Luc Frieden facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Luc Frieden
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Frieden in 2024
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| 25th Prime Minister of Luxembourg | |
| Assumed office 17 November 2023 |
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| Monarch | Henri |
| Deputy | Xavier Bettel |
| Preceded by | Xavier Bettel |
| Minister of Finances | |
| In office 23 July 2009 – 4 December 2013 |
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| Prime Minister | Jean-Claude Juncker |
| Preceded by | Jean-Claude Juncker |
| Succeeded by | Pierre Gramegna |
| Minister of Defence | |
| In office 31 July 2004 – 22 February 2006 |
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| Prime Minister | Jean-Claude Juncker |
| Preceded by | Charles Goerens |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Louis Schiltz |
| Minister of Justice | |
| In office 30 January 1998 – 23 July 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Jean-Claude Juncker |
| Preceded by | Marc Fischbach |
| Succeeded by | François Biltgen |
| Minister of the Treasury and Budget | |
| In office 30 January 1998 – 23 July 2009 |
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| Prime Minister | Jean-Claude Juncker |
| Preceded by | Marc Fischbach |
| Succeeded by | Jean-Claude Juncker |
| Member of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 24 October 2023 – 17 November 2023 |
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| Constituency | Centre |
| In office 5 December 2013 – 15 September 2014 |
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| Constituency | Centre |
| In office 12 June 1994 – 30 January 1998 |
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| Constituency | Centre |
| President of the Christian Social People’s Party | |
| Assumed office 16 March 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Elisabeth Margue |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 September 1963 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg |
| Political party | Christian Social People's Party |
| Spouse |
Marjolijne Droogleever Fortuyn
(m. 1992) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Luxembourg Pantheon-Sorbonne University Queens' College, Cambridge Harvard University |
| Occupation | Politician • lawyer • banker • financier |
Luc Frieden (born September 16, 1963) is a politician and lawyer from Luxembourg. He became the 25th Prime Minister of Luxembourg in November 2023. As a member of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV), he has held many important government jobs.
Between 1998 and 2013, he was a minister in the Luxembourgish government. He was in charge of the country's money when Luxembourg changed from its old currency (the Franc) to the Euro. He also managed the country's finances during a big economic challenge in Europe. Before becoming Prime Minister, he led the Chamber of Commerce in Luxembourg and a group of European business chambers.
In 2023, he was chosen to lead his party, the CSV, in the national elections. He helped his party win, and they kept their 21 seats in parliament. Because the previous government lost its majority, Grand Duke Henri asked Luc Frieden to form a new government. He became Prime Minister on November 17, 2023, taking over from Xavier Bettel.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Luc Frieden finished high school at the Athénée de Luxembourg. After that, he studied at universities in France, the UK, and the US. He earned a degree in business law from Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. He also got master's degrees from Queens' College, Cambridge and Harvard Law School.
Besides speaking Luxembourgish, he is fluent in English, German, and French. He also understands Dutch, which is his wife's native language.
Starting His Political Career (1994–1998)
In 1994, Luc Frieden was elected to the Chamber of Deputies (Luxembourg's parliament). He was a member of the Christian Social People's Party (CSV). At 30 years old, he was the youngest member of parliament at that time.
While in parliament, he led the Finance Committee and the Constitutional Committee. He played a key role in setting up a special court for constitutional matters and independent administrative courts in Luxembourg.
Serving as a Minister (1998–2013)
In 1998, at the age of 34, Luc Frieden became the Minister of Justice. This was in the government led by Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker. He also served as Minister of the Treasury and Budget from 1998 to 2009.
He was the Minister of Defence from 2004 to 2006. From 2009 to 2013, he was the Minister of Finance.
As Minister for the Treasury and Budget, he managed the smooth change from the Luxembourg franc to the euro. During Luxembourg's time leading the Council of the European Union in 2005, he chaired the European Council of Ministers for Justice and Home Affairs. As Minister of Finance, he represented Luxembourg at meetings about Europe's economy and finances. He helped stabilize the Eurozone and shape the European banking union. For 15 years, Luc Frieden was a Governor of the World Bank. In 2013, he was the chairman of the Board of Governors for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group.
Working in the Private Sector (2014–2023)
After his time as a minister, Luc Frieden joined Deutsche Bank in September 2014 as Vice Chairman. He worked in London and advised the bank's leaders on international and European matters. He also led the supervisory board of Deutsche Bank Luxembourg. He left Deutsche Bank in early 2016.
Since 2016, Frieden has been a partner at a law firm in Luxembourg called Elvinger Hoss Prussen. From 2019 to 2023, he was also the President of the Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce. In 2022, he also became the President of Eurochambres, which is a group of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
Becoming Prime Minister (2023–Present)
When Luc Frieden decided to return to politics in 2023, he announced he would leave all his private sector jobs. He was chosen to be the main candidate for the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) in the national elections in October.
He led the CSV to win the election, getting 29.21% of the votes and 21 seats in the Chamber of Deputies. Since the previous government lost its majority, Grand Duke Henri asked Frieden to form a new government on October 9, 2023. He worked with the CSV and the Democratic Party (DP) to form a new government. He became Prime Minister on November 17, 2023, taking over from Xavier Bettel.
On November 22, 2023, Frieden presented his government's plans to the Chamber of Deputies. His main goals include making rules simpler, improving digital services, and modernizing the country. He also plans to hire more police officers and expand video surveillance. Other priorities include changing tax laws and giving the private sector a bigger role in healthcare.
Frieden's first trip as Prime Minister was to Berlin on January 8, 2024, to meet Olaf Scholz. On January 16, 2024, a news article reported that Frieden wanted to build a better relationship with Viktor Orbán. This caused some discussion, and Frieden later said he was quoted incorrectly.
On February 26, 2024, Frieden traveled to Paris. There, Emmanuel Macron held an emergency meeting about the situation in Ukraine. Czech Prime Minister Peter Fiala suggested buying ammunition for Volodymyr Zelensky's forces.
At a Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels on March 21, 2024, Frieden said he was open to nuclear power. This was a new idea for Luxembourg, which usually opposes nuclear power. He clarified that Luxembourg would not build a nuclear reactor. He also said Luxembourg would still ask neighboring countries to close their reactors near the Grand-Duchy. However, he would not tell other countries how to move away from fossil fuels. Frieden stressed that research into new nuclear technologies is important. This view was met with criticism in Luxembourg from environmental groups and most political parties.
Other Activities
Company Boards
- Banque Internationale à Luxembourg (BIL), Chairman of the Board of Directors (since 2016)
- Saint-Paul Luxembourg, Chairman of the Board of Directors (2016–2019)
Non-Profit Groups
- Trilateral Commission, Member of the European Group
Personal Life
Luc Frieden married Marjolijne Droogleever Fortuyn, a lawyer from the Netherlands, in 1992. They met while studying at Cambridge. They have two children.
See also
In Spanish: Luc Frieden para niños
