Image:Jean-claude_juncker.jpg
'''Jean-Claude Juncker''' (born December_9, 1954) is the Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Luxembourg, and from January_1, 2005 until July_1, 2005, he was President of the European_Council, a rotating position he previously held in 1997. He was then succeeded by British_Prime_Minister Tony_Blair.
He studied law at the University_of_Strasbourg and is a qualified Barrister. He became an MP in 1984 and subsequently became a member of cabinet. He was appointed Finance_Minister on July_13, 1989, and Prime_Minister on January_20 1995, in both positions to succeed Jacques_Santer.
He is a member of the Christian_Social_People's_Party which won parliamentary elections in June 1999 and June 2004 under his chairmanship. The CPSP won 19 of the 60 seats in 1999, and gained 5 seats in 2004 for a total of 24.
Although he has often been rumoured as a prospective new president of the European_Commission and several other important positions, he has consistently denied any interest in quitting his job as Prime Minister of Luxembourg.
On September_10, 2004 Mr Juncker was selected as the Jan 2005 to Dec 2006 President of the 'Euro Group' - the council of finance ministers from the 12 countries which use the Euro. A role which has given him the nickname "Mr_Euro". As such he chairs the monthly informal meetings of the group and provides a link between the euro-zone countries and the European_Central_Bank.
On July_10, 2005 Luxembourg held a non-binding referendum on the treaty for a European Constitution, the first one in post-war history. A majority of 56% of Luxembourg's electorate voted in favour. Before the referendum Juncker announced that he would resign as Luxembourg's Prime Minister in the event of a negative outcome.
As of October 2005, Juncker (next elections due in June 2009) is the longest-serving political leader among the 25 European_Union_member_states, followed by Jacques_Chirac (1995-next election 2007), Göran_Persson (1996-next election Sep 2006) and Tony_Blair (1997-next election by Jun 2010)
==Other==
Many commentators and political observers have lauded him for his excellent negotiating skills in times of deep European crisis. On many occasions he played the main mediator between rivalling factions within Europe, at least partly due to his excellent language skills.
In his home country he is also known for an authoritative style of governance and Luxembourg's satire journal De_Neie_Feierkrop has given him the nickname Jean-Claude Bokassa I. in reference to the former Central African dictator Jean-Bédel_Bokassa.
== Quotations ==
Image:juncker_with_bush.jpg
* "If ridiculousness could kill, the streets of Brussels would be piled high with dead bodies." —Commenting on the infighting between EU institutions on the occasion of U.S. President Bush's February 2005 visit to Europe. Juncker, as EU Council President at the time, was charged with making preparations for the visit.
* "We decide on something, leave it lying around and wait and see what happens. If no one kicks up a fuss, because most people don't know what has been decided, we continue step by step until there is no turning back." —Juncker describing the way the EU works ("Der Spiegel", 52/1999, S. 136)
== External links ==
* Official Biography on the Website of the Government of Luxembourg
* Luxembourg's Juncker Will Win Third Term, Vote Projections Show
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Juncker, Jean-Claude
Juncker, Jean-Claude
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