Christian Social People's Party
Encyclopedia
The Christian Social People's Party , abbreviated to CSV or PCS, is the largest political party in Luxembourg
. The party follows a Christian Democratic
and conservative
ideology and, like most parties in Luxembourg, it is strongly pro-European
. It is a member of the European People's Party
(EPP) and the Centrist Democrat International
.
The CSV has been the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies
since the party's formation, and currently holds 26 of 60 seats in the Chamber. Since the Second World War
, every Prime Minister of Luxembourg has been a member of the CSV, with only one exception (Gaston Thorn
, 1974–1979). It holds three of Luxembourg
's six seats in the European Parliament
, as it has for 20 of the 30 years for which MEPs
have been directly elected.
The President is Michel Wolter
. However, the leading figure from the party is the Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker
, who governs in coalition with
the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
(LSAP). Eight other CSV members sit in the cabinet of fifteen people.
at each election. Timelines showing the number of seats and percentage of votes won are on the right.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
. The party follows a Christian Democratic
Christian Democracy
Christian democracy is a political ideology that seeks to apply Christian principles to public policy. It emerged in nineteenth-century Europe under the influence of conservatism and Catholic social teaching...
and conservative
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
ideology and, like most parties in Luxembourg, it is strongly pro-European
Pro-European
Pro-European is a subjective term applied to a person who supports the idea of European unification and generally supports further 'deepening' of European integration, specifically in the context of political argument over the current and future status of the EU and its policies.-The Pro-European...
. It is a member of the European People's Party
European People's Party
The European People's Party is a pro-European centre-right European political party. The EPP was founded in 1976 by Christian democratic parties, but later it increased its membership to include conservative parties and parties of other centre-right perspectives.The EPP is the most influential of...
(EPP) and the Centrist Democrat International
Centrist Democrat International
The Centrist Democrat International was until 2001 the Christian Democrat International and before that the Christian Democrat and People's Parties International...
.
The CSV has been the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg
The Chamber of Deputies , abbreviated to the Chamber, is the unicameral national legislature of Luxembourg. 'Krautmaart' is sometimes used as a metonym for the Chamber, after the square on which the Hôtel de la Chambre is located....
since the party's formation, and currently holds 26 of 60 seats in the Chamber. Since the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, every Prime Minister of Luxembourg has been a member of the CSV, with only one exception (Gaston Thorn
Gaston Thorn
Gaston Egmond Thorn was a Luxembourg politician who served in a number of high-profile positions, both domestically and internationally...
, 1974–1979). It holds three of Luxembourg
Luxembourg (European Parliament constituency)
In European elections, Luxembourg is a constituency of the European Parliament, currently represented by six MEPs. It covers the member state of Luxembourg and uses the D'Hondt method.-Returned members:...
's six seats in the European Parliament
European Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
, as it has for 20 of the 30 years for which MEPs
Member of the European Parliament
A Member of the European Parliament is a person who has been elected to the European Parliament. The name of MEPs differ in different languages, with terms such as europarliamentarian or eurodeputy being common in Romance language-speaking areas.When the European Parliament was first established,...
have been directly elected.
The President is Michel Wolter
Michel Wolter
Michel Wolter is a Luxembourgian politician. He was the youngest-ever member of the Chamber of Deputies when elected in 1984, and served as Minister for the Interior from 1995 to 2004. He is also a businessman and a former international table tennis player.Michel Wolter grew up in...
. However, the leading figure from the party is the Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker
Jean-Claude Juncker
Jean-Claude Juncker is a Luxembourg politician, 23rd and current Prime Minister of Luxembourg, since 20 January 1995. He is the longest standing head of government of any European Union state...
, who governs in coalition with
Juncker-Asselborn Ministry II
The Juncker-Asselborn Ministry II is the current government of Luxembourg. It is led by, and named after, Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and Deputy Prime Minister Jean Asselborn. It was formed on 23 July 2009, after the 2009 election to the Chamber of Deputies.-Ministers:...
the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
The Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party , abbreviated to LSAP or POSL, is a social democratic political party in Luxembourg.The LSAP is the second-largest party in the Chamber of Deputies, having won 13 of 60 seats at the 2009 election, and has one seat in the European Parliament...
(LSAP). Eight other CSV members sit in the cabinet of fifteen people.
History
- 1914: The earliest roots of the CSV date back to the 16 January 1914, with the foundation of the Party of the RightParty of the Right (Luxembourg)The Party of the Right , abbreviated to PD, was a political party in Luxembourg between 1914 and 1944. It was the direct predecessor of the Christian Social People's Party , which has ruled Luxembourg for all but five years since....
. - 1944: The Party of the Right is officially transformed into the CSV.
- 1945: The first elections after the Second World War took place; the party won 25 out of 51 seats, missing an absolute majority by a single seat.
