General elections were held in Luxembourg on 26 October 1919.Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1234 They were the first held after several constitutional amendments were passed on 15 May of the same year. The reforms had introduced universal suffrage and proportional representation, increased the electorate from 6% of the population to 42%, and vested national sovereignty in the people, as opposed to the Grand Duke. They were also the first elections held after the German occupation during World War I.
The election saw the beginning of conservative dominance of Luxembourgish politics, ending seventy years of liberal dominance that had begun to crumble after the death of Paul Eyschen. With the constitutional reforms and the birth of the modern political order, the elections are considered the first in the modern political history of Luxembourg.
Results The election was an overwhelming victory for the Party of the Right, led by Émile Reuter, the sitting Prime Minister. The 1919 general election was the only occasion in Luxembourgish history on which a party has held more than 50% of the seats (although it was repeated in the partial election of 1922).Thewes (2003), p. 78 Reuter would maintain a coalition with the Liberal League (which ran under the name "Radical Party") for another two years, before forming the first single-party cabinet on 15 April 1921.Thewes (2003), p. 77
By constituency ConstituencySeatsTurnoutPartyVotesSeatswonCentre13Party of the Right180,5456Radical Party121,5984Socialist Party83,1513Independent People's Party13,4900Est719,054Party of the Right90,2526Cartel22,0571Independent People's Party7,7900Nord1229,990Party of the Right211,1598Independent National Party82,2973Socialist Party29,5461Independent People's Party3,9490Sud16Party of the Right173,7397Socialist Party118,9754Radical Party88,8523Independent People's Party64,8472Emile Mark List14,0550Independent Workers' Party11,3540J Kayser List1,0840Source: Luxemburger Wort, Luxemburger Wort
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