Joseph Bech

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Joseph Bech
Joseph Bech (detail).jpg
Prime Minister of Luxembourg
In office
29 September 1953 – 29 March 1958
Monarch Charlotte
Preceded by Pierre Dupong
Succeeded by Pierre Frieden
In office
16 July 1926 – 5 November 1937
Monarch Charlotte
Preceded by Pierre Prüm
Succeeded by Pierre Dupong
Personal details
Born 17 February 1887
Diekirch, Luxembourg
Died 8 March 1975 (aged 88)
Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Political party Right
(1914–1944)
Christian Social People's
(1944–1975)
Religion Roman Catholicism

Joseph Bech (17 February 1887 – 8 March 1975)[1] was a Luxembourgian politician. He was the 15th Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for eleven years, from 16 July 1926 until 5 November 1937. He returned to the position after World War II, becoming the 17th Prime Minister, serving for another four years, from 29 December 1953 until 29 March 1958. The 1982–1983 academic year at the College of Europe was named in his honour.

Career

Bech studied Law at Fribourg and Paris, before receiving his doctorate in law in 1912,[1] and qualifying as a lawyer in 1914. The same year, on 30 June, he was elected to the Luxembourgian Chamber of Deputies for the newly founded Party of the Right, representing the Canton of Grevenmacher.[1]

On 15 April 1921, Bech was appointed to Émile Reuter's cabinet, holding the positions of Director-General for the Interior and Director-General for Education.[1] In 1925, Bech lost these positions, as the Party of the Right was edged out of government by a coalition of all other parties, who formed the government under Pierre Prüm.

When Prüm's coalition collapsed, in 1926, Bech became Prime Minister, as well as Minister for Foreign Affairs, Education and Wine-growing. He was to remain Foreign and Wine-growing Minister until 1954. His term as Prime Minister, on the other hand, lasted until 1937, when he resigned over the outcome in the referendum on the Maulkuerfgesetz. At various points he also held the portfolios of Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, and the Interior.

In World War II Bech was the Foreign Minister of the Luxembourgish government-in-exile in London.[1] In this capacity he signed the Benelux Treaty in 1944.

Bech is considered to be one of the 'Founding Fathers' of the European Community.[2] He was one of the participants of the Messina Conference in 1955, which would lead to the Treaty of Rome in 1957.

He was Prime Minister again from 1953 to 1958, succeeding Pierre Dupong. He remained in the government until 1959; after this he was President of the Chamber of Deputies until 1964.[1]

Gathering for the funeral of Konrad Adenauer, Bonn, 1967. Joseph Bech is fourth from right, looking downwards with walking stick.

Honours and awards

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Thewes, Guy. "Les gouvernements du Grand-Duché depuis 1848." Service information et presse. Luxembourg: Imprimerie Centrale, 2011.
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Political offices
Preceded by Director-General for Justice
1923–1925
Succeeded by
Norbert Dumont
Preceded by Prime Minister of Luxembourg
1st time

1926–1937
Succeeded by
Pierre Dupong
Minister for Foreign Affairs
1926–1959
Succeeded by
Eugène Schaus
Preceded by Minister for Defence
1951–1953
Succeeded by
Pierre Werner
Preceded by Prime Minister of Luxembourg
2nd time

1953–1958
Succeeded by
Pierre Frieden
Preceded by President of the Chamber of Deputies
1959–1964
Succeeded by
Victor Bodson

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