Luxembourg Young Socialists have elected their new leaders. Following the renewal of the coalition government, former JSL president Jimmy Skenderovic had resigned in October. On Saturday, Georges Sold was then appointed his successor during a party congress - not uncontestedly: while 21 members voted in his favour, 10 voted against him.
Having obtained 15 votes, Amir Vesali is set to take over over Sold's former function as general secretary.
Several well-know LSAP members pilgrimed to Saturday's congress and were not spared the criticism of their junior counterparts. According to Sold, the socialist party has hit a historical low in terms of public opinion: "instead of showing strength, admitting defeat [...] and improving ourselves, what do we do? We paint a complex world in a CSV black and white, keep our fingers from the pensions, get into bed with the liberals and even take pride in being second most voted party."
Sold argued that that many young socialists were disappointed at the political situation, the lies and their mother party. The latter, he said, did not do enough to push the party forward. Luxembourg's new interior minister Taina Bofferding, herself a former JSL president, encouraged the young socialists and added that "we will not get anywhere by being frustrated."
The Young Socialists hope to become more digital, democratic and diverse. New talents should be found and recruited on social media. However, the party is lacking attractiveness at the moment, Sold said. For example looking back at the national student fair, he lamented that his party failed to attract: "They did not come to us but went to the other parties. This raises questions."
LSAP has repeatedly attempted to get into JSL's good graces. In this context, Bofferding argued that LSAP should do everything in their power to win the next elections. The first opportunity to lay the foundation for improvement is already on the horizon: the LSAP congress will take place on 22 January.
