Jacques Santer
Jacques Santer | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 18, 1937 Mertert, Luxembourg |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, jurist, banker |
| Years active | 1972–2004 |
| Known for | Prime Minister of Luxembourg (1984–1995), President of the European Commission (1995–1999) |
Jacques Santer (born 18 May 1937) is a politician from Luxembourg who served as the president of the European Commission from 1995 until 1999. He held the position of Luxembourg's finance minister between 1979 and 1989 and was prime minister from 1984 to 1995, representing the influential Christian Social People's Party (CSV), which dominated the government from 1979 through 2013. During his tenure as Prime Minister, Santer led the discussions on the Single European Act, which replaced the earlier Luxembourg Compromise.
Career
Santer completed his studies at the Paris Institute of Political Studies in 1959 and obtained a doctorate in law by 1961. He was appointed junior minister from 1972 to 1974. Between 1979 and 1984, he occupied several significant cabinet positions, including Minister of Finance, Minister for Work, and Minister for Social Security, serving under Pierre Werner in a coalition government formed by the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) and the liberal Democratic Party.
After the general election of 1984, Pierre Werner stepped down from politics, paving the way for Santer to become prime minister. The CSV entered into a coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), which had risen to second place in parliamentary strength, pushing the Democratic Party to third; however, the CSV maintained its status as the largest party. This coalition between CSV and LSAP remained in power until 1999.
On 10 November 1990, vum Lëtzebuerger Vollek published an article uncovering a secret "stay-behind army" operating in Luxembourg, leading to a parliamentary investigation. Santer revealed that this clandestine group had been created in 1959 by then-prime minister Pierre Werner and was coordinated by NATO. The operation was managed by Luxembourg’s intelligence agency, the Service de Renseignement de l'Etat (SREL). Taking political responsibility, Santer called for its disbandment. He informed the constitutional committee that the unit never exceeded twelve members and was intended solely for intelligence gathering and emergency escape plans. In 1973, weapons caches had been established with limited access controls. By October 1990, remaining operatives were directed to return their radio equipment.
Presidency of the European Commission
In 1995, Santer was appointed as the ninth President of the European Commission, chosen as a compromise candidate amid disagreements between the United Kingdom and a Franco-German alliance after British Prime Minister John Major vetoed Franco-German nominee Jean-Luc Dehaene. His appointment was narrowly approved despite dissatisfaction within the European Parliament concerning how the president was selected.
That same year, Santer was honored with the first-ever Vision for Europe Award.
Subsequent allegations of corruption involving members of his commission led to an inquiry conducted by a Committee of Independent Experts. Although most commissioners were exonerated, criticism was directed at inadequate accountability. As commissioners declined to resign and with no authority for Santer to dismiss them individually, he and his entire commission stepped down on 15 March 1999 following publication of the report. Vice-President Manuel Marín assumed interim leadership thereafter.
Subsequent career
Between 1999 and 2004, Santer held a seat in the European Parliament. During this period, he also became a board member of General Mediterranean Holdings, a financial conglomerate owned by the Anglo-Iraqi entrepreneur Nadhmi Auchi.
At present, Santer presides over Group Europe, which is affiliated with the Union of European Federalists, and he holds a position on the board of directors at RTL Group, a global television broadcasting and production enterprise.
On 23 January 2012, Santer was designated as chairman of the board for the Special Purpose Investment Vehicle (SPIV), an initiative aimed at strengthening the financial resources of the European Financial Stability Facility, the eurozone’s emergency funding mechanism.
In May 2013, he received the title of Honorary Member from SME Europe, a pro-business entity connected to the European People's Party.
Honours
- : Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (1990)
- : Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (2015)
- : Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown
- : Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- : Golden Medal for Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis (2008)
- : Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry (1990)
- : Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ (1988)
- : Grand Cross of the National Order of Faithful Service (2004)
- : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (26/10/1973)
See also
- List of prime ministers of Luxembourg
- Santer-Poos Ministry I
- Santer-Poos Ministry II
- Santer-Poos Ministry III
- Santer Commission
References
- Prime ministers of Luxembourg
- Ministers for finances of Luxembourg
- Presidents of the European Commission
- Presidents of the European People's Party
- Luxembourgian European commissioners
- Christian Social People's Party politicians
- Luxembourgian jurists
- 1937 births
- Living people
- People from Mertert
- Alumni of the Athénée de Luxembourg
- Christian Social People's Party MEPs
- MEPs for Luxembourg 1999–2004
- Luxembourgian bankers
- European commissioners (1995–1999)
- 20th-century Luxembourgian politicians