François Altwies
Encyclopedia
François Altwies was a Luxembourg
ian politician. He sat in the Chamber of Deputies
, of which he served as President from 1917 until 1925.
Altwies was a lawyer by profession, and was appointed notary
in Junglinster
in 1897, before holding that office in Luxembourg City from 1922. He was first elected to the Chamber in 1911, representing the canton
of Grevenmacher
. A conservative, Altwies joined the Party of the Right
(PD) upon its formation in 1914. He was reelected in 1915 and 1918.
An eloquent and prominent member, Altwies became, along with Emile Prüm, Joseph Bech, and Auguste Thorn, one of the PD's main weapons on the floor of the Chamber. He became Vice-President of the Chamber on 28 June 1917 when Léon Kauffman, a fellow PD member, became Prime Minister. Only four months later, he was elevated to President, in which capacity he remained until 1925, when the Party of the Right lost their overall majority in the Chamber (the only spell in the era of proportional representation
in which any party has held it).
Altwies played a key role in putting down the attempted communist revolution led by Émile Servais
in January 1919, calling upon French soldiers to intervene in the crisis. When proportional representation was introduced, in 1919
, he moved to representing Centre
, for which he was returned again in 1925
and 1931
. He was appointed a Councillor of State
in 1933. He died on the 5 July 1936 in Luxembourg City.
He married Elise Wurth (1879–1966) on 21 May 1901. They lived together on the maison de maître of Luxembourg City's prestigious Boulevard Royal
.
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...
ian politician. He sat 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....
, of which he served as President from 1917 until 1925.
Altwies was a lawyer by profession, and was appointed notary
Civil law notary
Civil-law notaries, or Latin notaries, are lawyers of noncontentious private civil law who draft, take, and record legal instruments for private parties, provide legal advice and give attendance in person, and are vested as public officers with the authentication power of the State...
in Junglinster
Junglinster
Junglinster is a commune and town in central Luxembourg in the district Grevenmacher with 5,813 inhabitants. Junglinster is known as the site of a transmitter., the town of Junglinster, which lies in the south of the commune, has a population of 2,224...
in 1897, before holding that office in Luxembourg City from 1922. He was first elected to the Chamber in 1911, representing the canton
Cantons of Luxembourg
||The districts of Luxembourg are divided into 12 cantons. These cantons are subdivided into 116 communes. The cantons, listed by district, include:Diekirch District*Clervaux *Diekirch *Redange *Vianden *Wiltz Grevenmacher District...
of Grevenmacher
Grevenmacher (Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg constituency)
The constituency Grevenmacher elected members to Luxembourg's national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies, from 1848 until its abolition in 1919...
. A conservative, Altwies joined the Party of the Right
Party 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....
(PD) upon its formation in 1914. He was reelected in 1915 and 1918.
An eloquent and prominent member, Altwies became, along with Emile Prüm, Joseph Bech, and Auguste Thorn, one of the PD's main weapons on the floor of the Chamber. He became Vice-President of the Chamber on 28 June 1917 when Léon Kauffman, a fellow PD member, became Prime Minister. Only four months later, he was elevated to President, in which capacity he remained until 1925, when the Party of the Right lost their overall majority in the Chamber (the only spell in the era of proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
in which any party has held it).
Altwies played a key role in putting down the attempted communist revolution led by Émile Servais
Émile Servais
Émile Servais was a Luxembourgian left liberal politician. He was an engineer by profession.On 9 January 1919, a company of the Luxembourgian army revolted against the Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde, and declared itself to be the army of a new socialist republic...
in January 1919, calling upon French soldiers to intervene in the crisis. When proportional representation was introduced, in 1919
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1919
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 26 October 1919. Voters elected all 48 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies....
, he moved to representing Centre
Circonscription Centre (Luxembourg)
Circonscription Centre is an electoral constituency for Luxembourg's national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.It includes the cantons of Luxembourg and Mersch, both of which are in the district of Luxembourg. , Centre has an estimated population of 151,166, or 33% of Luxembourg's total...
, for which he was returned again in 1925
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1925
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 25 March 1925. Voters elected all 47 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:...
and 1931
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1931
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 7 June 1931. Voters elected 27 of the 54 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:...
. He was appointed a Councillor of State
Council of State of Luxembourg
The Council of State is an institution in Luxembourg that advises the national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies. Until 1 January 1997, it was also the country's supreme administrative court, but this function was ceded to the newly created Administrative Tribunal and Administrative Court.The...
in 1933. He died on the 5 July 1936 in Luxembourg City.
He married Elise Wurth (1879–1966) on 21 May 1901. They lived together on the maison de maître of Luxembourg City's prestigious Boulevard Royal
Boulevard Royal
Boulevard Royal is a street in Luxembourg City, in southern Luxembourg. The boulevard is a one-way arterial road that runs around the northern and western parts of the city centre, Ville Haute...
.
Decorations
Altwies was awarded the following national decorations:- Belgium: Order of the Crown of BelgiumOrder of the Crown (Belgium)The Order of the Crown is an Order of Belgium which was created on 15 October 1897 by King Leopold II in his capacity as ruler of the Congo Free State. The order was first intended to recognize heroic deeds and distinguished service achieved from service in the Congo Free State - many of which acts...
(Grand Cross) - France: Légion d'honneurLégion d'honneurThe Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
(Commander) - Italy: Order of the Crown of ItalyOrder of the Crown of ItalyThe Order of the Crown of Italy was founded as a national order in 1868 by King Vittorio Emanuele II, to commemorate the unification of Italy in 1861...
(Grand Cross) - Luxembourg
- Order of Adolphe of Nassau (Grand Officer)
- Order of the Oak CrownOrder of the Oak CrownThe Order of the Oak Crown is an Order of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.-History:The Order of the Oak Crown was instituted by the Grand Duke-King William II, in 1841...
(Grand Officer)