Wave of brazilian votes expected during Luxembourg legislative elections

Legislative elections

Luxembourg legislative elections should be marked by a wave of Brazilian votes

More than 27,000 Brazilians have acquired Luxembourgish nationality and many of them want to vote in the elections of October 8. The Brazilian Roberta Züge is running with the Pirates.

Among the neo-Luxembourgers who want to participate in the elections, only 11% possess a Luxembourgish passport.

17/07/2023

It is today that begins the deadline for Luxembourgers residing abroad to request a ballot in order to participate in the legislative elections of October. In certain countries, such as Brazil, one is witnessing a strong mobilization of Brazilians of Luxembourgish nationality to participate in these elections.

A survey study of the American company LuxCitizenship shows that “around 24% of Luxembourgers living in Brazil have the intention to vote,” indicates Daniel Atz, CEO of the company. “To feel a member of society, to integrate into the new country, to feel Luxembourgish citizen, to be closer to decisions and to choose representatives of legislative power who also look at neo-Luxembourgers,” are some of the reasons invoked by the persons questioned within the framework of the survey.

A contested requirement

But among the neo-Luxembourgers who want to participate in the elections, only 11% possess a Luxembourgish passport. A requirement that the government of the Grand Duchy presents as necessary in order to be able to vote in the elections of October 8. A requirement contested by certain opposition parties.

Sven Clement, leader of the Pirates, affirms that “it is sufficient to be considered Luxembourgish citizen and to have an identity document to vote, and that it is not necessary to present a Luxembourgish passport.”

The head of the Pirate list declared that “if someone does not receive a ballot because he does not have a Luxembourgish passport or identity document, he can contact the Pirates who will file a complaint before the courts to claim his right to vote.”

“The Luxembourg Constitution provides that all Luxembourgish citizens have the right to vote,” underlines Sven Clement. If necessary, the party is ready to go before the Constitutional Court so that these neo-Luxembourgers can vote. But there is another obstacle: “the time that Luxembourgish authorities in Brazil take to deliver Luxembourgish passports,” he underlines.

A difficulty since “the waiting time to obtain a passport at the Embassy of Luxembourg in Brasília reaches nine months,” adds Daniel Atz.

To defend the interests of these new Luxembourgers of Brazil, the Pirate party has just announced a Brazilian candidate on its list of candidates in the center of the country. The Brazilian veterinarian Roberta Züge, who acquired Luxembourgish nationality in 2018 and lives in the Grand Duchy for three years, is one of the new faces of the Pirate list presented last Friday.

An example of integration

“We decided to invite Roberta because she is an example of the way in which the integration process can function well in Luxembourg,” explains Sven Clement. “Besides the fact that she knows the problems that these new Luxembourgers must face, such as language questions and recognition of diplomas, she is a good example of integration in the Luxembourgish community, even being part of a folkloric group and of a Luxembourgish choir,” he adds.

“In the future, we should even consider electing a deputy representing the Luxembourgish diaspora,” underlines the leader of the Pirates.

During her presentation as candidate, which took place in Colmar-Berg, Roberta Züge declared wanting “to be the voice of those who do not have a voice.”

“I experienced the difficulties of being an immigrant, even if I am a Luxembourgish citizen, and I believe that Luxembourg should better use the fruits of its diaspora.”

When she received the invitation, she was “flattered, but at the same time undecided because of the responsibility that the fact of being a European deputy implies.”

The decision to accept was taken when a Brazilian friend told her “this invitation is not yours, it is ours.”

Her daughter Fernanda Züge also expressed herself on this decision, affirming that “one only regrets what one does not do.”

Roberta, whose birthday falls on October 8, hopes to receive her election as a gift.

There are more than 41,000 neo-Luxembourgers in America alone

The indicators show that since 2018, more than 41,000 persons living in the United States and in Brazil have acquired Luxembourgish nationality.

According to the latest figures, around 28,000 Brazilians have obtained Luxembourgish nationality within the framework of the process of acquisition of citizenship because they descend from former Luxembourgish migrants who arrived in Brazil in the 19th century.

If you reside abroad and you are Luxembourgish citizen, you must request the sending of a ballot. You can do it via the portal myguichet.lu if you have an active token. Otherwise, you will have to make the request by letter addressed to the commune of Luxembourg if you have never lived in the Grand Duchy.

The request can be made from July 16 and until August 29, 2023. The Luxembourg government requires that the request be accompanied by a copy of the identity card or passport, without mentioning the nationality of the document.

In response, the commune must send the ballot, which must arrive in Luxembourg at the latest on October 6.

To fill in the ballot, you have two possibilities as for municipal elections: either you vote for a political party, or you choose the candidates individually and you can put up to two crosses on each of them.