Jacques Santer
Minister of Finances | |
|---|---|
| In office 16 July 1979 – 14 July 1989 | |
| Prime Minister | Pierre Werner Himself |
| Preceded by | Jacques Poos |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Claude Juncker |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 10 June 1979 – 4 January 1995 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Jacques Louis Santer 18 May 1937 Wasserbillig, Luxembourg |
| Political party | |
| Spouse | Danièle Binot (m. 1967) |
| Children | Patrick, Jérôme |
| Alma mater | |
Jacques Santer (born 18 May 1937)
Career
He graduated in 1959 from the
After the general election of 1984, Pierre Werner retired as Prime Minister and from political life in general, and Santer became the new Prime Minister.[1] He and the CSV now formed a new coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), which had come out of the elections as the second-largest party in the legislature, beating the Democratic Party into third place; the CSV remained the largest party. This CSV / LSAP coalition was to last until 1999.
On 10 November 1990 an article appeared in the newspaper vum Lëtzebuerger Vollek, which translates into "Five years of state secret – The bombing NATO terror commando" that caused a parliament inquiry in which Santer was forced to reveal the existence of a stay-behind army in Luxembourg and being politically responsible to call for its dissolution.
Presidency of the European Commission
Santer became the
In the same year, 1995, Santer became the first recipient of the Vision for Europe Award.
Allegations of corruption concerning individual EU-commissioners led to an investigation into administrative failings (incompetence and malpractice) by a so-called Committee of Independent Experts. Despite clearing most commissioners, the report stated that they had not found a single person showing the slightest sense of responsibility. Because the implicated commissioners refused to resign and the President of the European Commission did not have the power to dismiss individual commissioners, Santer and his entire commission resigned on 15 March 1999, the very day of the report's publication. As the Commission would only have lasted for half a year from then, he was replaced by Vice-President Manuel Marín on an interim basis.
Later career
From 1999 until 2004, Santer was a member of the
He is currently President of Group Europe,[7] a member section of the Union of European Federalists. He also sits on the board of directors of RTL Group, an international TV broadcasting and production company.
On Monday 23 January 2012, Jacques Santer was appointed to head the board of the Special Purpose Investment Vehicle (SPIV), which is designed to boost the firepower of the European Financial Stability Facility, the eurozone rescue fund.[8]
In May 2013, Santer became Honorary Member of SME Europe, the official pro-business organisation of the European People's Party.
Honours
Iceland : Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (1990)
Japan : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (2015)
Luxembourg : Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown- Luxembourg : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis(2008)
Portugal : Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (1990)- Portugal : Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ (1988)
Romania : Grand Cross of the National Order of Faithful Service (2004)
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26/10/1973)[9]
See also
- List of prime ministers of Luxembourg
- Santer-Poos Ministry I
- Santer-Poos Ministry II
- Santer-Poos Ministry III
- Santer Commission
References
- ^ a b c d ""Les gouvernements du Grand-Duché depuis 1848." Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
- ^ "Verbrechen im Namen des Staates". Archived from the original on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
- ^ "Revue.lu - Aktuelles". Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-06., retrieved 9 May 2013 (German)
- ^ "Luxemburgs Schattenkämpfer: Der Santer-Bericht zu "Stay behind"". Luxemburger Wort (in German). 25 March 2012.
- ^ "Europe's presidential race: the form", The Economist, 11 June 1998, retrieved 16 September 2009
- ^ McCormick, John (2004), The European Union: Politics and Policies
- ^ "Union of European Federalists (UEF): Groupe Europe". www.federalists.eu. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ "EU draws fire over Santer return to EU post". Reuters UK. 24 January 2012.
- ^ Le onorificenze della Repubblica Italiana (quirinale.it)
