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Luxembourg: The national elections of 13 June 1999

Although elections in Luxembourg usually cause only the slightest ripple on the surface of European politics, those held in June 1999 were significant in leading to a major change in the composition of the government. The national elections were held on the same day as those for the European Parliament, continuing the practice since direct elections to the Parliament were introduced in 1979. With compulsory voting, the turnout was high (89 per cent), marking a sharp contrast to the low participation in the Parliament elections in every other EU country except Belgium (which also has compulsory voting). The most striking feature of the elections was a swing away from the Socialists and Greens to the Democrats, who overtook the Socialists to become the second strongest party in the Chamber of Deputies after the Social Christians. The Democrats had hitherto been the third party in all elections since the war except one, in 1979, when they gained one seat more than the Socialists. The 1999 results led to the Democrats, who had been in opposition since 1984, replacing the Socialists as the Social Christians' partner in the ruling coalition. The Socialists' fortunes may have been affected by the resignation of one of their ministers early in 1998, following a financial scandal involving his department. An assessment of political parties in the main European groups on a number of 'Left' and 'Right' indicators identified the Luxembourg Democrats as the most right-wing of the ELDR (European Liberal Democratic and Reformist Group).' However, it remains to be seen whether this will lead to any marked change of direction by the new government. The prosperous condition of Luxembourg, with a long record of low inflation and low unemployment, and the highest GDP per head in Europe after Switzerland, makes for a certain tranquillity and differences between the main parties on most issues tend to be muted. The leading position of the Social Christians in the coalition should also provide a large degree of continuity. The Democrats inherit a proud tradition from their Liberal predecessors, who formed all the governments of Luxembourg for nearly half a century,