Concerns, state of mind, political orientation, confidence in national institutions: the Polindex 2024 study, published on Tuesday 25 February, looks at various aspects of the state of democracy in Luxembourg. Carried out by the parliamentary studies research chair at the University of Luxembourg, in collaboration with the Ilres polling institute and with the support of the Chamber of Deputies, it is based on a panel of 1,561 residents (1,066 voters and 495 foreigners).

The responses often differ according to the age and nationality of the respondents. For example, youth unemployment is a major concern for young foreigners: 50% of 18-24 year-old foreigners are worried about it, compared with only 25% of Luxembourgers of the same age.

60% of 18-24 year olds get their information from networks

Among the most striking results, the study reveals a persistent distrust of politics among almost 40% of foreigners aged 25 to 34 and 35 to 44. Conversely, Luxembourgers under 24 and over 65 were overwhelmingly positive. More specifically, the majority of Luxembourgers aged between 45 and 54 have no confidence in political parties, while among foreigners aged between 25 and 34, this figure rises to almost 60%.

As for trust in the press, around 30% of Luxembourgers aged 18 to 24 express distrust, a proportion that rises to over 45% among 25- to 34-year-olds. Younger people also strongly favour social networks: 60% of 18-24 year-olds use them as their sole source of political information. As for confidence in the CSV-DP government in place since the 2023 legislative elections, Luxembourgers aged 18-24 are the most enthusiastic (over 55%), while those aged 25-34 are the most critical (almost 40% distrust). “On average, a third of voters have no confidence in this institution,” the study points out.

Fewer young people on the left

Among foreign residents, over 70% of those aged 65 and over have confidence in the CSV-DP government, compared with just 53% of 18-24 year-olds. Generally speaking, young foreign residents have the least confidence in this institution. When it comes to the political orientation of foreign residents, 45% of 25-34 year-olds are on the right, compared with 35% according to the Elect2013 study carried out for the Chamber of Deputies.

Meanwhile, 45% of foreign residents aged 18-24 take a centrist stance. Foreigners aged 45-54 are the most politically active on the right. Among Luxembourg citizens, almost a third of young people take a left-wing position, compared with 45% in 2013 according to Elect2013. Luxembourgers aged 55 and over express the greatest political intensity on the right.

However, , a political scientist and holder of the chair of parliamentary studies at the University of Luxembourg, who also co-authored the study, : “If we compare them with the centre-right parties in Europe, the CSV and the DP are more in the centre, or even on the centre-left in their respective political families. (...) The right-wing trend in society therefore needs to be put into perspective.”

The entire survey methodology can be .

This article was originally published in .