Santer, Jacques

Santer, Jacques (Jean Jacques Santer) (zhäN zhäk säNtĕr`), 1937–, Luxembourg political leader and European statesman. A lawyer and economist, he entered politics as a member of the Christian Social party in 1965 and later held several ministerial posts, notably finance minister (1979–84). Santer became Luxembourg's prime minister in 1984 and served until 1995, when he became president of the European Commission, the European Union's executive body. He and the rest of the commissioners resigned in 1999 as a result of financial scandals involving the European Commission.