Paul Helminger

Paul Helminger
File:Paul Helminger Mayor City of Luxembourg.jpg
Mayor of Luxembourg City
In office 1999–2011
Preceded by	Lydie Polfer
Succeeded by	Xavier Bettel
Member of the Chamber of Deputies
In office 1994–2012
In office 1984–1989
Personal details
Born	(1940-10-28)October 28, 1940 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Died
Nationality	Luxembourgish
Political party	Democratic Party (DP)
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Paul Helminger (28 October 1940 – 17 April 2021) was a Luxembourgish politician who was Mayor of Luxembourg City from 1999 to November 2011. He was a member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Democratic Party (from 1994 to 2012, and previously from 1984 until 1989).

Biography

Born in Esch-sur-Alzette in 1940, Paul Helminger moved with his family to Belair, a quarter in western Luxembourg City, when he was one year old. After he attained his baccalaureate in the Athénée de Luxembourg in 1959, Helminger went on to study law at the Sorbonne in Paris until 1963. At the same time, he also studied at the Institut d'Études Politiques and attained a degree in international relations in 1963. In 1964, he finished his doctorate in jurisprudence, before moving to the United States to finish his studies in political science at Stanford University.

Helminger started to work in diplomacy for the state of Luxembourg in 1966 and represented the country in London, Helsinki and Geneva, until 1974, when Prime Minister Gaston Thorn made him his Chief of Cabinet.

In the Werner-Thorn Ministry, he was from 1979 to 1984 Secretary of State for external relations, development aid and economy.

He was deputy from 1984 to 1989, and again since 1994.

Since 1987, Helminger has also been member of the city council of Luxembourg City. He became alderman in 1991 and mayor in 1999. On 21 November 2011, he presided over the city council for the last time, retiring in favour of Xavier Bettel. Helminger received a standing ovation for his excellent work as mayor of the city.

Private life

Paul Helminger was married and had seven children. He was president of the Luxembourg Tennis Federation from 1994 to 2003. He died on 17 April 2021 at the age of 80.

Political offices
Preceded by Lydie Polfer	Mayor of Luxembourg City 1999 - 2011	Succeeded by Xavier Bettel
Sporting positions
Preceded by Michel Wolter	President of the FLT 1994–2003	Succeeded by Yves Kemp

External links

• Biography on dp.lu for the 2009 election campaign (German)
• Curriculum Vitae on the homepage of Luxembourg city (French)