Political outline

Executive Power

The chief of the state is the Grand Duke. The monarch is hereditary. Following popular parliamentary elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of the majority coalition is appointed as Prime Minister by the monarch to serve a five-year term. Prime Minister is the head of the government and enjoys the executive powers which include implementing of the law and running the day-to-day affairs of the country. The Council of Ministers (cabinet) is recommended by the Prime Minister and appointed by the monarch.

Legislative Power

Luxembourg has a unicameral legislature. The parliament consists of Chamber of Deputies which has 60 seats; its members are elected by direct popular vote to serve five-year terms. There also exists a second body called Council of State appointed by the Grand Duke (composed of 21 ordinary citizens recommended by the Prime Minister) which advises the Chamber of Deputies in the drafting of legislation. Grande Duke has constitutional power to dissolve the parliament and reinstate a new one. Prime Minister can only recommend the dissolution of parliament to Grande Duke. Legislative power is vested in both the government and the parliament. The people of Luxembourg enjoy considerable political rights.

Main political parties

Luxembourg has a multi-party system. No one party has a chance of gaining power alone, and parties work with each other to form coalition governments. Some of the major political parties in the country are:
-ADR (Alternative Democratic Reform Party) – a conservative nationalist party with anti-Euro ideology;
- CSV (Christian Social People's Party) – a Christian democratic conservative party with pro-Euro ideology;
- KPL or PCL (Communist Party of Luxembourg) – follows communist ideology;
- DP (Democratic Party) – follows liberal political ideology;
- LSAP (Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party) – social democrats The Greens – supports environmentalism and sustainable society.

Current political leaders

Grand Duke: HENRI (since October 2000) - hereditary
Prime Minister: Jean-Claude JUNCKER (since January 1995) - CSV, heading a coalition government with LSAP

Next election dates

Municipal elections : October 2011