Pierre Werner

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Pierre Werner
Minister of Defence
In office
23 December 1953 – 2 March 1959
Prime MinisterJoseph Bech
Pierre Frieden
Preceded byJoseph Bech
Succeeded byEugène Schaus
Personal details
Born(1913-12-29)29 December 1913
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Political partyChristian Social People's

Pierre Werner (29 December 1913 – 24 June 2002)

prime minister of Luxembourg
from 1959 to 1974 and the 21st from 1979 to 1984.

Training and early activities

Pierre Werner was born in

Law Faculty of the University of Paris and the École libre des sciences politiques from 1934 to 1937. In 1938, he completed a PhD in Law in Luxembourg.[2] He was involved in several student organisations, becoming chairman of the Association of Catholic Students from 1935 to 1937 and vice-president of the Pax Romana movement (The International Movement for Intellectual and Cultural Affairs) in 1937.[2]

In 1938 he became a lawyer in Luxembourg City, before becoming a banker instead.

Bretton Woods conference which set up the International Monetary Fund (IMF).[citation needed
]

Government

Werner was appointed as Finance Minister of Luxembourg in 1953, and was 19th and 21st

Prime Minister
from 1959 to 1974 and from 1979 to 1984. He also served as Minister for Culture.

As head of government, he governed in coalition with the Democratic Party (1959–1964), then the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (1964–1969), then the DP again (1969–1974). Werner and the CSV went into opposition for the first time since World War II from 1974 to 1979. When he returned to power, his last government was another coalition with the DP (1979–1984).

Werner was instrumental in solving the "empty chair" crisis provoked in 1965 by President

single European currency, i.e. the euro
.

As Prime Minister, Werner, a

Christian Democrat, undertook the diversification of the national economy, hard hit by a major Europe-wide crisis in the steel industry, by attracting new industrial investments, as well as financial services to the Grand Duchy. He placed Luxembourg on the map of global satellite communications. He is remembered for having used "tripartite" social mediation (industry, labour and government) to overcome the severe steel crisis which lasted from 1979 to 1984. He placed the process of European integration at the centre of the policy of his country. With friends such as Joseph Bech, Jean Monnet and Robert Schuman
, Werner was a determined advocate of European integration. During his terms in office, he negotiated the relocation of several European institutions to Luxembourg.

The Pierre Werner Institute (Institut Pierre Werner, IPW) was created in Luxembourg in 2003 at the behest of the Foreign Ministers of France, Germany and Luxembourg (at the time, respectively Dominique de Villepin, Joschka Fischer and Lydie Polfer), the project having been fostered by Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, then Minister for Culture, Universities and Research in Luxembourg. IPW organises seminars and conferences aimed at promoting better understanding among the three founding countries, but also more widely throughout Europe.

Werner, a sponsor of culture and especially music, actively promoted the restoration of Luxembourg's heritage (e.g. Vianden Castle). A fan of cricket since living in London, the United Kingdom, in 1930, Werner was Honorary President of the Optimists Cricket Club, which he promoted during, between, and after his premierships.[4] In his honour, Luxembourg's main cricket ground, the Pierre Werner Cricket Ground in Walferdange, is named after him.

Pierre Werner died on 24 June 2002, in Luxembourg City.[5]

Political responsibilities

Pierre Werner served as 'President of the Government' (Prime Minister) from 1959 to 1974 and from 1979 to 1984.
On each occasion this post was combined with several ministerial portfolios :

  • 1954–1959: Minister of Finance and Minister of the Armed Forces;[3]
  • 1959–1964: President of the Government and Minister of Finance;[3]
  • 1964–1967: President of the Government, Minister for the Treasury, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Justice;[3]
  • 1967–1969: President of the Government, Minister for the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service;[3]
  • 1969–1974: President of the Government, Minister for Finance;[3]
  • 1979–1984: President of the Government.[3]

Werner was a member of parliament and leader of the CSV from 1974 to 1979. During this period he was the leader of the parliamentary opposition. In 1979 the CSV won the parliamentary elections in Luxembourg. At this time, Werner was also elected to the European Parliament but he chose not to sit as an MEP, to serve as President of the Government.

Other activities

After withdrawing from politics in 1984, Pierre Werner continued to assume some official duties and pursue cultural activities. From 1985 to 1987, he was Chairman of the Governing Board of the Compagnie luxembourgeoise de télédiffusion (CLT, Radio Luxembourg).[3] Werner placed Luxembourg on the map of global satellite communications. From 1989 to 1996, he was Chairman of the board directors of the Société européenne des satellites, becoming Honorary chairman in 1996. During this last term of office, he had laid the ground for the establishment of this company. He worked hard both within Luxembourg [6] and abroad to realise his vision for a medium-power satellite in Luxembourg, enabling his country to become a forerunner in global satellite telecommunications.[7]

Pierre Werner was also a member of the National Ethics Committee of Luxembourg.

See also

Notes and references

  1. ^ a b c Bates, Stephen (28 June 2002). "Obituary: Pierre Werner. The man who dreamed up the euro". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d "Pierre Werner (* 1913 – † 2002) Biographical note" (PDF). gouvernement.lu. Service Information et Presse.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Thewes, Guy. "Les gouvernements du Grand-Duché depuis 1848." Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Service information et presse. Luxembourg: Imprimerie Centrale, 2011.
  4. ^ "Pierre Werner". Optimists Cricket Club. 2002. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 8 October 2006.
  5. ^ "Pierre Werner". The Economist. 4 July 2002. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  6. ^ CORTAY, Linda. Envers et contre tous, le Luxembourg a lancé Astra : 25e anniversaire du lancement du premier satellite luxembourgeois. In Luxemburger Wort. Montag, den 9. Dezember 2013. pp.2–3.
  7. ^ ZIMMER, Paul. ASTRA: Eine Erfolgsstory. In Innovation: Integration : Festschrift Für Pierre Werner / Mélanges pour Pierre Werner. KIRT, Romain; MEISCH, Adrien; WERNER, Pierre. Luxembourg : Editions Saint-Paul, 1993. OCLC:41492719. pp.135–144

External links

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Political offices
Preceded by
Minister for Defence

1953–1959 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Minister for Finances

1953–1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Minister for Justice

1959–1967 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Prime Minister of Luxembourg

1st time
1959–1974 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Minister for Foreign Affairs

1964–1967 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
Prime Minister of Luxembourg

2nd time
1979–1984 		Succeeded by
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