The Christian Social People's Party (CSV) won 28 percent of the votes in the small EU state of Luxembourg on Sunday, well ahead of the Democratic Party (DP), which took 16 percent, according to preliminary results. The estimates are based on one quarter of the ballots cast.

The result could see the CSV reclaim its place as the dominant force in Luxembourg's politics, despite losing five points since the previous vote, in 2013. The party had been in power from World War II until the last election cycle, when then-Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker was forced to resign during a wiretapping scandal.

Juncker, now the head of the European Commission, first claimed the office of prime minister in 1995. He was eventually pushed out by the DP's Xavier Bettel, who formed a coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party and the Greens after the 2013 vote.

Bettel was expected to meet Henri, the Grand Duke of Luxembourg, on Monday and discuss the future of his coalition. Any political alliance needs to secure at least 31 seats in the country's 60-seat legislature.

The rich Grand Duchy has a population of around 600,000 people, but only 256,000 are Luxembourg nationals and eligible to vote.

Opinion polls had suggested that Bettel could lose votes because of his unpopular economic policies and declining support within his Democratic Party and coalition partners. A high growth rate under the coalition has put pressure on housing and infrastructure.

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Bettel's DP lost two points from the 2013 vote, when the campaign was dominated by accusations against the country's spying agency, the SREL. These included illegal wiretapping of politicians and keeping files on private citizens. The agency was even implicated in dodgy dealing in luxury cars.

Read more: Luxembourg installs Bettel, Juncker out

Luxembourger identity

Voting is mandatory for Luxembourgers, but they account for only 52 percent of the country's population.

A 2015 government proposal to allow foreigners who have lived in the country for 10 years to vote was rejected. This left almost half of Luxembourg's population without any political representation.

Bettel has since lowered the bar for obtaining citizenship, but this has not been universally welcomed, and it led to a renewed focus on nationalism and identity politics.

The European Court of Justice is the supreme court of the European Union in matters of EU law

Luxembourg is one of the world's largest financial centers, with 4,000 registered investment funds, and 144 banks — of which 120 are subsidiaries and branches of foreign banks. In September, as part of its Brexit moves, the UK's Lloyds Banking Group was reported to be negotiating to set up a third EU subsidiary in Luxembourg for its life insurance customers.

It is also the seat of the European Court of Justice, the supreme court in matters of EU law and its interpretation across all member states.

dj/rc (AFP, dpa, AP, Reuters)

Each evening at 1830 UTC, DW's editors send out a selection of the day's hard news and quality feature journalism. You can sign up to receive it directly here.</s>Luxembourg City, Luxembourg (SportsNetwork.com) - Former world No. 1 star Caroline Wozniacki was among the quarterfinal winners Friday at the Luxembourg Open tennis event.

The top-seeded Wozniacki defeated eighth-seeded Serb Bojana Jovanovski by a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 margin on the indoor hardcourts at Kockelscheuer Sport Centre.

The 2008 Luxembourg runner-up Wozniacki will meet third-seeded Sabine Lisicki in the semifinals. Lisicki, who was a Luxembourg finalist back in 2009, outlasted Italian Karin Knapp by a 7-5, 4-6, 6-0 score.

Also on Friday, Swiss Stefanie Voegele upset second-seeded American Sloane Stephens 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 and German Annika Beck snuck past Polish qualifier Katarzyna Piter 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 7-6 (7-5).

Voegele and Beck will do battle in the semifinals.

The 2013 Luxembourg champion will take home $44,000.</s>Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel’s declared voters had “confirmed” the current government in Sunday’s election after his coalition won just enough seats to stay in power.

“The electorate has moved things around internally in the government, but the voters have confirmed us,” Bettel said, according to the Luxembourg Times.

Polls ahead of the vote suggested Bettel’s time could be up, and the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) — which has dominated Luxembourg politics since the war — could return to power.

The current coalition government between Bettel’s Democratic Party, the Green Party and the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party together won 31 seats out of 60. These parties held 32 seats in the outgoing parliament.

The CSV, which by itself was the single largest party with 21 seats, could also reach a majority if it teamed up with other parties, such as Bettel’s DP, Reuters reports.

The biggest winner was the Green Party, which gained three seats, while the DP lost one seat, the CSV lost two and the Luxembourg Socialist Workers’ Party lost three.

Members of the Green Party also voiced optimism about retaining the current coalition.

“A coalition with the CSV is mathematically impossible, so there is only one possibility: a continuation of the three-party coalition,” said Green Party member and Justice Minister Félix Braz. “The coalition has done better than the polls and has been confirmed.”

Bettel took on the country’s top job in 2013 after a spying scandal involving the secret service toppled the government led by the Jean-Claude Juncker, now the European Commission president.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this article misstated the number of seats held by Xavier Bettel’s coalition in the outgoing parliament.

