Independent National Party (Luxembourg)
Encyclopedia
The Independent National Party , abbreviated as PNI, was a populist
political party
in Luxembourg
in the interwar period
.
The party was founded in 1918 by disgruntled members of the Party of the Right
. The most prominent of the founders was Pierre Prüm
, who was appointed the party's leader. The constitutional amendment
s of 1919 introduced universal suffrage
and proportional representation
, strengthening the new populists' chance of winning both votes and seats. In the first election
after the reforms, the party won three seats (out of 48) in the Chamber of Deputies
, finishing a distant fourth; the dominant Party of the Right won 27 seats, allowing it to form the only stand-alone government in Luxembourgian history.
In the election
of 1922, the PNI increased its share to four seats, but fell back to three in the 1925 election
. More importantly, the Party of the Right fell below the 50% threshold, allowing the other parties to form a broad-based coalition
against the conservatives. The coalition relied upon almost all minor parties giving their support to pass measures of confidence, but included members of only three party lists: the Independent National Party, the Radical Socialist Party
, and the Independent Left
. The head of the coalition was the leader of the PNI, Prüm, even though the party was only the joint-fourth largest party in the Chamber of Deputies.
In 1926, the government attempted to reward the support offered by the Socialist Party by improving minimum working conditions. However, this was opposed by the Radical Socialists, a party that was born from the Liberal League
and maintained its predecessor's support for business and the middle class
es. In opposition, the Radical Socialists withdrew their support from the coalition, leaving the government short of a majority. To avoid a humiliating motion of no confidence
, Prüm offered his resignation on 22 June, and left politics to become a judge
. At the next election
, without Prüm, the PNI's share of the vote was slashed, and the party won only one seat. In the 1931 election
, the party lost that solitary seat, and was dissolved.
Many of the Independent National Party's members, including Prüm, would later become associated with the Volksdeutsche Bewegung
: a collaborationist
Nazi
party that governed during the German occupation
.
Populism
Populism can be defined as an ideology, political philosophy, or type of discourse. Generally, a common theme compares "the people" against "the elite", and urges social and political system changes. It can also be defined as a rhetorical style employed by members of various political or social...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Luxembourg
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...
in the interwar period
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
.
The party was founded in 1918 by disgruntled members of the Party of the Right
Party of the Right (Luxembourg)
The Party of the Right , abbreviated to PD, was a political party in Luxembourg between 1914 and 1944. It was the direct predecessor of the Christian Social People's Party , which has ruled Luxembourg for all but five years since....
. The most prominent of the founders was Pierre Prüm
Pierre Prüm
Pierre Prüm was a Luxembourgian politician and jurist. He was the 14th Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for a year, from March 20, 1925 until July 16, 1926.-Early life:...
, who was appointed the party's leader. The constitutional amendment
Constitutional amendment
A constitutional amendment is a formal change to the text of the written constitution of a nation or state.Most constitutions require that amendments cannot be enacted unless they have passed a special procedure that is more stringent than that required of ordinary legislation...
s of 1919 introduced universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
and proportional representation
Proportional representation
Proportional representation is a concept in voting systems used to elect an assembly or council. PR means that the number of seats won by a party or group of candidates is proportionate to the number of votes received. For example, under a PR voting system if 30% of voters support a particular...
, strengthening the new populists' chance of winning both votes and seats. In the first election
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1919
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 26 October 1919. Voters elected all 48 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies....
after the reforms, the party won three seats (out of 48) in 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....
, finishing a distant fourth; the dominant Party of the Right won 27 seats, allowing it to form the only stand-alone government in Luxembourgian history.
In the election
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1922
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on May 28, 1922. Voters elected 25 of the 52 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:...
of 1922, the PNI increased its share to four seats, but fell back to three in the 1925 election
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1925
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 25 March 1925. Voters elected all 47 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:...
. More importantly, the Party of the Right fell below the 50% threshold, allowing the other parties to form a broad-based coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
against the conservatives. The coalition relied upon almost all minor parties giving their support to pass measures of confidence, but included members of only three party lists: the Independent National Party, the Radical Socialist Party
Radical Socialist Party (Luxembourg)
The Radical Socialist Party was a progressive Luxembourgian political party that existed from 1925 to 1932. It was the successor of the Liberal League, but, unlike its predecessor, it existed as an organised extra-parliamentary party, marking itself as Luxembourg's first true liberal political...
, and the Independent Left
Independent Left
The Independent Left was a French parliamentary group in the Chamber of Deputies of France during the French Third Republic between 1932 and 1940...
. The head of the coalition was the leader of the PNI, Prüm, even though the party was only the joint-fourth largest party in the Chamber of Deputies.
In 1926, the government attempted to reward the support offered by the Socialist Party by improving minimum working conditions. However, this was opposed by the Radical Socialists, a party that was born from the Liberal League
Liberal League (Luxembourg)
The Liberal League was a political party in Luxembourg between 1904 and 1925. It was the indirect predecessor of the Democratic Party , which has been one of the three major parties in Luxembourg since the Second World War....
and maintained its predecessor's support for business and the middle class
Middle class
The middle class is any class of people in the middle of a societal hierarchy. In Weberian socio-economic terms, the middle class is the broad group of people in contemporary society who fall socio-economically between the working class and upper class....
es. In opposition, the Radical Socialists withdrew their support from the coalition, leaving the government short of a majority. To avoid a humiliating motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...
, Prüm offered his resignation on 22 June, and left politics to become a judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
. At the next election
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1928
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 3 June 1928. Voters elected 28 of the 52 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:...
, without Prüm, the PNI's share of the vote was slashed, and the party won only one seat. In the 1931 election
Luxembourgian legislative election, 1931
Legislative elections were held in Luxembourg on 7 June 1931. Voters elected 27 of the 54 members of the Grand Duchy's unicameral national legislature, the Chamber of Deputies.-Results:...
, the party lost that solitary seat, and was dissolved.
Many of the Independent National Party's members, including Prüm, would later become associated with the Volksdeutsche Bewegung
Volksdeutsche Bewegung
Volksdeutsche Bewegung was a Nazi movement in Luxembourg that flourished under German occupation during the Second World War....
: a collaborationist
Collaborationism
Collaborationism is cooperation with enemy forces against one's country. Legally, it may be considered as a form of treason. Collaborationism may be associated with criminal deeds in the service of the occupying power, which may include complicity with the occupying power in murder, persecutions,...
Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
party that governed during the German occupation
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...
.