- 1945 - 1974: The party was in government from 1945 to 1974 and gave Luxembourg the following Prime Ministers: Pierre Dupong, Joseph Bech, Pierre Frieden, and Pierre Werner. Mostly in a coalition with the Democratic PartyDemocratic Party (Luxembourg)The Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is the major liberal political party in Luxembourg. One of the three major parties, the DP sits on the centre-right, holding moderate market liberal views combined with a strong emphasis on civil liberties, human rights, and internationalism.Founded in...
(DP), it gave Luxembourg a certain economic and social stability. - 1974: The party goes into opposition for the first time, as the Democratic Party's Gaston ThornGaston ThornGaston Egmond Thorn was a Luxembourg politician who served in a number of high-profile positions, both domestically and internationally...
becomes Prime Minister in coalition with the LSAP. - 1979: The party gets back into government after its victory in the 1979 electionsLuxembourgian legislative election, 1979Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 10 June 1979. Voters elected all 57 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:...
; Pierre Werner becomes PM. - 1984: Jacques Santer becomes PM.
- 1995: Jean-Claude JunckerJean-Claude JunckerJean-Claude Juncker is a Luxembourg politician, 23rd and current Prime Minister of Luxembourg, since 20 January 1995. He is the longest standing head of government of any European Union state...
becomes PM, Jacques Santer becomes President of the European Commission - 2004: The party is currently in a coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers Party, it has 24 out of 60 seats
Election results
Below are charts of the results that the Christian Social People's Party has secured in the Chamber of DeputiesChamber of Deputies of Luxembourg
The Chamber of Deputies , abbreviated to the Chamber, is the unicameral national legislature of Luxembourg. 'Krautmaart' is sometimes used as a metonym for the Chamber, after the square on which the Hôtel de la Chambre is located....
at each election. Timelines showing the number of seats and percentage of votes won are on the right.
| Year | Vote % | Place | Seats | Place | Cabinet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1945 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 21 October 1945. Voters elected all 51 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.... |
25 | 1st | Yes | ||
| 1948 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1948 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 6 June 1948. Voters elected all 51 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
22 | 1st | Yes | ||
| 1951 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1951 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 3 June 1951. Voters elected all 52 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
21 | 1st | Yes | ||
| 1954 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1954 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 30 May 1954. Voters elected all 52 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
42.4 | 1st | 26 | 1st | Yes |
| 1959 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1959 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 1 February 1959. Voters elected all 52 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
36.9 | 1st | 21 | 1st | Yes |
| 1964 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1964 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 7 June 1964. Voters elected all 56 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
33.3 | 2nd | 22 | 1st | Yes |
| 1968 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1968 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 15 December 1968. Voters elected all 56 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
35.2 | 1st | 21 | 1st | Yes |
| 1974 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1974 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 26 May 1974. Voters elected all 59 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
27.6 | 2nd | 18 | 1st | No |
| 1979 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1979 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 10 June 1979. Voters elected all 57 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
34.5 | 1st | 24 | 1st | Yes |
| 1984 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1984 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 17 June 1984. Voters elected all 64 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
34.9 | 1st | 25 | 1st | Yes |
| 1989 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1989 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 18 June 1989. Voters elected all 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:... |
32.4 | 1st | 22 | 1st | Yes |
| 1994 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1994 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on June 12, 1994. Voters elected 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.The election coincided with the 1994 European Parliament election.-Candidates:-Overall results:... |
30.3 | 1st | 21 | 1st | Yes |
| 1999 Luxembourgian legislative election, 1999 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on June 13, 1999. Voters elected 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.The election coincided with the 1999 European Parliament election.-Candidates:-Overall results:... |
30.1 | 1st | 19 | 1st | Yes |
| 2004 Luxembourgian legislative election, 2004 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 13 June 2004. Voters elected all 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies... |
36.1 | 1st | 24 | 1st | Yes |
| 2009 Luxembourgian legislative election, 2009 Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 7 June 2009, together with the 2009 election to the European Parliament. All sixty members of the Chamber of Deputies were elected for five years... |
38.0 | 1st | 26 | 1st | Yes |
Presidents
- Émile Reuter (1945 – 1964)
- Tony BieverTony BieverTony Biever was a Luxembourgian politician for the Christian Social People's Party and jurist. He was President of the CSV from 1964 to 1965 and President of the CSV's delegation in the Chamber of Deputies from 1959 to 1974....
(1964 – 1965) - Jean DupongJean DupongJean Dupong was a Luxembourgian politician. A member of the Christian Social People's Party , Dupong held a number of positions in government and within the party....
(1965 – 1972) - Nicolas MosarNicolas MosarNicolas Mosar was a Luxembourg politician, jurist, and diplomat.A Christian Social People's Party member, Mosar was elected to the communal council of Luxembourg City in 1959, and sat in the council until 1984, including a period as an échevin...
