Prime Ministers

(Esch/Alzette, 16 September 1963)

Luc Frieden spends his childhood in Esch/Alzette until he moves to Luxembourg City with his parents. After his “Première” at Athénée, Luc Frieden studies law at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. He then completes further postgraduate studies at Cambridge and Harvard. After his studies, he works as a lawyer and enters parliament for the CSV at the age of 30. As President of the parliamentary Constitutional Commission, he contributes to the creation of the Constitutional Court and Administrative Courts.

On the occasion of a cabinet reshuffle, Luc Frieden is appointed Minister of Justice and Budget in 1998, positions he retains after the 1999 elections. He is significantly involved in the smooth introduction of the Euro on January 1, 2002. During the banking crisis in 2008, Luc Frieden is one of the central figures who prevent two systemic Luxembourg banks from being caught in the devastating spiral of the Lehman collapse. 

As Minister of Budget and Finance, Luc Frieden ensures that the necessary financial resources for a strong welfare state are available. As Minister of Justice, he plays a significant role in creating a modern and open Luxembourg through important socio-political reforms. 

Luc Frieden transitions to the private sector in 2014. As President of the Chamber of Commerce since 2018, he is particularly committed to strengthening the innovation power and competitiveness of the Luxembourg economy based on the principles of the Social Market Economy. During the Covid pandemic, Luc Frieden works intensively to lead the various sectors of the economy and their employees through the crisis as unscathed as possible.

As the national lead candidate, Luc Frieden leads the CSV into the parliamentary elections on October 8, 2023. He coordinates the subsequent coalition negotiations between CSV and DP as Formateur. On November 17, 2023, Luc Frieden is appointed Prime Minister. 

(Wasserbillig, May 18, 1937)

After secondary studies at the Athénée, he studied at the Faculty of Law at the Universities of Strasbourg and Paris as well as at the Institut d’Études Politiques in Paris. Santer became involved early on in various Catholic student and youth organizations. He is Secretary-General of the JEC and President of ALUC. After an internship at the law firm of Tony Biever – where Pierre Werner and Gaston Thorn (DP) also worked, among others – Santer became an assistant government advisor in the Ministry of Labor.

In 1965, Jacques Santer became a member of the CSV. In the following year, at the age of 29, he became the first full-time parliamentary secretary of the CSV. Between 1972 and 1974, he held the position of Secretary-General of the party. After the resignation of Family Minister Madeleine Frieden (1972), Santer joined the government as Secretary of State (with the portfolios of Culture as well as Labor and Social Affairs). After the election defeat of 1974, he took on the role of National President of the CSV. Following the election victory of 1979, he was appointed Minister of Finance and Minister of Labor and Social Security (1979-1984). After the departure of Pierre Werner, Jacques Santer became head of government (1984).

Upon leaving national politics, he became President of the European Commission (1995-1999). From 1999 to 2004, Santer served again as a Member of the European Parliament.

(Wasserbillig, May 18, 1937)

After secondary studies at the Athénée, he studied at the Faculty of Law of the Universities of Strasbourg and Paris as well as at the Institut d’Études Politiques in Paris. Santer became involved early on in various Catholic student and youth associations. He was General Secretary of the JEC and President of the ALUC. After an internship in the law firm of Tony Biever—which also included Pierre Werner and Gaston Thorn (DP)—Santer became an associate government advisor in the Ministry of Labor.

In 1965, Jacques Santer became a member of the CSV. The following year, at the age of 29, he became the first full-time parliamentary secretary of the CSV. Between 1972 and 1974, he held the position of General Secretary of the party. After the resignation of the Minister of Family Affairs Madeleine Frieden (1972), Santer joined the government as State Secretary (with responsibility for Culture as well as Labor and Social Affairs). After the electoral defeat of 1974, he took on the role of National President of the CSV. Following the electoral victory of 1979, he was appointed Minister of Finance and Minister for Labor and Social Security (1979-1984). After the departure of Pierre Werner, Jacques Santer became head of government (1984).

Upon departing from national politics, he became the President of the European Commission (1995-1999). From 1999 to 2004, Santer was once again a Member of the European Parliament.

(Lille, December 29, 1913 – Luxembourg, June 24, 2002)

The son of a trading company entrepreneur, he studied law in Paris and attended the Ecole libre des sciences politiques, where he focused extensively on monetary policy issues. From 1935-37, he was chairman of the Catholic Academic Association. He earned a doctorate in law and worked in the law office of Tony Biever since 1938. As an official of the "Generalbank," he informed the government-in-exile in London about Luxembourg's financial situation during World War II.

Initially a government councilor in the Ministry of Finance, he became Minister of Finance after the death of State Minister Pierre Dupong (1953), and also Minister of the Army after the elections of 1954. He served as State and Finance Minister from 1959 to 1974, and as Foreign Minister between 1964 and 1967. Key focuses of his policy included social reforms, family, public service, industrial diversification, the financial center, and Luxembourg's international commitments. Due to the "Werner Plan" (1970) for a European Monetary Union, the Luxembourg State Minister is considered the "father of the euro." Under the social-liberal coalition (1974-1979), Werner led the parliamentary opposition as faction leader. In 1975, he was a municipal councilor in the city of Luxembourg. From 1979-1984, he served as State and Culture Minister.

