Early general elections were held in Luxembourg on 20 October 2013.[1] The elections were called after Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, at the time the longest serving head of government in the European Union, announced his resignation over a spy scandal involving the Service de Renseignement de l'Etat (SREL).[2][3] The review found Juncker deficient in his control over the service.[3]
After a spy scandal involving the SREL illegally wiretapping politicians, the Grand Duke and his family, and allegations of paying for favours in exchange for access to government ministers and officials leaked through the press, Prime Minister Juncker submitted his resignation to the Grand Duke on 11 July 2013, upon knowledge of the withdrawal of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party from the government and thereby losing its confidence and supply in the Chamber of Deputies. Juncker urged the Grand Duke for the immediate dissolution of parliament and the calling of a snap election.[2]
Electoral system
The 60 members of the Chamber of Deputies were elected by proportional representation in four multi-member constituencies; 9 in North constituency, 7 in East, 23 in South and 21 in Centre. Voters could vote for a party list or cast multiple votes for as many candidates as there were seats. Seat allocation was calculated in accordance with the Hagenbach-Bischoff quota.[4]
Voting was compulsory for all citizens between the age of 18 and 75, whilst those over 75 and citizens living abroad were the only ones allowed to vote by post. Failure to vote could have resulted in a fine of between €100 and €250.[4]
NB: Each ballot contains multiple votes. The total shown above includes invalid ballots. 203,557 valid ballots were cast, which represents 85% of the electorate.
Popular Vote
CSV
33.68%
LSAP
20.28%
DP
18.25%
Déi Gréng
10.13%
ADR
6.64%
Déi Lénk
4.94%
Piratepartei
2.94%
KPL
1.64%
PID
1.50%
Seats
CSV
38.33%
LSAP
21.67%
DP
21.67%
Déi Gréng
10.00%
ADR
5.00%
Déi Lénk
3.33%
Results by locality
The CSV was the largest party in almost every commune (in orange) — as in all elections since the CSV was founded. The DP was the largest in four (in blue) and the LSAP the biggest in three (red).
CSV
DP
LSAP
As in 2004 and 2009, the CSV won pluralities in each of Luxembourg's four circonscriptions. However, the CSV's performance declined in all circonscriptions from 2009. The CSV held up the best in Centre, where it lost only 3.29% compared to its 2009 result. The CSV's sharpest decline was in Nord, where the party lost 5.91%. It nonetheless held a 10% lead over DP in Nord; Nord was the last constituency to not vote for the CSV at the national level, when the DP beat the CSV by 2% in Nord in 1999. Overall, despite a relative decline, the CSV retained a comfortable lead in all circonscriptions, both in votes and in seats.
Results by circonscription
CSV
LSAP
DP
Greens
ADR
Left
KPL
PPLU
PID
Centre
35.31%
14.65%
25.02%
10.46%
5.01%
4.75%
0.86%
2.72%
1.22%
Est
36.90%
14.59%
18.63%
13.10%
8.69%
3.05%
0.79%
2.69%
1.55%
Nord
33.69%
17.22%
23.71%
9.01%
6.36%
2.56%
0.81%
3.37%
3.26%
Sud
32.20%
25.23%
12.76%
10.13%
7.55%
5.70%
2.39%
3.03%
1.35%
Distribution of seats by circonscription
CSV
LSAP
DP
Greens
ADR
Left
KPL
PPLU
PID
Centre
8
3
6
2
1
1
0
0
0
Est
3
1
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
Nord
4
2
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
Sud
8
7
3
2
2
1
0
0
0
Government formation
Following the elections, the Democratic Party, the Socialist Workers' Party and the Greens began initial talks about forming a coalition (dubbed the "Gambia coalition", after Gambia's flag colours), pushing the Christian Social People's Party into the opposition for the first time since 1979.[7] On 25 October, Xavier Bettel, the leader of the Democratic Party and mayor of Luxembourg City, was named formateur by the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.[8] The negotiations were finished by 29 November, as planned.[9][10] The new Bettel-Schneider Ministry was sworn in on 4 December.[11]