1919 Luxembourg referendum

Public vote on the political and economic orientation of Luxembourg December 2019 Luxembourg 28 September 1919 100px Bulletin de vote référendum Luxembourg 1919.png Referendum questions in French and German Head of State Grand Duchess Charlotte 77.80 Republic 19.66 Retain the dynasty, but replace Charlotte 1.50 Retain the monarchy, but replace the dynasty 1.04 Economic union with Belgium or France Belgium 27.00 France 73.00 A double referendum took place in Luxembourg on 28 September 1919.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1244 978-3-8329-5609-7 Voters were asked questions on their preferred head of state and whether there should be an economic union with either France or Belgium. The majority voted to retain Grand Duchess Charlotte as head of state, and for economic union with France.Nohlen & Stöver, p1252 Results Head of state Grand Duchess Charlotte 66811 Republic 16885 Retain the dynasty, but replace Charlotte 1286 Retain the monarchy, but replace the dynasty 889 5113 126193 Nohlen & Stöver Economic union France 60133 Belgium 22242 8609 126193 Nohlen & Stöver Outcome Both results were seen as being highly indicative of the country's will, and were acted upon. The result in favour of the monarchy was seen to be a Wilsonian act of self-determination, in opposition to the 'French' republic or the imposition of the Belgian dynasty. By defeating both of these prospects, the referendum result put a clear end to the Allied Powers' discussion of Luxembourg's destiny. The political result was to have settled the national question, left the Grand Duchess as the incarnation of the nation itself, and settled the republican issue once and for all, as although the monarchy still had its detractors, particularly amongst socialists, its importance as a political issue waned considerably.The European Powers in the First World War: An Encyclopedia, Spencer Tucker, Laura Matysek Wood, Justin D. Murphy, Taylor & Francis, 1999, page 450 An exception was the city of Esch-sur-Alzette, in which the majority (55%) voted for becoming a republic.Gilbert Trausch (2003) Histoire du Luxembourg, p240 In Luxembourg City only 33% voted for a republic. The economic question was more difficult for the government to implement. Indeed, since 1917, France had promised Belgium free rein (economically) in Luxembourg, and had informally precluded a customs union, but negotiations with the French government proceeded nonetheless, before collapsing in May 1920.Robert Boyce French Foreign and Defence Policy, 1918-1940: The Decline and Fall of a Great Power https://books.google.com/books?id=Po6FAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA74 2005 Routledge 978-1-134-74826-6 74–75 This prompted the government to turn to Belgium. Within a year, negotiations had been completed and a treaty was signed on 25 July 1921 to create the Belgium–Luxembourg Economic Union (UEBL).Kathryn Anne Davis Language Planning in Multilingual Contexts: Policies, Communities, and Schools in Luxembourg https://books.google.com/books?id=ELndVbHx4ZkC&pg=PA48 1994 John Benjamins Publishing 90-272-4111-2 48 Due to the referendum result, and a lingering distrust of Belgium's political motives, the public in Luxembourg greatly resented the treaty. However, the treaty was still successfully ratified by the Chamber of Deputies on 22 December 1922, with 27 votes for, 13 against, and 8 in abstention.The Fontana Economic History of Europe London, United Kingdom Carlo M. Cipolla Collins 1976 6: Contemporary economies. 4 See also Reuter Ministry History of Luxembourg References Category:Referendums in Luxembourg Luxembourg Category:Monarchy of Luxembourg Category:Republicanism in Luxembourg Referendum Luxembourg referendum Category:Sovereignty referendums Category:Constitution of Luxembourg Category:History of Luxembourg (1890–1945) Category:Monarchy referendums in Europe Luxembourg