Luxembourg deserves more
FOKUS. criticizes short-sighted “champagne policy” at the expense of future generations
At the traditional New Year’s reception of the FOKUS. party, the party leadership took a positive look back at the year 2025 and at the same time issued a sharp warning against the current government policy. Under the motto “Luxembourg deserves more”, The sensible alternative criticized the black-blue coalition’s tax reform as a populist “Whitsun cruise” that endangers the country’s long-term stability.
2025: A year of profiling and new impetus
FOKUS. can look back on a successful year 2025 in which the party sharpened its profile as “The sensible alternative”. With a new leadership team led by Secretary General Caty Pelligrini and Vice-President Rick Oberweis, the party was able to increase its membership, particularly among young people. Through innovative proposals such as the Citizens’ Service, the project for literacy in Luxembourgish and the demand for a Future Commission based on the Finnish model, FOKUS. has addressed issues that focus on social cohesion.
The tax reform: a “castle in the air” without counter-financing
Although FOKUS. welcomes the introduction of individual taxation in principle, its verdict on the government’s implementation is scathing. The party describes the reform as a “castle in the air” as long as fundamental questions regarding financing remain unresolved.
“It is the easiest thing in the world to buy sympathy with tax gifts of 800 to 900 million euros when the polls are in the basement and important structural reforms to pensions and housing are failing,” he said in his New Year’s speech. Although the government had declared “Dry January”, it was pursuing an expensive “champagne policy” – not out of love for the country, but out of love for the mandate.
Warning against blind growth
The central question of where the money for the reforms will come from remains unanswered. FOKUS. warns that the massive additional expenditure (1.5 billion euros for the military and taxes alone per year) will massively increase the pressure on growth in Luxembourg:
- Where will the new revenue come from to support the social system in the long term?
- How much “blind growth” is being forced on citizens to finance these reforms?
- What impact is this pressure having on the already overheated housing market?
2026: The demand for a Future Commission
FOKUS. is calling for a radical rethink for the year 2026. The core demand remains the establishment of a Future Commission. This parliamentary body should force the government to design its policies for 10 to 20 years and strengthen the dialog with experts and citizens instead of just planning until the next election in 2028.
“The Frieden government has declared a Whitsun cruise until October 2028. They want to please the voters while the screws are loosening in the country’s engine room,” concluded the speech. FOKUS. will continue to present itself as a sensible alternative in 2026 and demand a policy based on honesty, transparency and real vision.
Luxembourg, January 12, 2026