(1972 – 1974) - Jacques Santer (1974 – 1982)
- Jean SpautzJean SpautzJean Spautz is a politician in Luxembourg, and a Member of the European Parliament for the Christian Social People's Party, part of the European People's Party....
(1982 – 1990) - Jean-Claude JunckerJean-Claude JunckerJean-Claude Juncker is a Luxembourg politician, 23rd and current Prime Minister of Luxembourg, since 20 January 1995. He is the longest standing head of government of any European Union state...
(1990 – 1995) - Erna Hennicot-SchoepgesErna Hennicot-SchoepgesErna Hennicot-Schoepges is a Luxembourgian politician for the Christian Social People's Party. She was until 2009 a Member of the European Parliament, sitting as a CSV member of the European People's Party....
(1995 – 2003) - François BiltgenFrançois BiltgenFrançois Biltgen is a Luxembourger politician, currently serving as Minister for Justice, Minister for Communications and the Media, and Minister for Religious Affairs, the Minister for the Civil Service and Administrative Reform, and the Minister for Higher Education and Research, in the...
(2003 – 2009) - Michel WolterMichel WolterMichel Wolter is a Luxembourgian politician. He was the youngest-ever member of the Chamber of Deputies when elected in 1984, and served as Minister for the Interior from 1995 to 2004. He is also a businessman and a former international table tennis player.Michel Wolter grew up in...
(2009 – present day)
General Secretaries
- Jean-Pierre Kraemer (1977 – 1984)
- Willy BourgWilly BourgGuillaume 'Willy' Bourg was a Luxembourgian politician. He was a member of the Christian Social People's Party , and sat in the Chamber of Deputies for eighteen years....
(1984 – 1990) - Camille DimmerCamille DimmerCamille Dimmer is a former Luxembourgian footballer and politician. By profession, he was an engineer.-Football career:He played for the Luxembourg national team a number of times, most prominently during the country's giant-killing run in the 1964 European Nations' Cup, during which Luxembourg...
(1990 – 1995) - Claude WiselerClaude WiselerClaude Wiseler is a Luxembourgian politician. He has been a member of the Christian Social People's Party since 1983, and currently serves in the government led by Jean-Claude Juncker....
(1995 – 2000) - Jean-Louis SchiltzJean-Louis SchiltzJean-Louis Schiltz is a Luxembourgian lawyer and retired politician for the Christian Social People's Party ....
(2000 – 2006) - Marco SchankMarco SchankMarco Schank is a Luxembourgian politician for the Christian Social People's Party and author. He is a member of the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, representing the Nord constituency since 2 February 1999.He has been the mayor of Heiderscheid since 1 January 1994...
(2006 – 2009) - Marc SpautzMarc SpautzMarc Spautz is a Luxembourgian politician. He is a member of the Christian Social People's Party , sitting in the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, and the communal council of Schifflange....
(14 November 2009 – present day)
Presidents in the Chamber of Deputies
- Tony BieverTony BieverTony Biever was a Luxembourgian politician for the Christian Social People's Party and jurist. He was President of the CSV from 1964 to 1965 and President of the CSV's delegation in the Chamber of Deputies from 1959 to 1974....
(1959 – 1974) - Pierre Werner (1974 – 1979)
- Nicolas MosarNicolas MosarNicolas Mosar was a Luxembourg politician, jurist, and diplomat.A Christian Social People's Party member, Mosar was elected to the communal council of Luxembourg City in 1959, and sat in the council until 1984, including a period as an échevin...
(1979 – 1984) - François Colling (1984 – 1995)
- Lucien WeilerLucien WeilerLucien Weiler is a Luxembourgian politician and jurist. He is a member of the Christian Social People's Party, and served as President of the Chamber of Deputies from 3 August 2004 to 7 June 2009...
(? – 2004) - Michel WolterMichel WolterMichel Wolter is a Luxembourgian politician. He was the youngest-ever member of the Chamber of Deputies when elected in 1984, and served as Minister for the Interior from 1995 to 2004. He is also a businessman and a former international table tennis player.Michel Wolter grew up in...
(31 July 2004 – 22 July 2009) - Jean-Louis SchiltzJean-Louis SchiltzJean-Louis Schiltz is a Luxembourgian lawyer and retired politician for the Christian Social People's Party ....
(22 July 2009 – 1 March 2011) - Lucien ThielLucien ThielLucien Thiel was a Luxembourgian politician and journalist. He was a member of the Christian Social People's Party , whose group he led in the Chamber of Deputies from 1 March 2011 until his sudden death six months later.Born in Luxembourg City, Thiel studied journalism at university...
(1 March 2011 – 25 August 2011)