Read this next: Germany, UK, France urge ‘credible’ probe into Saudi journalist’s disappearance</s>LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - Luxembourg began voting in a parliamentary election on Sunday, with opinions polls showing the centre-right party will end its first term in opposition since World War Two at the expense of the liberal-led government.

Voting began at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) and was due to end at 2 p.m. with most results expected in the evening.

Surveys indicate that the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) - which was led for 19 years by EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker and is by far the biggest group - will end Xavier Bettel’s five years as prime minister.

However, the CSV could fall short of an outright majority in the 60-seat chamber, meaning its leader Claude Wiseler would need an ally in one of the three governing parties - Bettel’s Democratic Party, the Socialist Worker’s Party or the Greens.

Those parties took advantage of voters’ discontent in 2013 when Juncker called a snap election after a wire-tapping scandal, pushing the CSV out of government for the first time since the war.

However, the foreign policy of the European Union’s wealthiest but second-smallest state is unlikely to change much.

To avoid isolation in the EU, Luxembourg has been adapting its economic model, recently ending bank secrecy under pressure from bigger neighbours which have called it a centre for tax avoidance.

Financial services is the largest sector in the Grand Duchy’s economy, which was once dominated by steel.

Unlike some neighbours, where real or feared migration has boosted anti-immigrant parties, the far right has made no inroads in Luxembourg. However, in 2015 Luxembourgers decisively rejected giving the vote to the 48 percent of the population who are foreigners, mostly from Portugal, France and other EU countries.</s>Luxembourg voters have delivered an uncertain outcome in an election, leaving the liberal-led coalition with just enough seats to stay in government and the traditionally dominant centre-right also capable of returning to power.

Opinion polls had indicated that the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) - which was led for 19 years by EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker - would end Xavier Bettel's five years as prime minister of a three-party coalition.

The CSV was on course to be the largest party, but actually lost seats, according to a projection by broadcaster RTL after more than 90 per cent of the votes were counted.

Bettel's Democratic Party's result was unchanged, while his allies, the Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), slipped.

The day's biggest winners were the third party in government, the Greens.

The upshot is that Bettel's coalition would have a majority of 31 seats in the 60-seat chamber, while the CSV would need to win over his Democratic Party to end its rare spell in opposition.

The CSV was pushed out of government for only the second time since World War II in a snap election Juncker called in 2013 after a wire-tapping scandal.

Unlike some neighbouring countries, where migration has boosted anti-immigrant parties, the far right has not made inroads in Luxembourg.

However, in 2015 Luxembourgers decisively rejected giving the vote to the 48 per cent of the population who are foreigners, mostly from Portugal, France and other EU countries.

Whatever the future government, the foreign policy of the European Union's wealthiest but second-smallest state is unlikely to change much.

To avoid isolation in the EU, Luxembourg has been adapting its economic model, recently ending bank secrecy under pressure from bigger neighbours which have called it a centre for tax avoidance.

Financial services is the largest sector in the Grand Duchy's economy, which was once dominated by steel.</s>related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.

2 related media assets (image or videos) available. Click to see the gallery.

Luxembourg voters delivered an uncertain outcome in an election on Sunday, leaving the liberal-led coalition with just enough seats to stay in government and the traditionally dominant centre-right also capable of returning to power.

LUXEMBOURG: Luxembourg voters delivered an uncertain outcome in an election on Sunday, leaving the liberal-led coalition with just enough seats to stay in government and the traditionally dominant centre-right also capable of returning to power.

Opinion polls had indicated that the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) - which was led for 19 years by EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker - would end Xavier Bettel's five years as prime minister of a three-party coalition.

The CSV was on course to be the largest party, but actually lost seats, according to a projection by broadcaster RTL after more than 90 percent of the votes were counted.

Bettel's Democratic Party's result was unchanged, while his allies, the Socialist Workers Party (LSAP), slipped. The day's biggest winners were the third party in government, the Greens.

The upshot is that Bettel's coalition would have a majority of 31 seats in the 60-seat chamber, while the CSV would need to win over his Democratic Party to end its rare spell in opposition.

The CSV was pushed out of government for only the second time since World War Two in a snap election Juncker called in 2013 after a wire-tapping scandal.

Unlike some neighbouring countries, where migration has boosted anti-immigrant parties, the far right has not made inroads in Luxembourg.

However, in 2015 Luxembourgers decisively rejected giving the vote to the 48 percent of the population who are foreigners, mostly from Portugal, France and other EU countries.

Whatever the future government, the foreign policy of the European Union's wealthiest but second-smallest state is unlikely to change much.

To avoid isolation in the EU, Luxembourg has been adapting its economic model, recently ending bank secrecy under pressure from bigger neighbours which have called it a centre for tax avoidance.

Financial services is the largest sector in the Grand Duchy's economy, which was once dominated by steel.</s>LUXEMBOURG — Canada's Eugenie Bouchard defeated Romania's Raluca Serban 6-1, 2-6, 6-1 in a first-round qualification draw match Saturday at the Luxembourg Open.

Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., will play Switzerland's Jill Teichmann in the next round.

Bouchard, a former world No. 5, is currently ranked 110th in the world.</s>LUXEMBOURG (Reuters) - The center-right is expected to return to power in Luxembourg after a rare five years in opposition when voters elect a new parliament on Sunday.

Opinions polls indicate that the Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) - which was led for 19 years by EU chief executive Jean-Claude Juncker - will end Xavier Bettel’s five years as prime minister of a liberal coalition.

However, the CSV could fall short of an outright majority in the 60-seat chamber, meaning its leader Claude Wiseler would need to find an ally from one of the three governing parties - Bettel’s Democratic Party, the Socialist Worker’s Party or the Greens.

Voting began at 8 a.m. (0600 GMT) and was due to end at 2 p.m. with most results expected in the evening.

The ruling parties took advantage of voters’ discontent in 2013 when Juncker called a snap election after a wire-tapping scandal, pushing the CSV out of government for the first time since World War Two.

Teacher Muriel Schroeder, like many voters, said education was a core issue at the election, but also said she wanted the country to shift its policy toward foreigners.

“I am in favor of welcoming foreigners and I wouldn’t like the country to move toward extremism like in other countries,” she said before voting.

Unlike some neighbors, where migration has boosted anti-immigrant parties, the far right has not made inroads in Luxembourg.

However, in 2015 Luxembourgers decisively rejected giving the vote to the 48 percent of the population who are foreigners, mostly from Portugal, France and other EU countries.

Whatever the future government, the foreign policy of the European Union’s wealthiest but second-smallest state is unlikely to change much.

To avoid isolation in the EU, Luxembourg has been adapting its economic model, recently ending bank secrecy under pressure from bigger neighbors which have called it a center for tax avoidance.

Financial services is the largest sector in the Grand Duchy’s economy, which was once dominated by steel.</s>LUXEMBOURG — Canada's Eugenie Bouchard defeated Switzerland's Jil Teichmann 6-3, 6-1 on Sunday to reach the final qualification round at the Luxembourg Open.

Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., will next play Jessika Ponchet of France, who beat Richel Hogenkamp of the Netherlands 6-3, 6-4 in her second-round match.

Four spots are reserved for qualifiers in the 32-player main draw at the US$250,000 WTA Tour event.

Bouchard, who's seeded fifth in the qualifying draw, holds the No. 110 position in the world rankings.</s>A resourceful Luxembourg resident has built a three-storey house using an estimated 16 tons of incomprehensible political material that has arrived in her mailbox since the end of summer.

A resourceful Luxembourg resident has built a three-storey house using an estimated 16 tons of incomprehensible political material that has arrived in her mailbox since the end of summer.

“Pamphlet after pamphlet with names and photos of people I don’t recognize, all of them dressed up,” said Renata Apostu, 29, who has lived and worked in the Grand Duchy since 2016. “At first I thought they were adverts for suit stores, and that there was some kind of retail war going on.”

“Every morning the postman would leave me with a whole stack of stuff I would never read, since everything was printed in languages I don’t understand,” she continued. “And I’m not allowed to vote anyway, so I have no idea why these political parties were showing so much interest in me.”

Apostu accumulated so much material that by the end of September it filled up every room in her small apartment. Unwilling to spend money on a rental truck to transport the stacks to the recycling center, Apostu came up with an idea: she would use the material to build her own house.

“Honestly, I didn’t do this to make a statement or to protect the environment,” she said. “I just couldn’t think of anything else to do with it.”

“Look at this pamphlet, for example, what does it say?” she continued, pointing to a flyer that is now part of an exterior wall. “Okay, so there’s a guy in a suit, and he’s walking along an empty street, talking to himself. Is he on drugs? I don’t what he’s saying. I don’t understand French, oh wait, this one looks like it’s in German.”

“Or is that Luxembourgish?” she added. “I can’t even tell.”

Apostu says that before she began construction, she went around to all the neighbours to see if she could also have their material, as they are mostly non-citizens.

“Most of them didn’t know what all that stuff was for, and one woman actually thought they were adverts for professional psychics that cater to people who work in the fund industry,” she said. “She had been trying to call them for weeks to make an appointment, but with no luck.”

After five days of intensive stacking, Apostu finished her new home, temporarily located in a vacant field.

“I used to worry that I could never afford a house in Luxembourg because I only make about 100,000 euros per year,” she said. “But thanks to all the political parties who sent me tons of free construction material, I’m now a happy homeowner.”

Apostu admits she is disappointed about one thing: that she didn’t have enough stacks of paper to add a guest room or a garage. Still, she remains hopeful.

“I just need to be patient,” she said. “The next elections are in five years, so I’ll be able to finish all my additions and renovations then.”
Voters in Luxembourg go to the polls for the 24th general election.