Luc Frieden, lawyer-banker, new Prime Minister of Luxembourg

2023-11-15 22:17:56

October 11, 2023
Today at
15:42

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November 15, 2023
23:17

The Luxembourg elections saw the defeat of the party of the current Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel. Luc Frieden, appointed trainer, will take the oath on Friday to officially become head of government.

We now know who will succeed Xavier Bettel. As a reminder, the liberal Prime Minister of Luxembourg lost his majority in mid-October. Following this defeat, Grand Duke Henri charged the social-Christian leader, Luc Frieden, to form a new government. In the process, the man announced the holding of exclusive negotiations with the Liberals with a view to forming a coalition. This Wednesday, November 15, his party and that of the outgoing Prime Minister, the liberal Xavier Bettel, validated their coalition agreement and the composition of the new government he will lead.

“This coalition is a new beginning for Luxembourg, to strengthen the economy and prepare for the future,” declared Luc Frieden during a press conference on Wednesday evening.

The Luxembourg press sees it as the “symbol of renewal”. “The very young sixty-year-old – he celebrated his 60th birthday on September 16 – therefore succeeded in his challenge: to return to the political arena to allow his political family, the main force in the country, to regain power on a national scale after a decade of sitting in opposition”, we read on the information site Virgule.lu.

Frieden, the minister

Graduated in law from the University of Luxembourg supplemented by a master’s degree at the University of Paris, Harvard and Cambridge, he joined the Parti populaire chrétien-social (the CSV-Christian-Social People’s Party) in 1994 and obtained at 30 ans a deputy position.

“What is important is the policy that I can do over the next five years. It has been an honor to be able to be Prime Minister for ten years. If I can continue for five years, it will be with pleasure. If I have to do something else, I’ll do something else.”

Luc Frieden

CSV trainer

In 1998, Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker brings him into government to take responsibility for Justice, Finance and the Budget. It will thus be in operation when the euro is introduced.

In 2004, he returned to the Juncker II government with various portfolios.

“Thanks to his decisive role in the banking crisis of 2008, he succeeded in protecting the savings of thousands of people and businesses and thus preserved Luxembourg from a major social and economic catastrophe,” says his party.

Frieden, the banker

He left the government in 2013, while the CSV found itself in opposition. He therefore joins the private sector: vice-president of Deutsche Bank in the United Kingdom, chairman of the board of Mediahuis Luxembourg. Since 2016, he has been chairman of the board of directors of Bil, which he sold to Qatar.

In March 2021, he announced that he would not run as a candidate for the presidency of the CSV. Nevertheless, last February, the party put him at the head of the national list for the national elections. He thus participated in the success of his party which collected last weekend 21 seats out of 60. His personal score, however, remains below that of outgoing Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.

“The role of trainer actually automatically leads to the role of prime minister if the negotiations come to fruition. I am ready to assume the responsibilities that the Head of State has just entrusted to me“, declared Luc Frieden.

After the swearing-in scheduled for Friday before the Grand Duke, Luc Frieden will therefore officially be head of governmentat the head of a team made up of fourteen other ministers, including Xavier Bettel, in charge of Foreign Affairs.

Luxembourg business leaders are rubbing their hands. “I feel like he understands how a business works.”proclaims the head of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce, who thus reunites with his former president.

CV Express

1963: was born in Esch-sur-Alzette.
He studied law at the University of Luxembourg then went to Paris, Harvard and Cambridge to obtain masters degrees in law.
1989: becomes a lawyer at the Luxembourg bar.
1994: is elected to the Chamber on the electoral list of the Christian Social People’s Party.
1998: Jean-Claude Juncker takes him into his government for Justice, the Budget and Relations with Parliament.
1999: after the legislative elections, he was reappointed.
From 2004 to 2009: is once again Minister of Justice, Budget and Defense.
2014-2015: is vice-chairman of Deutsche Bank UK.
2016-2019: chairman of the board of Mediahuis Luxembourg.
2016- : president of International Bank in Luxembourg.
2019-2023: President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce.
2021: declines the presidency of the CSV.
2023: wins the legislative elections while drawing the CSV list and becomes Prime Minister.