Marcel Mart (10 May 1927 – 15 November 2019)[1] was a Luxembourgish politician,[2] jurist, and businessman.

Marcel Mart
President of the European Court of Auditors
In office
18 October 1984 – 20 December 1989
Preceded byPierre Lelong
Succeeded byAldo Angioi
Minister of National Economy, Middle Classes and Tourism
In office
1 February 1969 – 16 September 1977
Prime MinisterPierre Werner,
Gaston Thorn
Minister of Transport and Energy
In office
1 February 1969 – 16 September 1977
Prime MinisterPierre Werner,
Gaston Thorn
Personal details
Born(1927-05-10)10 May 1927
Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Died15 November 2019(2019-11-15) (aged 92)
Political partyDemocratic Party

Biography edit

Mart was born in Esch-sur-Alzette. He studied law in Paris and at the University of Montpellier graduating in 1953. After university, he practiced law in Luxembourg for a short time. In 1955, he moved out of legal work to become the business editor for Agence Europe.[3] After five years in that role, he entered public service as an associate spokesman for the European Coal and Steel Community. He continued working with the European Community in New York and Brussels for the next several years. He also contributed to the D'Lëtzebuerger Land for 12 years.[4]

In 1969, he joined the second Werner–Schaus cabinet as the Minister of National Economy, Middle Classes and Tourism and the Minister of Transport and Energy. He continued in his post in the Thorn Ministry after the 1974 elections.[4] as the Minister of Transport, he introduced speed limits, mandatory seat belt laws and alcohol checks for drunk driving. During the 1973 oil crisis, he introduced car-free Sundays.[3] He also advocated for the construction of a nuclear power plant near Remerschen.

In 1977, the European Economic Community formed the European Court of Auditors by combining audit functions for both the EEC and the European Coal and Steel Community. Mart resigned from the cabinet to become Luxembourg's representative on the Court. In 1984, he was elected the president of the court and served in that role until 1989.[5][4]

After stepping down from the Court of Auditors, Mart entered into service of the Luxembourg royal court as the Hofmarschall for Grand Duke Jean in 1990. He stepped down in 1993, but served the Grand Duke's court until 1996. In 1994, he was the president of the board of directors for Luxembourg's international exposition agency, Foire, now known as Luxexpo. [4] [3]

He had stints in the banking field in his career including as a board member of the Luxembourg branch of Dresdner Bank and Banque Générale du Luxembourg.[4]

Personal life edit

He had two children with his first wife, Daniel and Caroline. Caroline Mart is a journalist with RTL Télé Lëtzebuerg.[1] He remarried to Liette Weber after the death of this first wife.

Mart died on November 15, 2019, at the age of 92.[4][3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Diversification champion Marcel Mart remembered".
  2. ^ "Luxemburger Modell in Gefahr". Luxemburger Wort. 22 April 2010. Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d "Former DP politician Marcel Mart passes away aged 92". RTL. 2019-11-15.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "Früherer Minister Marcel Mart im Alter von 92 Jahren gestorben". Tageblatt (in German). 2019-11-15. Archived from the original on 2019-11-16. Retrieved 2019-11-23.
  5. ^ "Marcel Mart". European NAvigator. Centre Virtuel de la Connaissance sur l'Europe. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for the Economy
1969–1977
Succeeded by
Minister for Energy
1969–1977
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Transport
1969–1977