International law is being trampled on by the United States and Israel, according to Marc Baum of The Left.
Speaking during an RTL interview on Thursday morning, the MP declared that the war waged by the United States against Iran and Israel’s bombings in Lebanon, which have killed hundreds, if not thousands, of civilians, are unacceptable, posing the following question: “Is there a fundamental difference between what Putin is doing in Ukraine and what Trump is doing in Iran?”
According to The Left Party MP, addressing issues such as radical Islam or Iran’s nuclear programme should be a matter of international law rather than military intervention. In his view, the consequences could extend far beyond the immediate conflict. The global economy, he suggested, is hanging by a thread, not only because of oil markets but also due to the impact on fertiliser supplies, with potential knock-on effects for global food security.
He warned that both the United States and Israel were driving a dangerous escalation of the situation, raising the threat of Third World War, and engaging in an unprecedented act of irresponsibility. Baum called on the government to use its diplomatic influence to bring parties back to the negotiating table, where conflicts are resolved in a rules-based world.
When asked whether Luxembourg should sever ties with the United States and Israel, Baum retorted that this was not the position of The Left.
Turning to domestic matters, Baum urged the government to act decisively to prevent further increases in fuel prices. He acknowledged that the transition to alternative energy sources was progressing too slowly but called on the government to take immediate measures in the face of what he described as an acute emergency. The Left believes fuel prices should be temporarily frozen.
The party argues that more targeted and socially equitable measures can be introduced at a later stage. “We must act immediately, as we are facing a serious emergency situation and other countries have already taken such steps,” the MP said. He warned that failing to act could trigger an inflationary spiral, the burden of which would once again fall on ordinary people.
Baum also pointed out that his party had consistently pushed for structural increases to the minimum wage, arguing that work must be properly remunerated. Regarding compensation measures to support companies facing difficulties due to rising wages, Baum declared his party’s support. However, he believes the support should not be given uniformly. For example, companies that pay the minimum wage, or just above it, but generate huge profits, should not receive support to the same extent. He explained: “I’m thinking of cleaning companies that employ thousands of people and make massive profits, they don’t necessarily have to benefit from compensation measures to the same extent.”
Marc Baum also underlined that Luxembourg has been a high-wage country since the 1960s and 1970s, which has helped drive economic growth and enhance the country’s attractiveness, calling it a factor in competitiveness. With fewer cross-border workers from Germany and Belgium coming to work in the Grand Duchy despite the minimum wage rising with inflation, Baum attributed this trend in part to high housing costs. He argued that the government’s housing policy has failed, saying authorities continue to give the private sector too much leeway.
Under the party’s rotation principle, Baum is set to step down as an MP for the October parliamentary term. Gary Diderich is expected to take his place, while David Wagner will hand over his mandate to Ana Correia.
As Marc Baum explained, The Left aims to manage the transition more effectively than during the previous legislative term. “David Wagner and I do not intend to step back from public life as abruptly as we perhaps did five years ago,” Baum said. The Esch-sur-Alzette councillor also confirmed that he plans to run again in the parliamentary elections in October 2028.
Until then, he intends to focus more on his acting career, which he has continued alongside his parliamentary duties, albeit to a much lesser extent.
