Claude Meisch
Encyclopedia
Claude Meisch is a Luxembourg
ian politician and economist. Meisch has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies
since 1999 and Mayor of Differdange since 2002. He is a President of the Democratic Party
(DP), of which he has been a member since 1994.
Born in Pétange
, in the south-west of the country, Meisch attended the town's Lycée Technique Mathias Adam, before studying at the University of Trier
, in Germany
. After graduating, he worked for the private
Bank of Luxembourg. Meisch was Vice-President of the Democratic and Liberal Youth
, the DP's youth wing, from 1995 until 2000.
Meisch ran for the Chamber of Deputies, to represent Sud
, in the 1999 election
. Meisch finished sixth amongst DP candidates, with the top four being elected. However, the election saw the DP become kingmakers
, giving them enough leverage over the Christian Social People's Party
(CSV) to allow them to appoint seven Democratic deputies, including Henri Grethen
and Eugène Berger
, to the new government
. Grethen insisted that Berger be appointed along with him, specifically so that Meisch could enter the Chamber. With Grethen and Berger required to vacate their seats to take up their government positions, Meisch filled in the gap and entered the Chamber of Deputies on 12 August 1999.
In the 2004 legislative election
, Meisch was re-elected to the Chamber directly, placing second amongst DP candidates in an election that saw the party's representation from Sud reduced from four to two. The result was bad for the DP across the country, losing five seats and seeing them replaced as the Christian Social People's Party
's (CSV) coalition partners by the LSAP. After the election, Lydie Polfer
resigned as DP President, having served the term limit imposed by the party's statutes. Meisch was the only candidate put forward to replace her, and recorded a 90% vote in his favour (between him and none of the above
), holding the position since 10 October 2004.
The 2005 election
to Differdange communal council
saw Meisch score an 'historic' victory, in leading the DP to buck the national trend and greatly increase their vote: winning 43% of the vote and winning eight seats. Meisch thus remained as mayor, heading a coalition with the Greens
, although the size of the victory allowed Meisch to choose his coalition partner from any of the other three parties.
In the 2009 legislative election
, Meisch was re-elected, winning more votes that any other Democratic candidate in the entire country, and winning more than twice as many votes as Eugène Berger
, who placed second on the DP list in Sud. The party nationwide fell 1.1% of the vote and lost a seat. Immediately after the election, Meisch ruled out a coalition with the CSV, so the DP continued in opposition.
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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 economist. Meisch has been a member of the Chamber of Deputies
Chamber 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....
since 1999 and Mayor of Differdange since 2002. He is a President 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...
(DP), of which he has been a member since 1994.
Born in Pétange
Pétange
Pétange is a commune and town in south-western Luxembourg. It is part of the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, which is part of the district of Luxembourg. Pétange lies on the borders with both Belgium and France....
, in the south-west of the country, Meisch attended the town's Lycée Technique Mathias Adam, before studying at the University of Trier
University of Trier
The University of Trier , in the German city of Trier, was founded in 1473. Closed in 1798 by order of the then French administration in Trier, the university was re-established in 1970 after a hiatus of some 172 years. The new university campus is located on top of the Tarforst heights, an urban...
, in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. After graduating, he worked for the private
Private banking
Private banking is banking, investment and other financial services provided by banks to private individuals investing sizable assets. The term "private" refers to the customer service being rendered on a more personal basis than in mass-market retail banking, usually via dedicated bank advisers...
Bank of Luxembourg. Meisch was Vice-President of the Democratic and Liberal Youth
Democratic and Liberal Youth
The Democratic and Liberal Youth is the youth wing of the Democratic Party of Luxembourg.It is a member of European Liberal Youth, the youth wing of the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party....
, the DP's youth wing, from 1995 until 2000.
Meisch ran for the Chamber of Deputies, to represent Sud
Circonscription Sud (Luxembourg)
Circonscription Sud is an electoral constituency for Luxembourg's national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.The constituency includes the cantons of Capellen and Esch-sur-Alzette, both of which are in the district of Luxembourg...
, in the 1999 election
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1999
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on June 13, 1999. Voters elected 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.The election coincided with the 1999 European Parliament election.-Candidates:-Overall results:...
