. If the Secretary General determines that the motion / request meets the above admissibility criteria, he forwards it with his assessment to the National Committee, which makes the final decision on admissibility.
  6. The Secretary General shall inform the members who submitted the motion / request of the National Committee’s decision and, in the event of a positive statement by the National Committee, shall forward the motion / request to the designated body to place the motion / request on the agenda and conduct the vote.

  1. Any natural person who has reached the age of fifteen can become a member.
  2. Anyone wishing to become a member must submit their membership application in accordance with the conditions set out in the Rules of Procedure.
  3. Membership expires upon death, resignation, removal or exclusion.
  4. Serious and repeated violations of these Statutes or the Rules of Procedure or the Code of Ethics, as well as actions contrary to the interests of the party, may result in disciplinary proceedings in accordance with the provisions of the Rules of Procedure, based on a resolution of the Executive Committee.
  5. By joining the party, the member gives Fokus the right to collect, process and transmit his/her personal data by electronic or mechanical means and to send him/her regular communications.
  6. The National Congress determines the annual contributions on the proposal of the National Committee.
  7. The member undertakes to pay its annual contributions. A member who, despite two reminders from the party treasurer, fails to pay his membership fees shall lose the right to participate in votes and to support a motion / request as long as his membership fee debt remains. If this situation persists for two consecutive full years, the Executive Committee may decide to expel the defaulting member from the party without notice on the basis of a recommendation from the Treasurer.

  1. Every member can participate in the decision-making process within Fokus and express themselves freely on all political issues as part of the party’s opinion-forming process.
  2. Any member may submit his or her candidacy to any party body in accordance with the conditions laid down in the rules of procedure.
  3. Only retiring members of the National Committee may submit their candidacy for positions on the Executive Committee.
  4. Each member may benefit from information from the party and, subject to the limits set by the Executive Committee, participate freely in the political working groups of his or her choice.
  5. Each member can participate in national and regional congresses and local party meetings.

  1. The National Congress is the party’s supreme body that determines the party’s political goals and measures. It is made up of all members of the party.
  2. The ordinary National Congress meets once a year before the end of May at a suitable location in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
  3. An extraordinary National Congress may be held by resolution of the National Committee.
  4. The National Congress has the following exclusive powers:
    • Approval and amendment of the declaration of principles and, if applicable, the articles of association
    • Election of the members of the National Committee
    • Election of the members of the Executive Committee
    • Election of the top candidate(s) in the elections
    • Approval of election manifestos
    • Approval of election campaign budgets.
  5. Only Focus members are entitled to participate in congress votes.
  6. It is at the discretion of the Executive Committee to admit or reject non-members without voting rights to congresses.

  1. The National Committee consists of:
    • the members of the Executive Committee
    • the presidents of the regional committees (electoral districts)
    • the presidents of the working groups
    • twelve members directly elected by the National Congress.
  2. At its first meeting, the National Committee may co-opt any member who is assuming or has assumed a public political function on behalf of the party.
  3. Three consecutive absences of a member of the National Committee from its meetings without good cause shall result in the withdrawal of membership of the National Committee.
  4. The members of the National Committee are elected for a term of two years.
  5. The National Committee is vested with all powers to act on behalf of Fokus and to take all necessary measures, except those powers reserved by law or by these Statutes to the National Congress.
  6. The National Committee decides on Fokus’s political positions and nominates candidates for the national, local and European elections.
  7. The National Committee decides on government participation, a coalition agreement and appointments to government offices on the proposal of the Executive Committee.
  8. The National Committee is chaired / presided over by the President of the party, in his absence by the Speaker or in his absence by the Secretary General.
  9. Voting shall be by show of hands or secret ballot. It is up to the National Committee to determine the procedure for the vote in question by a simple majority.
  10. The National Committee meets at least every two months at the invitation of the President.
  11. The Executive Board sets the agenda in advance. It is communicated by the Secretary General at least two days plus the actual day before the National Committee meeting.
  12. In urgent cases, further topical agenda items may be added to the agenda during the National Committee meeting if the majority of the members present vote in favor by a show of hands.

