“In Musson, a small municipality in the south of the Province of Luxembourg, a new generation of elected representatives is emerging, including Nicolas Collignon. Where, just a few years ago, no local MR structure existed anymore, a few motivated citizens decided to take up the challenge. Together, they recreated a branch, launched a website to inform residents, and won two seats on the municipal council. A young, committed and passionate representative, let's meet Nicolas."
1) You're young, this is your first political experience, and you're already a municipal councillor in Musson. Can you introduce yourself briefly and tell us what made you want to get involved?
Working part-time at Forem as an administrative assistant, I support jobseekers with their applications. At the same time, I'm continuing my studies at the 42 school in Luxembourg, a computer science school renowned for its innovative approach to education, and I have held my mandate as a municipal councillor since the last elections.
At 24, having always been passionate about new technologies, I'm convinced they can bring citizens closer to political decision-making.
In 2024, Jean-Luc ROTHE, chairman of the Musson branch, invited me to join an open list, Horizon 2030. His proposal appealed to me immediately: it matched my desire to shake things up in my municipality and to give young people a place in public debate again.
My commitment stems from a simple observation: in Musson, and even elsewhere, citizens feel disconnected from local politics.
There was a risk of just a single list running, which would have limited democratic debate and diversity of viewpoints. I was also struck by the lack of long-term vision, particularly on economic and digital matters, and by the absence of tools for citizen participation.
In a context where misinformation spreads easily, I want to show that politics can be done differently.
2) In 2022, there was no longer an MR branch in Musson. Together with others, you're building a liberal presence in the municipality step by step. Where do things stand now, and what challenges remain?
In two years, we've gone from a situation close to zero to a dynamic and united branch.
It all started shortly before the elections, when we put together a solid manifesto with a concrete vision and ran a campaign that stood out from the current majority's.
That work paid off: we won three seats on the municipal council, two of them for the MR, which now allows us to champion a different vision for Musson and give a liberal voice a hearing.
With the help of the whole committee, we created a new identity, including a modern website, active social media accounts, and a citizens' newsletter to keep residents informed of council decisions and our interventions.
But the biggest challenge starts now: how do we sustain this momentum?
We want to keep involving new citizens, encourage local participation and develop concrete projects.
3) You developed a very active website to inform residents and report on council meetings. Why does this approach of transparency and closeness seem important to you?
Because trust is built on clarity.
From the outset, I wanted this website to be much more than a simple political showcase: a tool for information and citizen participation.
Every resident can find the minutes of council meetings, our interventions, and also explanatory articles to better understand our positions.
This approach aims to make local politics accessible to everyone, even those who don't actively take part in municipal life.
In the longer term, I'd like to go further by adding new interactive modules, particularly to encourage citizen participation, strengthen budgetary transparency and allow residents to take part in civic life.
For me, being an elected representative is above all a service to the community.
Informing, listening and proposing, that's the basis of a credible mandate. And in the digital age, we have the means to rebuild the link between citizens and elected representatives.
4) As a young opposition representative, what major challenges do you see for Musson? And which issues do you want to focus your work on?
Musson has enormous potential, especially thanks to its privileged geographical position near France and Luxembourg. Yet the municipality currently lacks a genuine vision for the future.
I fully agree with Benoît Piedboeuf and the other elected representatives of the province in their wish to further develop the areas of southern Luxembourg. Our region deserves to be a driver of innovation and opportunity, not just a dormitory area.
During this first year of my mandate, three major challenges emerged:
- Local economic development
- Encouraging the digital transition
- Spatial planning and mobility
My goal is clear: to modernise Musson, making it more efficient, more connected and more participatory.
Today, the college relies (and counts) mainly on regional subsidies to move its projects forward. We must instead restore the municipality's own capacity to act, by making the most of our local resources and talent.
In the longer term, I want the MR to regain its place in the municipal executive, putting action, clarity and innovation back at the heart of local governance.