In Luxembourg, the universal right to vote and stand in elections was introduced on 26 October 1919 — even though Luxembourg did not have a powerful feminist movement before the First World War. Before that date, the right to vote was subject to a property qualification and only 25% of men had the right to take part in elections.
However, notwithstanding that right, the active participation of women in politics developed very slowly.
Only one woman managed to enter Parliament in the first general election in 1919. Between 1931 and 1965, the Chamber of Deputies no longer had any female member. In 1967, the first woman entered the Luxembourg government.
Following the 2009 parliamentary elections, women accounted for only 20% of elected MPs and 27% of ministers. Following the 2011 municipal elections, 4 out of 5 seats on municipal councils are held by men.
Luxembourg was one of the first countries to grant women the right to vote. Where do we stand one hundred years on? In the national elections held on 14 October 2018, 12 of the 60 directly elected members of the Chamber of Deputies (Chambre des Députés) were women. With the inauguration of the new government in December 2018, the Luxembourg parliament now boasts 15 female members. Luxembourg ranks 69th worldwide in terms of gender equality in parliament.
The design of the new 2 euro coin shows on the left hand the effigy of His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke Henri, and on the right hand a ballot box where a ballot paper is being inserted by a hand. At the bottom is the name of the issuing country ‘LUXEMBOURG’. At the top, in semi-circle form is the inscription ‘Centenaire du suffrage universel’ (Centenary of the universal suffrage) and underneath the inscription ‘1919 – 2019’, the latter being the year of issuance.
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