  1. The members of the Executive Committee manage the day-to-day business of the party within the framework of the policies set by the National Congress.
  2. The National Congress elects a President, two Vice Presidents, a Secretary General, a Treasurer and a Spokesperson for a period of two years.
  3. On the proposal of the Secretary General, one or two Deputy Secretaries General may be co-opted onto the Executive Committee. Their term of office is two years.
  4. One or two deputy spokespersons can be co-opted onto the Executive Committee on the proposal of the spokesperson. Their term of office is two years.
  5. The Executive Committee may co-opt one delegate from each constituency to help organize one or more election campaigns during the term of office. Their term of office is two years.
  6. Only the members of the Executive Committee may engage Fokus. They are authorized to give interviews, make written or oral statements and publish positions, resolutions or announcements in the name and on behalf of FOKUS.
  7. The Executive Committee determines Fokus’s communication strategy.
    • In exercising these powers, the members of the Executive Committee adhere to the party’s positions.
    • Any communication made in the name and on behalf of Fokus in social networks, newspapers, radio, television, digital or printed newsletters or other means of communication and data transmission requires the prior consent of the Executive Committee.
    • Any personal opinion that deviates from the party line must be prohibited.
    • Any personal opinion not previously approved by the executive board must be clearly stated as such and is not binding on the party.
    • The spokesperson ensures that the political positions of Fokus are communicated truthfully and completely and undertakes to identify personal opinions as such.
    • In the phases of developing and implementing the communication strategy, the Executive Committee may commission a third-party service provider to provide support. Subject to a confidentiality agreement with this third party, the Executive Committee may pass on confidential information to it.

A region is made up of the local sections that belong to the respective constituency.

  1. All party members who are resident in one of the municipalities belonging to the respective constituency belong to the regional congress.
  2. The ordinary regional congress meets once a year before the end of March.
  3. At the motion / request of the Executive Committee, the National Committee may convene an extraordinary Regional Congress.
  4. Only Focus members who are resident in one of the municipalities belonging to the region are entitled to participate in the votes of the regional congress. The Executive Committee may admit or reject non-members without voting rights to participate in regional congresses.
  5. The Regional Congress has the following powers:
  6. Election of the Regional Committee: the Regional Congress elects a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a number of members of the Regional Committee to be determined by the Regional Congress. The term of office is two years.
    • Decide on a joint political action plan
    • Proposal of regional candidates for elections to the National Committee.

  1. For each region that does not have at least one local section, the Executive Committee appoints a President who is responsible for implementing the establishment of one or more local sections. The mandate ends with the next Regional Congress or by revocation by the Executive Board.
  2. Each local section may elect two permanent delegates to the Regional Committee from among its members. The term of office of these delegates is two years.
  3. The Secretary of the Regional Committee represents its President on the National Committee if the latter is unable to attend.
  4. The National Committee may remove the President, Secretary or Treasurer of a Regional Committee on the basis of a reasoned written motion / request from the Executive Committee. The members of the Regional Committee then elect a replacement for the vacant position by secret majority vote, whereby the dismissed member cannot stand for re-election for the current term of office. The original term of office remains in force.
  5. The Regional Committee decides on coalition agreements at local council level on the proposal of the local section and after consulting the National Committee.

Members residing in the same municipality form a local section (or local group ).

  1. The section congress consists of all party members who are resident in the municipality of the local section.
  2. The ordinary Section Congress meets once a year before the end of February.
  3. The National Committee may convene an extraordinary Section Congress at the motion / request of the Executive Committee.
  4. Members residing in a neighboring municipality who are unable to form a local section due to a lack of members may join a neighboring local section.
  5. A member who moves their place of residence outside their municipality may remain a member of their original section for a period of three years and for the current year following their departure, after which the member will move to the section of their municipality of residence.
  6. Only Focus members residing in the municipality of the local section(or a neighboring municipality in accordance with the conditions described above) are entitled to participate in local section votes. It is at the discretion of the Executive Committee to allow or deny non-members to participate in local meetings without voting rights.
  7. The Section Congress has the following powers:
    • the election of the Section Committee: a president, a secretary, a treasurer and any number of members
    • the election of two permanent delegates for the Regional Committee
    • Decision on a joint political action plan
    • Proposal of election candidates from the local section to the regional committee

  1. The Section Committee consists of a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and an unspecified number of members. The term of office is two years.
  2. The National Committee may recall the President, Secretary or Treasurer of a Section Committee on the basis of a reasoned written motion / request from the Executive Committee. The members of the section then elect a replacement for the vacant position by secret majority vote, whereby the recalled member cannot stand for re-election for the current term of office. The original term of office remains in force.

