Bahá’í Community in Luxembourg Holds Election Without Candidates

On Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 May 2026, the Bahá’í community in Luxembourg held its National Convention, marked by the election of a new National Spiritual Assembly through a system without candidates or campaigning.

According to the organisation, nineteen delegates elected at local level took part in the convention, which also included consultations on the contribution of the Bahá’í community to Luxembourg society.

The following individuals were elected: Marianne Wiltgen, Martine Jason-Wiltgen, Wafa Arzani, Sarah Khabirpour, Joubin Bashiri, Jean-Pierre Schmit, Ruhiyeh Thabet, Bruno Monfils and Nicolas Tesch.

The organisation described its electoral system as follows: “The Bahá’í electoral system is characterised by unique principles that contrast with common political practices: there are no nominations, no campaigns and no possibility for individuals to promote themselves. The election is conducted by secret ballot, with each voter freely selecting, according to their own conscience, those individuals they consider best suited to serve the community.”

It added that this model, “based on trust and the absence of competition”, is attracting increasing interest in the context of current reflections on the evolution of governance.

According to the organisation, the convention also served as a space for collective reflection on societal challenges.

This year’s consultations highlighted a growing dynamic in Luxembourg, with groups of families, young people and local actors engaging in initiatives aimed at strengthening social cohesion at neighbourhood level.

The Bahá’í community added that participants shared experiences of building local communities based on consultation and service to the common good, with particular emphasis on the role of youth, whose increasing engagement was described as generating “new momentum and hope”.