Let’s demystify politics with Clara MORARU, today in conversation with Himanshu UPADHYAY, CSV member living in Luxembourg – Gasperich
Himanshu, where do you come from and what is politics for you?
I was born in India and have spent a large part of my life in Asia. I relocated to Luxembourg from Singapore in 2021. Politics for me means service and power in the hands of people, especially the youth to bring positive and sustainable changes at the grass root level.
As an expat, what was your motivation to get involved in Luxembourg politics and more specifically to join CSV?
In Singapore, the involvement in domestic politics as a foreign resident is almost impossible. When I was contacted by CSV for a tour of the Luxembourg Parliament, that’s when I learnt that Luxembourg allows foreign residents living in Luxembourg (regardless of length of stay) to vote in local elections, stand as candidates, and run for Mayor.
CSV is at the forefront of this important change, and I personally think it allows the foreign residents to actively get involved in civic engagement which is broader than political engagement. I urge the foreign residents to participate and use the power of vote to make a difference in their commune.
As an expat living in Luxembourg-city, what’s one political message that you’d like local or national politicians to give more attention to?
I have 2 messages for our national politicians:
1) Luxembourg has enormous potential to lead the sustainability topic. I am a cyclist so I would like to Luxembourg to focus more on green energy. Luxembourg offers excellent subsidies for bicycles and already has great cycling network, but we need to build more connections between communes and improve the last mile connectivity so that we could reduce the dependability on vehicles.
2) With more skilled third country nationals entering Luxembourg to help it achieve its growth ambitions, the number for trailing spouses will continue to rise. Considering one trailing spouse for each skilled worker, Luxembourg cannot afford to waste a pool of non-working yet talented trailing spouses and continue to bring more skilled workers. Since the trailing spouses of third country nationals are already living in Luxembourg, they should be given a special permit so that employers and recruiters in Luxembourg could hire them on merit for relevant positions.
Thank you, Himanshu! Be reassured that your voice is heard and your messages are very valuable. I look forward to seeing you at the End-of-the-year reception on the 3rd of December.
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Every week, Daniela-Lacramioara Clara Moraru, deputy Secretary General of CSV, the party of the local & international community, will bring you interviews with the members of our party, to help demystify politics, increase political participation and engagement of non and new Luxembourgers.
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