  1. A political working group is established and dissolved by resolution of the National Committee at the motion / request of the Executive Committee.
  2. The Executive Committee appoints the President of the political working group.
  3. Party members are free to participate in political groups of their choice. However, in the interests of good organization of political working groups, the National Committee may restrict the maximum number of members per group and the maximum number of groups per member.
  4. The political working groups develop medium and long-term political strategies within the framework of the thematic areas specified by the National Committee.
  5. Each member of the Executive Committee has the right to participate in the meetings and work of each political working group.
  6. The FOKUS spokesperson is the point of contact for all questions relating to political orientation within the framework of the topics and general conditions specified by the National Committee.
  7. The presidents of the political working groups are members of the National Committee. If a president is temporarily unable to attend, he may appoint a replacement from among the members of the working group he chairs.
  8. The chairman of a political working group whose activities have ended remains a member of the National Committee for the remaining term of his mandate.

  1. The Treasurer of the Executive Committee is responsible for the administration of the finances. He submits a report to the National Congress.
  2. The Secretary General may, with prior notice to the Treasurer, settle invoices from third parties in connection with the day-to-day administration of the Secretariat and marketing activities.
  3. Each region and each local section may appoint its own treasurer to manage the respective finances. For this purpose, the Regional or Local Treasurer may request the opening of a bank account to which two members of the Regional or Local Committee and two members of the Executive Committee shall have free access. The powers of the authorized representatives are determined (and updated) by a written resolution of the Executive Committee and communicated to the financial institution concerned.
  4. At the request of the Treasurer of the Executive Committee, the regional or local treasurers must report to him in writing within fourteen days and justify the movements in the accounts assigned to them.
  5. Funds held at regional or local level belong to the party. They may be credited to a central account of the party by resolution of the Executive Committee.
  6. The regional and local treasurers ensure strict compliance with the political parties’ funding rules.

  1. Based on a proposal from the Executive Committee, the National Committee adopts a plan detailing the goals and procedures of the election campaign, including preliminary planning, the nomination of the campaign manager and the campaign team, as well as a description of the functions of those involved, a financial plan, a communication plan and the lead candidate(s).
  2. Under the leadership of the lead candidate(s), the political working groups draw up an election manifesto based on the campaign plan.
  3. The final campaign plan, including the election manifesto, is approved by the National Committee.
  4. It is up to the National Committee to set the rules for the presentation of campaign information at the regular or special National Convention.

  1. Any member may stand for election provided they meet the conditions laid down by law and are nominated by the National Committee.
  2. Members standing for election are authorized to give interviews, make written or oral statements, and publish resolutions or communications of Fokus in the name and on behalf of Fokus. In exercising this power, they shall ensure that they speak with a common voice and faithfully convey the party’s positions.
  3. The National Congress appoints the leading candidate(s) in the national and European elections.
  4. The National Congress elects the top candidate or candidates in the national elections. The latter assumes the function of spokesperson for the party in each case. Within the Executive Committee, he/she is responsible for supervising and coordinating the work of the political working groups in close cooperation with their presidents.

  1. The mandate of a deputy cannot be combined with the mandate of a mayor or alderman. In the event that a member receives such a dual mandate, he or she undertakes to relinquish one of the two mandates within a reasonable period of time.
  2. The mandate of a deputy can be combined with the mandate of the municipal council.
  3. A member elected to a mandate who for any reason decides to leave Fokus or is removed or excluded from the list of Fokus members undertakes to immediately renounce his political mandate in favor of the Fokus political party.

  1. At its first meeting after the Congress, the National Committee elects a Council of Wise Men for a period of two years, consisting of a maximum of three members.
  2. The Council of Wise Men serves as an arbitration committee when necessary and works to resolve differences of opinion and conflicts between party members.
  3. In the event of a difference of opinion regarding the interpretation and application of the Articles of Association, the Board of Eminent Persons shall decide after receiving the written statements of the interested parties.
  4. In order to fulfill its task, the Panel of Eminent Persons shall have access to all information it deems necessary. The Panel of Eminent Persons is committed to integrity and absolute confidentiality. Information shared by members with the Panel of Eminent Persons may only be used for conflict resolution and mediation.
  5. Decisions made by the Board of Experts by simple majority shall be made in writing.
  6. Members of the Council of Wise Men cannot be members of the National Committee at the same time.

  1. Focus may award honorary titles to members or third parties on the proposal of the Executive Committee. The conditions for granting such titles shall be determined by the National Committee. An honorary title does not confer any further rights or obligations on the bearer.
  2. If an honorary member acts against the interests of the party, the honorary title may be revoked on the basis of a decision by the National Committee.

  1. An amendment to these Articles of Association can only be adopted by a National Congress. The resolution to amend must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast.

  1. The dissolution of Fokus can only be decided by a National Congress. The resolution to dissolve must be passed with a two-thirds majority of the votes cast.
  2. All cases not provided for in these Statutes shall be decided by the National Committee on the basis of a recommendation by the Executive Committee.
Back to top button