Lydie Polfer

Lydie Polfer (born 22 November 1952)^[1] is a Luxembourgish politician of the Democratic Party who has served as Mayor of Luxembourg City since 2013, having previously held the role from 1982 to 1999. She has served in a number of other capacities, including as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, as well as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) and a member of the Chamber of Deputies.

The Honourable Lydie Polfer
Mayor of Luxembourg City
Incumbent
Assumed office 17 December 2013
Preceded by	Xavier Bettel
In office 1 January 1982 – 18 August 1999
Preceded by	Camille Polfer
Succeeded by	Paul Helminger
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 July 2009
Constituency	Centre
In office 18 July 1994 – 8 June 1999
Constituency	Centre
In office 18 July 1989 – 14 June 1990
Constituency	Centre
In office 24 July 1979 – 9 October 1985
Constituency	Centre
Deputy Prime Minister of Luxembourg Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 7 August 1999 – 19 July 2004
Prime Minister	Jean-Claude Juncker
Preceded by	Jacques Poos
Succeeded by	Jean Asselborn
Personal details
Born	(1952-11-22) November 22, 1952 (age 72) Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Political party	Democratic Party
Residence	Luxembourg City

Political career

Polfer succeeded her father, Camille Polfer, as mayor of Luxembourg City, when he was forced to resign from the position due to poor health after only two years.^[2] She was first elected to the Chamber of Deputies in the 1984 election, representing Centre. She was the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs in the government of Jean-Claude Juncker from August 1999 until July 2004.

In the 2004 legislative election, Polfer was elected, once again, top of the DP list, coming second overall to Luc Frieden.^[3] However, the DP polled poorly overall, losing five seats nationwide, and, with them, their position as the second-largest party and kingmakers. As such, the CSV entered instead into a coalition with the Luxembourg Socialist Workers' Party (LSAP), ejecting Polfer from the government. The European Parliament election held on the same day also saw the DP lose votes, as well as fall to fourth, behind the Greens for the first time. Nonetheless, Polfer still came top of the DP list (and third overall),^[4] and took her place in the European Parliament, where the DP sit in the Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe.

She is now once again Mayor of Luxembourg City, after previously being mayor there from 1982 to 1999. Polfer is a Vice Chair of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly.

In 2023 elections Polfer finished 3rd on the DP list, with 19,345 votes.^[5]

See also

• Juncker-Polfer Government (1999–2004)