Luxembourgian legislative election, 1945
Encyclopedia
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
.
It was the first election held after the German occupation during the Second World War
. As a result of the war, the political alliances of the interwar period
had been ended. In their place were new parties; the Christian Social People's Party
, the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
, and the Patriotic and Democratic Group in place of the Party of the Right
, Socialist Party, and Radical Liberal Party
respectively. It is regarded as a realigning election
, as the election established the party political order, with four established parties, that would be maintained until 1974.
gaining four more seats than in the last election before the war.
To restore political stability, Grand Duchess Charlotte
asked Dupong to create a more broad-based coalition than the preceding Liberation Government. The resulting National Union Government
would embrace all four political parties, and also include the solitary independent, guaranteeing the support of the whole Chamber of Deputies. The government remained in place until 1947.
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...
on 21 October 1945. Voters elected all 51 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral
Unicameralism
In government, unicameralism is the practice of having one legislative or parliamentary chamber. Thus, a unicameral parliament or unicameral legislature is a legislature which consists of one chamber or house...
national legislature
Legislature
A legislature is a kind of deliberative assembly with the power to pass, amend, and repeal laws. The law created by a legislature is called legislation or statutory law. In addition to enacting laws, legislatures usually have exclusive authority to raise or lower taxes and adopt the budget and...
, 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....
.
It was the first election held after the German occupation during the Second World War
German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II
The German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II was the period in the history of Luxembourg after it was used as a transit territory to attack France by outflanking the Maginot Line. Plans for the attack had been prepared by 9 October 1939, but execution was postponed several times...
. As a result of the war, the political alliances of the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
had been ended. In their place were new parties; the Christian Social People's Party
Christian Social People's Party
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...
, 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...
, and the Patriotic and Democratic Group in place of 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....
, Socialist Party, and Radical Liberal Party
Radical Liberal Party (Luxembourg)
The Radical Liberal Party , abbreviated to PRL, was a Luxembourgian political party that existed from 1932 until 1945. It was the main party bridging the gap between the former Liberal League and the current Democratic Party....
respectively. It is regarded as a realigning election
Realigning election
Realigning election are terms from political science and political history describing a dramatic change in the political system. Scholars frequently apply the term to American elections and occasionally to other countries...
, as the election established the party political order, with four established parties, that would be maintained until 1974.
Results
The conservatives remained the dominant faction, and the Christian Social People's Party's leader, Pierre Dupong, was invited to head another government. The election was also a success for both liberal and communist candidates, with both the Patriotic and Democratic Group and the Communist PartyCommunist Party of Luxembourg
The Communist Party of Luxembourg , abbreviated to KPL or PCL, is a communist political party in Luxembourg.Ali Ruckert is the current chairman of the party.- History :...
gaining four more seats than in the last election before the war.
To restore political stability, Grand Duchess Charlotte
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was the reigning Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964.-Early life and life as Grand Duchess:...
asked Dupong to create a more broad-based coalition than the preceding Liberation Government. The resulting National Union Government
National Union Government (1945)
The National Union Government was a form of national government that governed the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg between 1945 and 13 February 1947, in the direct aftermath of the Second World War. During the war, Luxembourg was invaded, occupied, and annexed by Nazi Germany...
would embrace all four political parties, and also include the solitary independent, guaranteeing the support of the whole Chamber of Deputies. The government remained in place until 1947.
| Party | Seats | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian Social People's Party Christian Social People's Party 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... |
25 | 0 | |
| 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... |
11 | -6 | |
| Patriotic and Democratic Group | 9 | +4 | |
| Communist Party of Luxembourg Communist Party of Luxembourg The Communist Party of Luxembourg , abbreviated to KPL or PCL, is a communist political party in Luxembourg.Ali Ruckert is the current chairman of the party.- History :... |
5 | +4 | |
| Independent Party of the East | 1 | +1 | |
| Other | 0 | -7 | |
| Total | 51 | -4 | |