 |
|---|
|
Luxembourg's 100communes (Luxembourgish:Gemengen[ɡəˈmæŋən];French:communes;German:Gemeinden) conform toLAU Level 2[1] and are the country's lowestadministrative divisions.
Communes rank belowcantons in Luxembourg's hierarchy of administrative subdivisions. Communes are often re-arranged, being merged or divided as demanded by demographic change over time. Unlike the cantons, which have remained unchanged since their creation, the identity of the communes has not become ingrained within the geographical sensations of the averageLuxembourger.[citation needed] The cantons are responsible for the ceremonial, administrative, and statistical aspects of government, while the communes provide local government services.[2]
Themunicipal system was adopted when Luxembourg was annexed into the French département ofForêts in 1795. Despite ownership passing to theNetherlands, this system was maintained until it was introduced upon independence in 1843. Theprovince of Luxembourg, which now constitutes part of Belgium, was part ofLuxembourg prior to 1839 when it possessed a low degree of sovereignty. Due to Luxembourg's incorporation into the main country by its occupying powers, the modern municipal system in Luxembourg is less than two centuries old.
Luxembourg has three official languages:French,German, and the national languageLuxembourgish. Some government websites also offer English versions[3][4]
| Language | Type name (sg./pl.) |
|---|---|
| Luxembourgish | Gemeng/Gemengen[5][6] |
| French | commune/communes[7][8][9] |
| German | Gemeinde/Gemeinden[10][11][12] |
The communes have no legislative control over matters relating to the national interest, which reside solely with theChamber of Deputies. Below this level, however, they have wide-ranging powers. The communes providepublic education, maintain the localroad network and other infrastructure, ensure basicpublic health, and provide mostsocial security.[2] Communes also have discretionary powers for comprehensivehealth care (including maintenance of hospitals and clinics) within their borders,land-use planning, funds for cultural activities, provision of care to the elderly, and providing a sufficient supply of water, gas, and electricity.[2]
There are currently 100 communes in the 12cantons. The 12 communes with city status areDiekirch,Differdange,Dudelange,Echternach,Esch-sur-Alzette,Ettelbruck,Grevenmacher,Luxembourg,Remich,Rumelange,Vianden, andWiltz.[13]
Since the creation of the communes system, eight communes have changed their name and forty-eight communes have been merged, resulting in the 100 communes that exist today. These defunct communes are listed in the table below.
The municipal system was created during the French occupation to mirror the systems employed in the rest of theFrench Republic. These were overhauled in 1823, but the system itself was retained until independence, which was granted under the 1839Treaty of London.[1] The law regulating their creation and organisation dates to 24 February 1843,[15] which was later enshrined in theLuxembourgish constitution promulgated on 17 October 1868.[2]
Upon independence, there were 120 communes. A series of mergers and partitions between 1849 and 1891 increased this number to 130. Most of these were brought about by asymmetrical population growth, as population growth in the south caused the balance of population in the country to shift. For instance, some of the communes born in that era includeRumelange,Schifflange, andWalferdange. In the pattern ofNordstad,Erpeldange andSchieren were also separated fromEttelbruck.
Since the end of theFirst World War, during which Luxembourg wasoccupied by Germany, the number of communes has dropped steadily. In 1920,Luxembourg City was expanded, annexing four surrounding communes. Another wave of mergers took place in the 1970s when sparsely populated areas in the north and west of the country were merged to formLac de la Haute-Sûre,Rambrouch, andWincrange.[14] 2006 saw the creation ofKiischpelt andTandel from four smaller communes, further reducing them to just 116.[14] 2012 saw the creation ofKäerjeng,Vallée de l'Ernz andParc Hosingen from smaller communes, and the merger ofClervaux,Esch-sur-Sûre andSchengen into adjacent ones. Eschweiler was merged intoWiltz in 2015.[14] In 2018, the communes ofBoevange-sur-Attert andTuntange merged into the new commune ofHelperknapp,Septfontaines andHobscheid into the new commune of Habscht, andRosport andMompach into the new commune ofRosport-Mompach.[16] Following the mergers ofBous andWaldbredimus into the new commune ofBous-Waldbredimus, and the merger ofGrosbous andWahl intoGroussbus-Wal in 2023, there are now only 100 communes.
| General elections | |
|---|---|
| Communal elections | |
| European elections | |
| Referendums | |
* Partial elections | |