Though he unexpectedly withdrew from active politics in 1984, he continued to successfully advocate for the Astra satellite project. Up until his stroke in 2000, he was regarded as a valued "éminence grise" beyond his party. He passed away on June 24, 2002.

(Mertert, 28 October 1892 – Zurich, 23 February 1959)

Pierre Frieden studied philosophy and literature at the "Cours supérieurs" in Luxembourg and at the universities of Fribourg (Switzerland), Zurich, Geneva, and Munich (1912-1916). From 1919 to 1940, he was a teacher at the Gymnasium in Diekirch and the Athénée in Luxembourg, as well as at the "Cours supérieurs". From 1929, he directed the National Library.

During the Second World War, he was interned at the Hinzert concentration camp in 1942 due to his protest against forced conscription, later being placed under house arrest.

After the liberation of Luxembourg, he became a member of the government (from 1944) and later also of the State Council (from 1948). From 1944 until his death in 1959, he held the office of Minister for Education. Additionally, he temporarily took on the ministries for Family, Culture, Science, Health, Finance, Interior, and Social Affairs. Following the resignation of Joseph Bech, he became State Minister on 29 March 1958. Less than a year later, he died on 23 February in Zurich.

Besides his political career, Pierre Frieden was also active as a writer and co-founded the magazine “D'Hémecht” in 1944.

(Diekirch, February 17, 1887 – Luxembourg, March 8, 1975)

High school studies in Echternach, law studies in Fribourg (Switzerland) and Paris.

With his election as a member of the Right Party in 1914 (still under the census suffrage), a long and rich political career began: Minister in the E. Reuter government 1921-1925 (Education), Prime Minister from 1926 to 1937 and from 1953 to 1958, President of the Chamber from 1959 to 1964. Bech was continuously Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1926 to 1959.

By nature rather skeptical, Bech was never a militant party member. After 1937, his main interest lay in foreign affairs. He is the true founder of a Luxembourgish diplomacy and made a decisive contribution to securing Luxembourg's position in the European integration process and obtaining the seat of European institutions for the capital.

(Heisdorf, November 11, 1885 – Luxembourg, December 23, 1953)

High school education at the Athénée in Luxembourg, law studies in Berlin, Fribourg (Switzerland) and Paris, then worked as a lawyer.

He was the driving force behind the founding of the Right Party (1914), for which he developed the basic program. Member of parliament from 1916-1918 and 1919-1926, Minister in the Bech government (Finance and Labor) from 1926 to 1937, State Minister from 1937-1953. Like no other, Dupong impressed upon the party the Christian-social orientation, which was then consistently continued by two other State Ministers, Jacques Santer and Jean-Claude Juncker. As a true Christian-social politician according to the church's social teaching, he was primarily concerned with social balance and thus with social cohesion.

That this socially minded politician was linked in a lifelong friendship with the socially conservative Joseph Bech may seem puzzling to some. That one could follow the other as State Minister without apparent tensions was certainly a stroke of luck for the party.

(Bofferdingen, August 2, 1874 – Luxembourg, February 14, 1973)

Secondary education at the Athénée, law studies in Strasbourg, Nancy, and Paris, lawyer, co-founder of the Luxembourg Catholic People's Association (1903), of which he was president from 1903 to 1918 and then again from 1926 to 1940. 

Co-founder of the Right Party (1914), deputy 1910-1915, 1916-1918, 1925-1940 and 1945-1959, also President of the Chamber from 1926 to 1959. State Minister 1918-1925. 

During the critical post-war years 1918-1919, his skillful diplomatic maneuvering contributed significantly to maintaining Luxembourg's independence. Emile Reuter was highly respected for his correct demeanor, even by political opponents. During the years 1914-1918, he was the actual leading figure of the Right Party. 

After 1926, he was no longer at the helm of power but maintained influence as a person of great respect within the party. As party president (1945-1964), he was rather reserved.

(Luxembourg, August 16, 1869 – Luxembourg, March 25, 1952)

Director of the Tax Administration (1910), multiple times a member of the Council of State between 1915 and 1952, Director of the Finance Administration (1916-1917). 

First State Minister of the Right-Wing Party from June 18, 1917, to September 28, 1918, he also held the offices of Foreign, Religious, and Finance Minister.

A government crisis developed when his government refused to comply with the will of Parliament to amend Article 32 of the Constitution. Parliament demanded that the sovereign power of the state should in future reside in the nation and no longer in the person of the Grand Duke. After it became known that he had attended a private audience between German Chancellor Hertling and Grand Duchess Maria Adelheid, Léon Kauffman eventually resigned on September 28, 1918. His successor was Émile Reuter.

1923-1952 President of the Board of Directors of the International Bank in Luxembourg. From 1945 to 1952 he was President of the Council of State.