Prüm Ministry

The Chamber of Deputies' rejection of the railway treaty with Belgium brought about the Reuter government's resignation.[1] As it was not possible for a new government majority to be formed, the Chamber was dissolved and new general elections were called for 1 March 1925.[1] The election saw various changes in the political landscape, as nine different political parties were henceforth represented in the Chamber.[1] The right lost its absolute majority, and held on to 22 out of 47.[1] But it refused to enter into coalition with any party that had voted against the railway treaty.[1] Pierre Prüm, leader of the Independent National Party, was asked to form a new government, and relied on an eclectic alliance of liberals, socialists, some Deputies on the right.[1]

At the risk of provoking a break-up of the UEBL, Pierre Prüm sought a rapprochement with France.[2] When he had only just taken office, the prime minister was received in Paris.[2] On 9 October 1925, an agreement was reached with the Direction Générale des Chemins de fer d’Alsace et de Lorraine.[2] This agreement gave France the provisional right to the Guillaume-Luxembourg network.[2] During the Prüm government's time in office, the Locarno Treaties were also signed.[2] Although they came about without Luxembourgish participation, they marked an important date in the evolution of the Grand Duchy's defence policy.[2] The fact that France and Germany guaranteed the inviolability of national borders, and agreed not to use war, consolidated Luxembourg's international situation.[2] Pierre Prüm made use of Locarno Treaties' possibilities for international arbitration, to start talks with the Belgian and French governments.[2] These would only conclude under the next government.[2]

Although the Socialist Party was not directly represented in the government, it constituted the Prüm government's main support, alongside the Independent National Party.[3] Under the impetus of the socialists, the government took a number of social measures.[3] One of its first acts was to re-establish the workers' delegations, in factories with over 20 workers.[3] However, the bill on workers' holidays, which was debated in the Chamber from May 1926, divided the liberals and socialists.[3] As it no longer had a parliamentary majority, the Prüm government resigned on 15 July 1926.[3]

• Pierre Prüm (Independent National Party): Minister of State, head of government, Director-General of Foreign Affairs, the Interior, and Agriculture
• Norbert Dumont: Director-General for Justice, Public Works, Trade and Industry
• Othon Decker (Independent Left): Director-General for Social Security and Labor
• Étienne Schmit: Director-General for Finance and Education[2]

• Thewes, Guy (2011). Les gouvernements du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg depuis 1848 (PDF) (in French). Service Information et Presse. pp. 76–87. ISBN 978-2-87999-212-9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-11.