As part of its 2024 issues and just a few days before International Women's Rights Day, POST Luxembourg is issuing a stamp bearing the effigy of Madeleine Frieden-Kinnen, the first woman to become a minister in the Grand Duchy.
After completing her schooling in Ettelbruck and Luxembourg City, Madeleine Kinnen studied literature in Dijon, Paris, Munich and Louvain. In 1946, she married Pierre Frieden, then Director of the Bibliothèque nationale, who went on to become Minister of Education and then Prime Minister of Luxembourg from 1945 to 1959. He died in 1959.
During her husband’s political career, Madeleine Frieden-Kinnen became involved in Catholic associations, including Action Catholique des Femmes du Luxembourg, which she chaired from 1960 to 1966.
She was also actively involved in the CSV (Christian party), founded the Christian Social Women’s Organisation in 1953 and was elected national president of the CSV women’s section in 1966.
In 1967, the government, in the midst of a crisis, was reshuffled and Madeleine Frieden-Kinnen was appointed Secretary of State for Youth, Family and Education, becoming the first woman in the history of the Grand Duchy to enter government. In 1968,
Madeleine Frieden-Kinnen became Minister for the Family, Youth and Social Solidarity and Minister for Culture and Religious Affairs in the new CSVDP government..
Madeleine Frieden-Kinnen resigned from her position in 1972 following an article published in August 1969 criticising her indecent behaviour. However, she denied all the accusations made against her until her death in 1999. She retired from political life and devoted herself to development aid in Africa.
This very special career, which made her a pioneer in Luxembourg politics, certainly deserved a stamp. This one has a colourful design and shows her smiling. The artist behind this highly successful layout is Anne Mélan.
But she is not the only person honoured by POST Luxembourg in its issue of 12 March 2024. There are also two stamps of the Hungarian painter Mihaly von Munkacsy, who chose Luxembourg as his holiday resort in the joint Hungary-Luxembourg issue. Hungary is a country close to the heart of Luxembourg, which is celebrating the centenary of its diplomatic relations with this country. To mark the occasion, a joint issue has been created.
Other anniversary programmes in March included the 100th anniversary of the FNML (Fédération Nationale de la Mutualité Luxembourgeoise) and the 75th anniversary of NATO, an organisation founded in 1949 by 12 countries, including Luxembourg.
POST Luxembourg is also celebrating more recent anniversaries, such as the 15th anniversary of ASBL Design Friends, whose aim is to inspire and encourage enthusiasm for design, stimulate interest in its various disciplines and encourage exchanges between people who share the same passion, and of the foundation
EME, which promotes inclusion and access to music for all.
Would you like to buy one of these stamps? They are available in the POST PhilatelyLuxembourg online shop.www.postphilately.lu.