. Meisch finished sixth amongst DP candidates, with the top four being elected. However, the election saw the DP become kingmakers
Kingmaker scenario
A kingmaker scenario, in a game of three or more players, is an endgame situation where a player unable to win has the capacity to determine which player among others is the winner. Said player is referred to as the kingmaker or spoiler...
, giving them enough leverage over 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...
(CSV) to allow them to appoint seven Democratic deputies, including Henri Grethen
Henri Grethen
Henri Grethen is a politician from Luxembourg.Grethen was born in Esch-sur-Alzette. He attended school in Echternach and studied in Luxembourg and Liège...
and Eugène Berger
Eugène Berger
Eugène Berger is a politician from Luxembourg. Berger studied to become a teacher, and worked in this profession from 1988 to 1994. In 1994, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for the Democratic Party...
, to the new government
Juncker-Polfer Ministry
The Juncker-Polfer Ministry was the government of Luxembourg between 7 August 1999 and 31 July 2004. It was led by, and named after, Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and Deputy Prime Minister Lydie Polfer.-Ministers:...
. Grethen insisted that Berger be appointed along with him, specifically so that Meisch could enter the Chamber. With Grethen and Berger required to vacate their seats to take up their government positions, Meisch filled in the gap and entered the Chamber of Deputies on 12 August 1999.
In the 2004 legislative election
Luxembourgian legislative election, 2004
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 13 June 2004. Voters elected all 60 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral legislature, the Chamber of Deputies...
, Meisch was re-elected to the Chamber directly, placing second amongst DP candidates in an election that saw the party's representation from Sud reduced from four to two. The result was bad for the DP across the country, losing five seats and seeing them replaced as 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...
's (CSV) coalition partners by the LSAP. After the election, Lydie Polfer
Lydie Polfer
Lydie Polfer is a Luxembourgian politician that has served in a number of capacities, including Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Mayor of Luxembourg City, as well as a Member of the European Parliament and a member of the Chamber of Deputies...
resigned as DP President, having served the term limit imposed by the party's statutes. Meisch was the only candidate put forward to replace her, and recorded a 90% vote in his favour (between him and none of the above
None of the above
None of the Above or against all is a ballot option in some jurisdictions or organizations, designed to allow the voter to indicate disapproval of all of the candidates in a voting system...
), holding the position since 10 October 2004.
The 2005 election
Luxembourgian communal election, 2005
The 2005 Luxembourgian communal elections were held on 9 October 2005. Elections are held every six years across all of Luxembourg's then-118 communes.-Results:...
to Differdange communal council
Differdange communal council
Differdange communal council is the local council for the commune of Differdange, in south-western Luxembourg.It consists of seventeen members, elected every six years by proportional representation. The last elections were held on 9 October 2005, and resulted in a victory for the Democratic Party...
saw Meisch score an 'historic' victory, in leading the DP to buck the national trend and greatly increase their vote: winning 43% of the vote and winning eight seats. Meisch thus remained as mayor, heading a coalition with the Greens
The Greens (Luxembourg)
The Greens is a Luxembourgian green political party.-1983-1993:The Greens were originally founded in 23 June 1983. In the 1984 election, the party got two seats in the Chamber of Deputies. In 1985, however the party split between two parties one called 'GLEI' and the other called 'GAP'...
, although the size of the victory allowed Meisch to choose his coalition partner from any of the other three parties.
In the 2009 legislative election
Luxembourgian legislative election, 2009
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 7 June 2009, together with the 2009 election to the European Parliament. All sixty members of the Chamber of Deputies were elected for five years...
, Meisch was re-elected, winning more votes that any other Democratic candidate in the entire country, and winning more than twice as many votes as Eugène Berger
Eugène Berger
Eugène Berger is a politician from Luxembourg. Berger studied to become a teacher, and worked in this profession from 1988 to 1994. In 1994, he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies for the Democratic Party...
, who placed second on the DP list in Sud. The party nationwide fell 1.1% of the vote and lost a seat. Immediately after the election, Meisch ruled out a coalition with the CSV, so the DP continued in opposition.
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