National Union Government (1916)
Encyclopedia
The National Union Government was a form of national government
that governed the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg between 24 February 1916 and 19 June 1917, at the height of the First World War. At the time, Luxembourg was occupied
by the German Empire
, but the occupying Germans had promised not to interfere in the country's political machinations, provided that the Luxembourgish government did not aid Germany's enemies. Nonetheless, political life was dominated by the crisis that had enveloped Europe.
on 11 October 1915. Eyschen, who had been Prime Minister for twenty-seven years, was unrivalled in popularity, and his death plunged Luxembourg deeper into crisis. Eyschen was replaced by Mathias Mongenast, but Mongenast lasted only 25 days before becoming embroiled in a dispute over education and resigning. His next replacement was Hubert Loutsch, who headed up a minority government
consisting solely of Catholic
conservatives
. Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde hoped that a successful government would easily win the backing of the electorate, but was mistaken; the government failed to win a majority the following month, coming up short with 25 of 52 seats, and would succumb to a vote of no confidence on 11 January 1916 after two months in office.
, Thorn declared, "If you want a government that acts, and is capable of acting, it is imperative that all parties support this government." They did, but only on condition that Thorn formed a grand coalition
, offering positions in the cabinet to each party. The make-up of Thorn's first cabinet was:
, Minister for both Agriculture and Commerce, be fired. Two weeks later, Thorn complied, dismissing Welter and replacing him with Ernest Leclère
. Thus, the new cabinet comprised:
This did little to quell the trouble. Elections in Esch-sur-Alzette
in March showed great public support for independent
candidates that opposed the National Unity Government. Worse still, a strike by miners in early June was ended only after intervention by the German army. With political support crumbling, threats of civil unrest, and a humiliating reliance upon the occupying forces, Thorn was under immense pressure to resign, which he did on 19 June. The National Unity Government was replaced by a coalition of liberals
and conservatives
under Léon Kauffmann, but his government also failed to last long.
National unity government
A national unity government, government of national unity, or national union government is a broad coalition government consisting of all parties in the legislature, usually formed during a time of war or other national emergency.- Canada :During World War I the Conservative government of Sir...
that governed the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg between 24 February 1916 and 19 June 1917, at the height of the First World War. At the time, Luxembourg was occupied
German occupation of Luxembourg in World War I
The German occupation of Luxembourg in World War I was the first of two military occupations of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg by Germany in the twentieth century. From August 1914 until the end of World War I in November 1918, Luxembourg was under full occupation by the German Empire...
by the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
, but the occupying Germans had promised not to interfere in the country's political machinations, provided that the Luxembourgish government did not aid Germany's enemies. Nonetheless, political life was dominated by the crisis that had enveloped Europe.
Background
The predicament was exacerbated by the death of Paul EyschenPaul Eyschen
Paul Eyschen was a Luxembourgish politician, statesman, lawyer, and diplomat. He was the eighth Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for twenty-seven years, from 22 September 1888 until his death, on 11 October 1915....
on 11 October 1915. Eyschen, who had been Prime Minister for twenty-seven years, was unrivalled in popularity, and his death plunged Luxembourg deeper into crisis. Eyschen was replaced by Mathias Mongenast, but Mongenast lasted only 25 days before becoming embroiled in a dispute over education and resigning. His next replacement was Hubert Loutsch, who headed up a minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
consisting solely of Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
conservatives
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...
. Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde hoped that a successful government would easily win the backing of the electorate, but was mistaken; the government failed to win a majority the following month, coming up short with 25 of 52 seats, and would succumb to a vote of no confidence on 11 January 1916 after two months in office.
Forming the government
In response, the Grand Duchess went in the opposite direction, and, on 24 February, chose Victor Thorn to form a national government. Thorn was an experienced politician in his seventies and was thought to be the most conciliatory candidate. When presenting his credentials before 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....
, Thorn declared, "If you want a government that acts, and is capable of acting, it is imperative that all parties support this government." They did, but only on condition that Thorn formed a grand coalition
Grand coalition
A grand coalition is an arrangement in a multi-party parliamentary system in which the two largest political parties of opposing political ideologies unite in a coalition government...
