Party of the Right (Luxembourg)

The Party of the Right (French: Parti de la Droite, German: Rechtspartei) was a conservative political party in Luxembourg, founded in 1914. It was the predecessor to the Christian Social People's Party (CSV), which remains one of the major political forces in the country.

The Party of the Right emerged from the Catholic movement in Luxembourg and advocated for the interests of the Church, agriculture, and the traditional social order. It initially drew support from rural areas and among devout Catholics. The party played a significant role in the establishment of the Luxembourgish state following World War I, advocating for national independence and a constitutional monarchy.

During the interwar period, the Party of the Right was the dominant political force in Luxembourg, consistently winning the largest share of seats in the Chamber of Deputies. It formed numerous coalition governments and shaped the country's social and economic policies. Key figures associated with the party include Émile Reuter and Pierre Dupong, both of whom served as Prime Ministers of Luxembourg.

Following World War II, the Party of the Right underwent a significant transformation. In 1945, it renamed itself the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) to reflect a broader, more inclusive platform and to distance itself from any potential associations with right-wing extremism that had emerged during the war. The CSV retained many of the core values of the Party of the Right but also embraced elements of social democracy and became a major force in the development of the Luxembourgish welfare state.