The predicament was exacerbated by the death of Paul Eyschen on 11 October 1915. Eyschen, who had been Prime Minister for twenty-seven years, was unrivalled in popularity, and his death plunged Luxembourg deeper into crisis. Eyschen was replaced by Mathias Mongenast, but Mongenast lasted only 25 days before becoming embroiled in a dispute over education and resigning. His next replacement was Hubert Loutsch, who headed up a minority government consisting solely of Catholic conservatives. Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde hoped that a successful government would easily win the backing of the electorate, but was mistaken; the government failed to win a majority the following month, coming up short with 25 of 52 seats, and would succumb to a vote of no confidence on 11 January 1916 after two months in office.
This did little to quell the trouble. Elections in Esch-sur-Alzette in March showed great public support for independent candidates that opposed the National Unity Government. Worse still, a strike by miners in early June was ended only after intervention by the German army. With political support crumbling, threats of civil unrest, and a humiliating reliance upon the occupying forces, Thorn was under immense pressure to resign, which he did on 19 June. The National Unity Government was replaced by a coalition of liberals and conservatives under Léon Kauffmann, but his government also failed to last long.
Thewes, Guy (July 2003). Les gouvernements du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg depuis 1848 (PDF) (in French) (Édition limitée ed.). Luxembourg City: Service Information et Presse. ISBN 2-87999-118-8. Retrieved 2006-07-14.
This page was last edited on 19 November 2014, at 20:04 (UTC).