Alternative Democratic Reform Party
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| Alternativ Demokratesch Reformpartei | |
|---|---|
| Image:Alternative Democratic Reform Party logo.PNG | |
| Leader | Robert Mehlen |
| Founded | 12 May 1987 |
| Headquarters | 9, rue de la Loge Luxembourg City |
| Political ideology | Conservative populism |
| International affiliation | Alliance for Europe of the Nations |
| Website | ADR |
The Alternative Democratic Reform Party (Luxembourgish: Alternativ Demokratesch Reformpartei, French: Parti réformiste d'alternative démocratique, German: Alternative Demokratische Reformpartei), abbreviated to ADR, is a political party in Luxembourg.
Initially a single-issue party demanding equality of state pension provision, political success has required the ADR to develop positions on all matters of public policy. Recently, the party has moved away from the core pensions theme; generally, the ADR is a conservative populist party, and is sometimes described as being nationalistic.<ref name="ADR: Jaerling prend la tangente">(French) ADR: Jaerling prend la tangente. PaperJam.lu (21 April 2006). Retrieved on 2006-08-23.</ref> It is the only party in the Chamber of Deputies to take a eurosceptic line.
The party was founded in 1987, and has rapidly become a significant political party on the national level. The ADR is represented in the Chamber of Deputies by four members, one from each circonscription, making it the fifth-largest party, behind the CSV, LSAP, DP, and the Greens.
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[edit] History
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The ADR has its roots in a demonstration in Luxembourg City on 28 March 1987, held to protest at the disparities between state pensions. The large crowd, and the collection of 10,000 signatures for a petition demanding change, persuaded the organisers that there was widespread public support. The party was founded on the 12 May 1987 as the 'Action Committee 5/6 Pensions for Everyone' (Aktiounskomitee 5/6 Pensioun fir jiddfereen).<ref name="ADR Geschicht">(German) Geschicht vun der Partei. Alternative Democratic Reform Party (2006). Retrieved on 2006-08-23.</ref>
In the 1989 election to the Chamber of Deputies, on 18 June 1989, the party achieved remarkable success by attracting votes from far beyond its core support base. Many Luxembourgers voted for the ADR as a protest vote, allowing the ADR to register 7.3% of the vote, win 4 of the 60 seats, and come fourth.<ref name="ADR Geschicht" /> The spectacular triumph of the party in the election required the leadership to formulate a new party strategy. On 12 November 1989, the name was amended to 'Action Committee 5/6' (Aktiounskomitee 5/6), reflecting its increased attention to other concerns.<ref name="ADR Geschicht" />
On 22 November 1992, the name was changed again, to 'Action Committee for Democracy and Pensions Justice' (Aktiounskomitee fir Demokratie an Rentengerechtigkeet).<ref name="ADR Geschicht" /> At the 10 October 1993 local elections, the ADR won 7 seats in communal councils. At the 1994 general election, the ADR got 9.0% of the vote and 5 seats, putting the ADR over the threshold required to qualify as a caucus, but the ADR fell to fifth place, behind the resurgent Greens.<ref name="ADR Geschicht" />
In the 1999 legislative election, the party enjoyed increased success, winning 9.4% of the vote and 7 seats. The results put the ADR back into fourth place, but the Greens managed to hold on to their seat in the simultaneous European elections.<ref name="ADR Geschicht" /> October 1999 saw ADR candidates elected in ten communes, with two winning in each of Luxembourg City and Esch-sur-Alzette.<ref name="ADR Geschicht" /> The ADR lost two of its Chamber of Deputies seats at the 2004 general election, and its share of the vote fell to under 10%.<ref name="ADR Geschicht" />
On 2 April 2006 the name was changed once more, to its current name of 'Alternative Democratic Reform Party' (Alternativ Demokratesch Reformpartei).<ref name="ADR Geschicht" /> Significantly, for the first time, the name makes no reference to pension reform, signalling the eagerness of the ADR to further solidify its position as a major party in national politics. However, on 1 May, Aly Jaerling left the party to sit as an independent in the Chamber of Deputies, complaining of the move away from campaigning for pensions and towards nationalism.<ref name="ADR: Jaerling prend la tangente" /> As a result of Jaerling's departure, the party lost its status as a caucus and now only qualifies as a 'group', threatening its future security.<ref>(French) Le hara-kiri d’Aly Jaerling. L'investigateur (2006). Retrieved on 2006-08-23.</ref>
[edit] Elected representatives
The party has four deputies in the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies:
[edit] Footnotes
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[edit] External link
| Image:Flag of Luxembourg.svg | Political parties in Luxembourg | Image:Flag of Luxembourg.svg |
|---|---|---|
| Represented in the Chamber of Deputies | ||
| Alternative Democratic Reform Party | Christian Social People's Party Democratic Party | The Greens | Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party | ||
| Other parties | ||
| Communist Party of Luxembourg | Free Party of Luxembourg | The Left | ||
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