Incumbent Prime MinisterMario Frick of the VU sought re-election for a third term, while the FBP nominated Otmar Hasler. Following the elections, Frick resigned and VU moved into the opposition; the FBP subsequently formed a sole majority government under the leadership of Hasler. The new government was sworn in on 5 April 2001. The elections is the most recent to result in a sole party in government.
In the 1997 elections the Patriotic Union (VU) gained a majority of thirteen seats, whereas the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won ten seats, and the Free List won two seats.[2] The FBP subsequently ended the coalition government with the VU that had been in effect since 1938, and the VU formed a sole majority government ultimately under the leadership of Frick.[3]
Frick's second term was marked by liberalizations and privatizations in telecommunications, such as the founding of Liechtensteinische Post in 1999.[3] However, starting from late 1999 the 1999–2001 financial crisis took place; the German Federal Intelligence Service accused several banks, politicians, and judges of cooperating with organized crime to promote money laundering, leading to Liechtenstein being blacklisted by the Financial Action Task Force in 2000. The crisis prompted Frick's government to implement reforms in Liechtenstein's financial centre and expanding the courts to combat money laundering.[4][5]
The 25 members of the Landtag are elected by open listproportional representation from two constituencies, Oberland with 15 seats and Unterland with 10 seats. Voters vote for a party list and then may strike through candidates for whom they do not wish to cast a preferential vote, and may add names of candidates from other lists. The electoral threshold to win a seat is 8%.[6] Landtag members sit for a four-year term. Once formed, the Landtag elects the prime minister and four government councillors who govern in a cabinet.[7] Voting is compulsory by law and most is carried out by post. Polling stations are open only for one and a half hours on election day.[6] Citizens must be a resident for the country for one month prior to election day to be eligible to vote; the elections were the first to take place under a lowered voting of 18 from the previous 20.[6][8]
Campaign
The VU re-nominated Frick for prime minister on 30 October 2000. The party aimed to maintain its majority in the Landtag and continue its sole majority government; the party nominated incumbent government councillors Andrea Willi and Norbert Marxer, alongside Egon Gstöhl and Gerald Marxer as government candidates.[9] The party campaigned on maintaining economic stability and greater involvement in international organizations, particularly the European Economic Area.[10]
The FBP nominated incumbent Vice president of the LandtagOtmar Hasler for prime minister on 18 October 2000. Additionally, the party nominated Rita Kieber-Beck and Ernst Walch as government candidates.[11] Hasler stated in an interview with Radio Liechtenstein that he was open to the formation of a coalition government, but later stated that the party was aiming for a majority in the Landtag.[12][13] The FBP criticized the VU government for shortcomings in the justice system and accused it for failing to address issues previously brought to attention by the Landtag.[12]
Major issues of the election was the constitution, the cost of health insurance, and the underperformance telephone system since its liberalization.[8] In particular, the proposed changes to the constitution by Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein, intended to clear ambiguities highlighted in the 1992 constitutional crisis, faced controversy; the proposal would give the prince wider powers to appoint judges and rights to dismiss the government and Landtag.[8][14] The prince and Landtag's constitutional commission did not come to a compromise by the end of the Landtag's legislative term in December 2000. As such, the issue was set to resolved by the next elected Landtag.[15][16] Frick's government and VU politicians such as Peter Sprenger opposed the proposed changes.[8][17]
The Free List presented its Landtag candidates on 1 December 2000; in a press conference on the same day, party president Pepo Frick stated that there were no "fundamental reservations" about forming a coalition government. The party sought to win more than two seats in the Landtag and challenge the two-party system between the VU and FBP; it campaigned on environmental protection and social justice.[18]
Candidates
A total of 62 candidates were presented for the election; 41 men and 21 women.[19]
The FBP received 49.9% of the vote, a 10.7% increase from their 1997 performance, and won a majority of thirteen seats in the Landtag. The VU received a 41.6% of the vote, a 7.6% decrease from 1997, and won eleven seats at a decrease of two. The Free List saw its vote share decrease from 11.6% to 8.7% from 1997 and won one seat, at a decrease of one.[1] The election results were the first to be released on the internet.[20]
A total of 14,178 ballots were cast, resulting in a 86.1% voter turnout.[1]
Following the election, Frick and his government resigned.[21] The FBP invited the VU to begin negotiations for the formation of a coalition government;[22] however, on 22 March the VU party delegates voted 224 against and 50 in favour of forming a coalition with the FBP, and subsequently entered into the opposition.[23] In response, the FBP nominated Alois Ospelt and Hansjörg Frick as additional government candidates, and FBP formed a sole majority government under the leadership of Hasler with Kieber-Beck as deputy prime minister.[24][25] The new government was sworn in on 5 April 2001.[25] The elections is the most recent to result in a sole party in government.[26]
According to a survey published by the Liechtenstein Institute, the success of the FBP came from Hasler being a more popular candidate than Frick, and that the party's polices were more likely to align with voter expectations; respondents also generally preferred a formation of the coalition government as opposed to the continuation of a sole majority government.[27]Peter Wolff of the VU postulated that the defeat of the party came from neglecting grassroots elements and the concerns of regular citizens, describing it as a "wake-up call".[23]
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