Minister for Foreign Affairs (Luxembourg)

The Minister for Foreign Affairs (French: Ministre des Affaires étrangères) is a position in the Luxembourgian cabinet. The Minister for Foreign Affairs is responsible for determining Luxembourg's foreign policy and representing the government abroad.

The position of Minister for Foreign Affairs has been in continuous existence since the promulgation of Luxembourg's first constitution, in 1848. Until 1937, the position was held concurrently by the Prime Minister,[1] thus ridding it of any true significance as an office. However, in 1937, Joseph Bech resigned as Prime Minister, but was immediately reappointed as Minister for Foreign Affairs upon Pierre Dupong's premiership. When Bech became Prime Minister again, in 1953, the two jobs were united once more.[2] Over the next twenty-six years, the jobs were separated and united another two times. However, since 1979, the two positions have been remained in separate hands.

Since 24 March 1936, the title of Minister for Foreign Affairs has been an official one, although the position had been unofficially known by that name since its creation. From the position's creation until 28 November 1857, the Minister went by the title of Administrator-General.[3] From 1857 until 1936, the Minister went by the title of Director-General.[4]

Contents

List of Ministers for Foreign Affairs

Minister Party Start date End date Prime Minister
Gaspard-Théodore-Ignace de la Fontaine None 1 August 1848 2 December 1848 G T I de la Fontaine
Jean-Jacques Willmar None 2 December 1848 23 September 1853 Jean-Jacques Willmar
Charles-Mathias Simons None 23 September 1853 26 September 1860 Charles-Mathias Simons
Baron de Tornaco None 26 September 1860 3 December 1867 Baron de Tornaco
Emmanuel Servais None 3 December 1867 26 December 1874 Emmanuel Servais
Baron de Blochausen None 26 December 1874 20 February 1885 Baron de Blochausen
Édouard Thilges None 20 February 1885 22 September 1888 Édouard Thilges
Paul Eyschen None 22 September 1888 11 October 1915 Paul Eyschen
Mathias Mongenast None 12 October 1915 6 November 1915 Mathias Mongenast
Hubert Loutsch None 6 November 1915 24 February 1916 Hubert Loutsch
Victor Thorn None 24 February 1916 19 June 1917 Victor Thorn
Léon Kauffmann PD 19 June 1917 28 September 1918 Léon Kauffmann
Émile Reuter PD 28 September 1918 20 March 1925 Émile Reuter
Pierre Prüm PNI 20 March 1925 16 July 1926 Pierre Prüm
Joseph Bech PD 16 July 1926 5 November 1937 Joseph Bech
5 November 1937 23 November 1944 Pierre Dupong
CSV 23 November 1944 29 December 1953
29 December 1953 29 March 1958 Joseph Bech
29 March 1958 2 March 1959 Pierre Frieden
Eugène Schaus DP 2 March 1959 15 July 1964 Pierre Werner
Pierre Werner CSV 15 July 1964 3 January 1967
Pierre Grégoire CSV 3 January 1967 6 February 1969
Gaston Thorn DP 6 February 1969 15 June 1974
15 June 1974 16 July 1979 Gaston Thorn
16 July 1979 22 November 1980 Pierre Werner
Colette Flesch DP 22 November 1980 20 July 1984
Jacques Poos LSAP 20 July 1984 26 January 1995 Jacques Santer
26 January 1995 7 August 1999 Jean-Claude Juncker
Lydie Polfer DP 7 August 1999 20 July 2004
Charles Goerens DP 20 July 2004 31 July 2004
Jean Asselborn LSAP 31 July 2004 Present day

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Thewes (2003), p. 104
  2. ^ Thewes (2003), p. 141
  3. ^ (French)/(German) "Mémorial A, 1857, No. 49" (PDF). Service central de législation. http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1857/0492911/0492911.pdf#page=4. Retrieved 2006-08-29. 
  4. ^ (French)/(German) "Mémorial A, 1936, No. 25" (PDF). Service central de législation. http://www.legilux.public.lu/leg/a/archives/1936/0250604/0250604.pdf#page=1. Retrieved 2006-08-29. 

References

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