Jacques Santer - Definition and Overview

Jacques Santer (born May 18, 1937) is a politician from Luxembourg. He was finance minister of Luxembourg from 1979 until 1989, and Prime Minister of Luxembourg from 1984 to 1995, as a member of the Christian Social People's Party, which has been the leading party in the Luxembourg government since 1979. During the same period, he was also president of the World Bank from 1984 to 1989 and Governor of the International Monetary Fund from 1991 to 1994.

Santer became head of the European Commission in 1995 as a compromise choice forced by the United Kingdom. An investigation into allegations of corruption led to the resignation of the entire commission March 15, 1999 (see Santer Commission Resignation). From 1999 until 2004, Santer was a member of the European Parliament.