Africa-Press – Cape verde. Starsky Selestino Flor, a young man of Cape Verdean origin and leader of the Pirate Party of Luxembourg since 2019, is his party’s candidate for the national elections in this Grand Duchy scheduled for 8 October. The expectation for these elections is to keep the two seats of his party, or “triple”. Despite the challenges, especially with the language, Starsky ensures that Cape Verdeans are a source of pride in this European country.
Born to Cape Verdean parents from Chã de Pedras, Ribeira Grande de Santo Antão, Starsky was born in Luxembourg, where he has been embarking on a political career for about 10 years. Since 2013, he has been a member of the Luxembourg Pirate Party, becoming president (male spokesperson) in 2019, re-elected in 2021 and 2023.
In an interview with A NAÇÃO, the candidate of the Pirata Party, advanced that his expectation is to maintain, at least, two seats in addition to new conquests.
“I am officially a candidate for the national elections in October. The expectation is to keep at least the two seats of the Pirate Party. But we would like to double or even triple our score”, says Flor, born and raised in Ettelbruck, a commune in Luxembourg, with city status, belonging to the district and canton of Diekirch.
Still on the expectations for this election, he guarantees that the polls and trends of the last five years show that it is possible to achieve this result. “Therefore, we will do our best to succeed in this challenge and serve the citizen even better”, he guarantees.
Transparency and participatory democracy
As for the proposals for the October 8 national elections, Flor says that the Pirata Party is still finalizing the program, but that, in principle, the general lines will be the same, that is, based on transparency and participatory democracy.
“We want to restore confidence in politics and politicians. And also attract the naturalized and those who have dual nationality. Motivating them to vote and demonstrating that their voice can have an important impact on society”, explains Flor, so far the only candidate of Cape Verdean origin in the party created in 2009.
“The list is not finalized, as we still have some congresses to hold. But, so far, I am the only candidate of Cape Verdean origin. We have several Portuguese and also two Italians”, he adds.
Basic Principles of the Pirate Party
As for the basic principles of the party he is part of, for about 10 years, Flor points to the defense of basic democracy, which allows each member to actively determine the future of the party.
“In the Pirate Party we are defenders of a self-determined life and we defend the right to social participation, equal opportunities for all and the neutrality of the State in relation to religious communities”, he explains.
“Cape Verdeans are well regarded and well integrated in Luxembourg”
Graduated in Civil Engineering (Construction of Buildings), Starsky Selestino Flor has been working as a train ticket controller for 17 years, and is also a worker delegate for the union L’SGBL-FNCTTFEL.
About the Cape Verdean community in the Grand Duchy, he guarantees that it is well integrated.
“For my part, I listen to the community. What is good about Luxembourg is that Cape Verdeans are well regarded and well integrated. What Cape Verdeans do in this country is a source of pride, both for this country that welcomes them, and for the country of origin”, he argues.
However, he admits that there is still a way to go, especially when it comes to language. “There are always difficulties in schools with the German language”, he exemplifies.
Presence of Cape Verdeans in Luxembourg
It should be noted that citizens of Cape Verdean origin have a strong presence in political life in Luxembourg.
This year, there were even 33 candidates of Cape Verdean origin in the communal elections on the 11th of June. Of these, four managed to be elected to Councilor.
In 2017, several Cape Verdeans also participated, but only two managed to be elected.
After the Portuguese community, Cape Verdeans are the second largest group of foreigners in Luxembourg.
Since the 1990s, this Grand Duchy has been one of Cape Verde’s most important development partners. Given the living conditions it offers, countless Cape Verdeans have settled in this small European country.
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