Believing in success

The 31-year-old lawyer, who studied in Paris and London, has already proved in the past that she does not shy away from challenges, when in February 2016 she became the first woman ever to chair the CSJ – a post she held until December 2018. Now, if an extraordinary congress in the fall approves the reform of the statutes to introduce dual presidencies, she is expected to become co-president of the CSV – together with Claude Wiseler and as a member of a new leadership team.

Margue, who comes from a family that has already produced a number of politicians and who has been a member of the CSV since 2007, has been one of the CSV's two vice presidents until now and since January 2019, and has been a member of the capital's municipal council since December 2017. On the center list of the CSV, Elisabeth Margue received only 82 votes less than Paul Galles in the 2018 legislative elections, which allowed him to enter the Chamber of Deputies. Meanwhile, to move up to the House and become more visible at the national level, a MP from the center would have to make way.

The interview was conducted last Tuesday on the party's premises – in the same room where we spoke to then CSV president Frank Engel in January.

Lëtzebuerger Journal: Compared to Claude Wiseler, you are a political lightweight. How are you going to stand up to such an old political veteran? If you look at the interviews of the past days and weeks, once again everyone wanted to talk only to Wiseler.

Elisabeth Margue: We are two different characters who complement each other, and that's a good thing. It's not about standing up to each other, it's about working together.

I like to believe that, but then why does everyone want to talk only to Claude Wiseler?

Officially, I have not yet been elected and as a result I do not have a mandate yet.

You turned down the post of Secretary General last September. Why do you now suddenly feel like taking on responsibility?

Because I believe that the new party leadership constellation will be successful. In the past few months, we've been in a situation where we've done anything but function well as a party, so I didn't feel compelled to take on more responsibility. Moreover, the six weeks as interim president have made me want to take on responsibility.