In Luxembourg, a dispute has erupted over digitalisation at the municipal level

A new wave of public debate has erupted in Dudelange about the role of artificial intelligence in public administration. It all started with a statement by a CSV party representative during the city council's budget debate. According to her, rising personnel costs are a cause for concern and AI could be a tool for optimising staff.

However, the remark provoked a sharp reaction from the country's largest trade union, the OGBL, which expressed "deep concern" and called such proposals unacceptable and contrary to both reality and the very principles CSV has stated in its election programme.

The OGBL stresses that the CSV programme explicitly envisages the use of AI to improve the efficiency of administrative processes, but not to reduce staff numbers. Therefore, the union believes that attempts to present technological development as a substitute for human beings distort the meaning of the reforms.

"The quality of municipal services is based on qualified professionals who work for the public every day," the union said in a statement. AI can help, but is unable to take responsibility, initiative or professional judgement, without which effective management work is impossible.

OGBL also points out that municipalities, including Dudelange, are facing increasingly complex challenges: from urbanism to social policy to climate adaptation. In such an environment, investment in human resources is not "overspending" but a prerequisite for keeping the government functional and close to citizens.