Eugène Schaus
Encyclopedia
Eugène Schaus was a Luxembourg
ian politician and jurist. Schaus was a leading light in the early days of the Democratic Party
, of which he would be President from 1952 until 1959.
Schaus held office in a number of governments, under Pierre Dupong and Pierre Werner, over a period of thirty years. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister, a position created especially for Schaus, in Werner's first government. He would serve in this capacity again (1969 – 1974), as well as holding a number of other high offices.
in 1937, in which he served until 1940, when the country was occupied
by Nazi Germany
and the Chamber was suspended. Having refused to swear allegiance to the occupying forces, Eugene Schaus, his wife and their three children spent most of the war in German deportation camps in Eastern Europe, and returned only at the end of the war. He was the Group for Patriotism and Democracy member of the National Union Government
, as Minister for the Interior
, and was elected at the next election
, in 1945. He would remain in the Chamber of Deputies, as either a sitting deputy or a government minister
, until 1974.
Schaus was recognised as the foremost liberal
politician in 1947 by his inclusion in the Christian Social People's Party
-Democratic Group coalition under Pierre Dupong, adding the position of Minister for Justice to that for the Interior. Due to his leadership of the GD into this government, it is known as the 'Dupong-Schaus Ministry
'. In 1951, the CSV formed a coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
, ejecting Schaus from government. The following year, Schaus was elected Democratic Party, succeeding Lucien Dury
.
In 1958, a scandal over government corruption allowed Schaus, as opposition leader, to lever himself, and the party (by now renamed the 'Democratic Party
') back into government. Schaus alleged that the government had been offered a bribe by a contractor; whilst refusing it and eliminating the company from the list of bidders, the attempted bribe was not reported within the required window, and the government collapsed. The general election
held the following year, the Democratic Party almost doubled its share of seats, and replaced the LSAP in the governing coalition that was formed after the election and the death of Prime Minister Pierre Frieden.
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Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
ian politician and jurist. Schaus was a leading light in the early days of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Luxembourg)
The Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is the major liberal political party in Luxembourg. One of the three major parties, the DP sits on the centre-right, holding moderate market liberal views combined with a strong emphasis on civil liberties, human rights, and internationalism.Founded in...
, of which he would be President from 1952 until 1959.
Schaus held office in a number of governments, under Pierre Dupong and Pierre Werner, over a period of thirty years. He served as the Deputy Prime Minister, a position created especially for Schaus, in Werner's first government. He would serve in this capacity again (1969 – 1974), as well as holding a number of other high offices.
Career
An experienced lawyer, Schaus was elected to 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....
in 1937, in which he served until 1940, when the country was occupied
German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II
The German occupation of Luxembourg in World War II was the period in the history of Luxembourg after it was used as a transit territory to attack France by outflanking the Maginot Line. Plans for the attack had been prepared by 9 October 1939, but execution was postponed several times...
by Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
and the Chamber was suspended. Having refused to swear allegiance to the occupying forces, Eugene Schaus, his wife and their three children spent most of the war in German deportation camps in Eastern Europe, and returned only at the end of the war. He was the Group for Patriotism and Democracy member of the National Union Government
National Union Government (1945)
The National Union Government was a form of national government that governed the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg between 1945 and 13 February 1947, in the direct aftermath of the Second World War. During the war, Luxembourg was invaded, occupied, and annexed by Nazi Germany...
, as Minister for the Interior
Minister for the Interior of Luxembourg
The Minister for the Interior of Luxembourg is responsible for regional planning, including relations with neighboring German, French and Belgian regions in the context of the "Grand Region of Luxembourg". He/she is also responsible for relations with the communes and, since 2009 again, for the...
, and was elected at the next election
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1945
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 21 October 1945. Voters elected all 51 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies....
, in 1945. He would remain in the Chamber of Deputies, as either a sitting deputy or a government minister
Minister (government)
A minister is a politician who holds significant public office in a national or regional government. Senior ministers are members of the cabinet....
, until 1974.
Schaus was recognised as the foremost liberal
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,...
politician in 1947 by his inclusion in the Christian Social People's Party
Christian Social People's Party
The Christian Social People's Party , abbreviated to CSV or PCS, is the largest political party in Luxembourg. The party follows a Christian Democratic and conservative ideology and, like most parties in Luxembourg, it is strongly pro-European...
-Democratic Group coalition under Pierre Dupong, adding the position of Minister for Justice to that for the Interior. Due to his leadership of the GD into this government, it is known as the 'Dupong-Schaus Ministry
Dupong-Schaus Ministry
The Dupong-Schaus Ministry was the government of Luxembourg between 1 March 1947 and 3 July 1951.-1 March 1947 – 14 July 1948:-14 July 1948 – 3 July 1951:...
'. In 1951, the CSV formed a coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party
The Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party , abbreviated to LSAP or POSL, is a social democratic political party in Luxembourg.The LSAP is the second-largest party in the Chamber of Deputies, having won 13 of 60 seats at the 2009 election, and has one seat in the European Parliament...
, ejecting Schaus from government. The following year, Schaus was elected Democratic Party, succeeding Lucien Dury
Lucien Dury
Lucien Dury was a Luxembourgian politician, journalist, and resistance leader. He was one of the founders of the Patriotic and Democratic Group, which later became the Democratic Party, of which he was the first President. He later served as the President of the DP again, from 1959 until 1962. ...
.
In 1958, a scandal over government corruption allowed Schaus, as opposition leader, to lever himself, and the party (by now renamed the 'Democratic Party
Democratic Party (Luxembourg)
The Democratic Party , abbreviated to DP, is the major liberal political party in Luxembourg. One of the three major parties, the DP sits on the centre-right, holding moderate market liberal views combined with a strong emphasis on civil liberties, human rights, and internationalism.Founded in...
') back into government. Schaus alleged that the government had been offered a bribe by a contractor; whilst refusing it and eliminating the company from the list of bidders, the attempted bribe was not reported within the required window, and the government collapsed. The general election
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1959
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 1 February 1959. Voters elected all 52 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:...
held the following year, the Democratic Party almost doubled its share of seats, and replaced the LSAP in the governing coalition that was formed after the election and the death of Prime Minister Pierre Frieden.
Footnotes
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