Ben Streff was officially sworn in as the newest member of the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party (LSAP) in the Chamber of Deputies on Tuesday, taking over from Paulette Lenert. Lenert, who served as both a deputy and a minister, has taken up her new role as a member of the Council of State, for which she was sworn in on Monday.
During Tuesday’s parliamentary session, Chamber President Claude Wiseler paid tribute to Lenert’s commitment over the years, singling out her leadership as Minister of Health during the Covid-19 pandemic. Lenert was not present for the tribute, as she was attending a simultaneous meeting of the Council of State.
Following the formalities, Streff took the oath of office and delivered a short speech, outlining his political ambitions. The 31-year-old, who represents Luxembourg’s eastern region, compared himself to the football club SC Freiburg, stressing the importance of values such as humility, sustainability, and solidarity. He emphasised that while he respects traditions, he is also open to new ideas and approaches.
Looking at Luxembourg’s current situation, Streff criticised the growing gap between the rich and the poor.
He stated: “Let me be clear: everyone should have the right and the opportunity to build something for themselves, and to be successful. But equal opportunity means that wealth and prospects must not be distributed ever more unequally. Let us be honest: is it still fair if the wealthiest 5% of households in our country own one third of its wealth? Is it just if 0.5% of the population owns half of all building land? I do not think so – and this is where politics must take action.”
Streff called for politicians with bold visions, particularly regarding climate change, and underlined that fighting right-wing extremism is a top priority for him. He argued that society must not be divided, but rather brought together.
