1919 Luxembourg referendum

A double referendum took place in Luxembourg on 28 September 1919.[1] 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.[2]

1919 Luxembourg head of state referendum

28 September 1919
Location	Luxembourg
Results
Grand Duchess Charlotte   77.8% Republic   19.7% Retain the dynasty, but replace Charlotte   1.5% Retain the monarchy, but replace the dynasty   1.0%

1919 Luxembourg economic union referendum

28 September 1919
Location	Luxembourg
Results
France   73.0% Belgium   27.0%

Results

Head of state

Choice	Votes	%
Grand Duchess Charlotte	66,811	77.8
Republic	16,885	19.7
Retain the dynasty, but replace Charlotte	1,286	1.5
Retain the monarchy, but replace the dynasty	889	1.0
Invalid/blank votes	5,113	–
Total	90,984	100
Registered voters/turnout	126,193	72.1
Source: Nohlen & Stöver

Economic union

Choice	Votes	%
France	60,133	73.0
Belgium	22,242	27.0
Invalid/blank votes	8,609	–
Total	90,984	100
Registered voters/turnout	126,193	72.1
Source: 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.[3] 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.[4]

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.[5] This prompted the government to turn to Belgium, and within a year, negotiations had been settled, and a treaty signed on 25 July 1921 to create the Belgium-Luxembourg Economic Union (UEBL).[3] Due to the referendum result, and a lingering distrust of Belgium's political motives, the public in Luxembourg greatly resented the treaty.[4] 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.[6]

References

1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1244 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
2. Nohlen & Stöver, p1252
3. Kathryn Anne Davis (1994). Language Planning in Multilingual Contexts: Policies, Communities, and Schools in Luxembourg. John Benjamins Publishing. p. 48. ISBN 90-272-4111-2.
4. The European Powers in the First World War: An Encyclopedia, Spencer Tucker, Laura Matysek Wood, Justin D. Murphy, Taylor & Francis, 1999, page 450
5. Robert Boyce (2005). French Foreign and Defence Policy, 1918-1940: The Decline and Fall of a Great Power. Routledge. pp. 74–75. ISBN 978-1-134-74826-6.
6. Fontana economic history of Europe, Volume 6, Part 1, Carlo M. Cipolla, 1976, page 4