National Union Government (1916) - Governing The Country

Governing The Country

To resolve the food shortage brought about by war and German occupation, Thorn introduced price controls and rationing. However, this resulted only in the creation of a thriving black market, and fomented civil unrest. On 22 December, the Chamber of Deputies passed a motion demanding that Michel Welter, Minister for both Agriculture and Commerce, be fired. Two weeks later, Thorn complied, dismissing Welter and replacing him with Ernest Leclère. Thus, the new cabinet comprised:

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.