Clara Moraru and Ivan Leal Martins are actively involved in creating political dialogue for all and remind us that democracy grows stronger when more people participate.

Real democracy starts with us: our concerns, our friends and family, and more globally our concerns for the world we are in and will leave behind.

Politics and law-making creates the scaffold of our society. Whether you’re a long-time Luxembourg resident, a recent arrival, a young voter, or simply someone who wants to make a difference, this episode should help guide to becoming politically empowered.

Clara Moraru, founder of Politics for All, and Ivan Leal Martins from Wecitizens join me in studio to share how we can all help shape society by participating, speaking up, and even running for office.

Why Local Politics Matter — Even If You Can’t Vote

“You pay taxes. Your children go to school here. You contribute to society — so why wouldn’t you be involved in politics?” Clara asks passionately. Her organisation, Politics for All, is demystifying the political system in Luxembourg for residents who may feel excluded, especially foreign nationals.

“We have to make people aware that not voting doesn’t mean you don’t have a voice. You can participate in public consultations. You can go to communal council meetings. You can be present and active in the local debate.”

Youth Participation

Ivan Leal Martins, European Project Manager at Wecitizens, is leading efforts to connect youth with democratic action. “Sometimes people say young people are not interested in politics. That’s not true. They are political, they just express it differently.” He adds: “They protest. They care about the environment. What we’re trying to do is help them connect that energy with the political structures that can amplify their voice.”

With projects like MEP4aDay and EU Talks & Bites, Ivan is facilitating moments where students meet policymakers, simulate legislative roles, and realise the European Parliament is not a distant monolith but a platform they can influence.

“We want young people to feel like they belong to Europe,” Ivan says. “That they are part of something bigger and that their voice matters not only in the classroom but in the European Union.”

Politics Without Borders: Luxembourg & Wallonia 

This summer marks the start of a 16-month cross-border project: Demystifying Local Politics, connecting communities in Luxembourg and Wallonia. With support from the EU, the initiative will feature civic education workshops, local government engagement, and the production of Voices of Diversity, a media project giving the spotlight to foreign residents who have stepped into public life.

More Accessible Politics

Throughout the episode, both guests highlighted the need for simpler, more transparent civic education and to bring opportunities that are freely available into school life.

The goal of both Clara and Ivan is clear - remove psychological and linguistic barriers that discourage participation and create a more inclusive political culture, especially for minorities, youth, and foreign nationals.

How you can get involved:

Sign up for events, workshops, and Parliament visits

Run as a local candidate — even if you weren’t born in Luxembourg

Use your platforms to highlight underrepresented voices

Subscribe to newsletters at Politics for All or Wecitizens

Explore EU opportunities via the European Youth Portal

https://www.politicsforall.lu/

https://youth.europa.eu/home_en

https://www.wecitizens-lu.org/