, offering positions in the cabinet to each party. The make-up of Thorn's first cabinet was:
| Name | Party | Office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Thorn | LL Liberal League (Luxembourg) The Liberal League was a political party in Luxembourg between 1904 and 1925. It was the indirect predecessor of the Democratic Party , which has been one of the three major parties in Luxembourg since the Second World War.... |
Prime Minister Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Justice |
|
| Michel Welter Michel Welter Dr. Michel Welter was a Luxembourgian politician, and former leader of the Socialist Party. A member of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies, he served as the Director-General for Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry from 24 February 1916 until 3 January 1917, during the German occupation.He was one... |
POS | Minister for Agriculture Minister for Commerce Minister for Industry |
|
| Léon Kauffmann | PD 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.... |
Minister for Finances | |
| Léon Moutrier Léon Moutrier Léon Moutrier was a Luxembourgian politician and diplomat. A member of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies for the Liberal League, he served as the Director-General for the Interior and Public Information from 24 February 1916 until 3 January 1917, and for Justice and Public Information from that... |
LL Liberal League (Luxembourg) The Liberal League was a political party in Luxembourg between 1904 and 1925. It was the indirect predecessor of the Democratic Party , which has been one of the three major parties in Luxembourg since the Second World War.... |
Minister for the Interior Minister for Public Information |
|
| Antoine Lefort Antoine Lefort Antoine Lefort-Mousel was a Luxembourgian politician and diplomat. A member of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies for the Party of the Right, he served as the Director-General for Public Works from 24 February 1916 until 28 September 1918. Later, he served as a diplomat, including as chargé... |
PD 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.... |
Minister for Public Works | |
| Source: Thewes (2003), p. 69 | |||
Governing the country
To resolve the food shortage brought about by war and German occupation, Thorn introduced price controls and rationing. However, this resulted only in the creation of a thriving black market, and fomented civil unrest. On 22 December, the Chamber of Deputies passed a motion demanding that Michel WelterMichel Welter
Dr. Michel Welter was a Luxembourgian politician, and former leader of the Socialist Party. A member of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies, he served as the Director-General for Agriculture, Commerce, and Industry from 24 February 1916 until 3 January 1917, during the German occupation.He was one...
, Minister for both Agriculture and Commerce, be fired. Two weeks later, Thorn complied, dismissing Welter and replacing him with Ernest Leclère
Ernest Leclère
Ernest Leclère was a Luxembourgian politician. A member of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies for the Socialist Party, he served two short stints as a minister during the German occupation during the First World War. His first position was as the Director-General for the Interior from 3 March 1915...
. Thus, the new cabinet comprised:
| Name | Party | Office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Thorn | LL Liberal League (Luxembourg) The Liberal League was a political party in Luxembourg between 1904 and 1925. It was the indirect predecessor of the Democratic Party , which has been one of the three major parties in Luxembourg since the Second World War.... |
Prime Minister Minister for Foreign Affairs Minister for Justice |
|
| Ernest Leclère Ernest Leclère Ernest Leclère was a Luxembourgian politician. A member of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies for the Socialist Party, he served two short stints as a minister during the German occupation during the First World War. His first position was as the Director-General for the Interior from 3 March 1915... |
POS | Minister for Agriculture Minister for Commerce Minister for Industry |
|
| Léon Kauffmann | PD 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.... |
Minister for Finances | |
| Léon Moutrier Léon Moutrier Léon Moutrier was a Luxembourgian politician and diplomat. A member of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies for the Liberal League, he served as the Director-General for the Interior and Public Information from 24 February 1916 until 3 January 1917, and for Justice and Public Information from that... |
LL Liberal League (Luxembourg) The Liberal League was a political party in Luxembourg between 1904 and 1925. It was the indirect predecessor of the Democratic Party , which has been one of the three major parties in Luxembourg since the Second World War.... |
Minister for the Interior Minister for Public Information |
|
| Antoine Lefort Antoine Lefort Antoine Lefort-Mousel was a Luxembourgian politician and diplomat. A member of Luxembourg's Chamber of Deputies for the Party of the Right, he served as the Director-General for Public Works from 24 February 1916 until 28 September 1918. Later, he served as a diplomat, including as chargé... |
PD 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.... |
Minister for Public Works | |
| Source: Thewes (2003), p. 69 | |||
This did little to quell the trouble. Elections in Esch-sur-Alzette
Esch-sur-Alzette (canton)
Esch-sur-Alzette is a canton in the south-west of Luxembourg, in Luxembourg District. The capital is Esch-sur-Alzette.The canton consists of the following 14 communes:*Bettembourg*Differdange*Dudelange*Esch-sur-Alzette*Frisange*Kayl*Leudelange...
in March showed great public support for independent
Independent (politician)
In politics, an independent or non-party politician is an individual not affiliated to any political party. Independents may hold a centrist viewpoint between those of major political parties, a viewpoint more extreme than any major party, or they may have a viewpoint based on issues that they do...
candidates that opposed the National Unity Government. Worse still, a strike by miners in early June was ended only after intervention by the German army. With political support crumbling, threats of civil unrest, and a humiliating reliance upon the occupying forces, Thorn was under immense pressure to resign, which he did on 19 June. The National Unity Government was replaced by a coalition of liberals
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
and conservatives
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...
under Léon Kauffmann, but his government also failed to last long.