 | ||
| ||
| "For Life" proposal | ||
|---|---|---|
| Landtag counterproposal | ||
 Results by municipality | ||
 |
|---|
A constitutional referendum on the subject of abortion law was held in Liechtenstein on 27 November 2005. [1] Voters were presented with a "For Life" proposal and a counterproposal by the Landtag. [1] For the first time since 1925, a Landtag counterproposal was approved, whilst the "For Life" initiative was rejected. [2]
The "For Life" proposal was a citizen initiative, which called for a change to Article 14 of the constitution, with the aim of banning abortion. The article text would be changed from "The supreme task of the state is to promote the overall welfare of the People." to "The supreme task of the state is the protection of human life from conception to natural death and to promote the overall welfare of the People." The initiative collected 1,891 signatures collected between 24 June and 5 August 2005, of which 1,889 were ruled valid, exceeding the threshold of 1,500 required for an initiative to be considered by the Landtag.
The Landtag voted on the proposal on 21 September, rejecting it by 23 to 2 votes. A counter-proposal developed by the Landtag was approved by 23–2. It involved adding two new sections to Article 27 of the constitution:
As the proposal involved a constitutional amendment, a second reading was required. This was held on 28 September, when it was again passed by 23 votes to two. The government then set the date for the referendum. [3]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 1,909 | 18.7 |
| Against | 8,274 | 81.3 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,152 | – |
| Total | 11,335 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 17,570 | 64.5 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Government of Liechtenstein | ||
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 8,460 | 79.6 |
| Against | 2,162 | 20.4 |
| Invalid/blank votes | 713 | – |
| Total | 11,335 | 100 |
| Registered voters/turnout | 17,570 | 64.5 |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver, Government of Liechtenstein | ||
Liechtenstein is a principality governed under a semi-constitutional monarchy. It has a form of mixed constitution in which political power is shared by the monarch and a democratically elected parliament. There is a two-party system and a form of representative democracy in which the prime minister and head of government is responsible to parliament. However the Prince of Liechtenstein is head of state and exercises considerable political powers.
The Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein was promulgated on 5 October 1921, replacing the 1862 constitution.
Abortion in Liechtenstein is illegal in most circumstances with limited exceptions in cases where the life of the pregnant woman is at risk, or where the pregnancy has resulted from a sexual offence. Religion in Liechtenstein is mainly Roman Catholic, which is reflected in the faith of the ruling Princely House of Liechtenstein and in the country's laws and culture around pregnancy.
A constitutional referendum regarding the Prince’s powers was held in Liechtenstein on 14 March 2003. The referendum had two questions: a "Princely Initiative" and a "Constitution Peace Initiative". The first question passed with 64.32% in favour and the second question was rejected by 83.44% of voters.
A constitutional referendum was held in Italy on 25 and 26 June 2006. The reforms were proposed and initially approved during Berlusconi II and III cabinet between October 2004 and November 2005. If ultimately approved by referendum, in continuation with the 2001 constitutional enacted modifications, these reforms would have substantially completed the transformation of Italy from a unitary state into a federal republic.
Three referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 1925. The first on 13 September was on the subject of the Lawena power plant and was approved by 56.1% of voters. The second and third were held on 13 December and concerned two proposals on civil order, the Gassner Initiative and a counterproposal from the Landtag. The Landtag's proposal was approved by 81.7% of voters, whilst the Gassner Initiative was rejected by 89.1%.
A constitutional referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 10 May 1981. Voters were asked whether they approved of amending article 46, which covered the number of seats in the Landtag, its membership and the electoral system. The proposal, which had been narrowly rejected in a 1975 referendum, was rejected by 52.9% of voters.
A referendum on the "double yes" for referendums was held in Liechtenstein on 13 September 1987. The proposal would mean that during referendums on draft legislation, voters would have the option of rejecting all proposals, agreeing with one proposal, or agreeing to several. If voters were to agree with several, they had to rank them in case more than one was approved by voters. It was approved by 62.9% of voters.
Three referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 1927. The first two were held on 30 January and consisted of an initiative to liberalise the building industry and a counterproposal from the Landtag. Both were rejected by a majority of voters. The third was held on 1 May on the subject of amending the law on salaries and compensation. It was also rejected.
A double referendum on tax adjustment was held in Liechtenstein on 1 March 1970. Voters were asked whether they approved of a tax adjustment for local government and a counterproposal from the Landtag. The first proposal was approved by 67.6% of voters, whilst the Landtag counterproposal was rejected by 66.8% of voters.
Two referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 1975. The first was held on 2 March on reducing the amount of money distributed to local councils and was rejected by 56.8% of voters. The second was held on 30 November on amending article 46 of the constitution and was rejected by 50.3% of voters, a margin of 22 votes.
Five referendums were held in Switzerland in 1891. The first was held on 15 March on a federal law on federal officials who had become unemployable due to disability, and was rejected by 79.4% of voters. The second was held on 5 July on a constitutional amendment, and was approved by 60.3% of voters. Two referendums were held on 18 October, one on revising article 39 of the federal constitution and one on a federal law on Swiss tariffs; both were approved. The last was held on 6 December on the question of whether the federal government should purchase the Swiss Central Railway, but was rejected by 68.9% of voters.
A constitutional referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 1 July 2012 concerning limiting the extensive veto powers held by the Prince of Liechtenstein. The proposals were rejected by 76% of voters.
Six referendums were held in Switzerland during 1938. The first four were held on 20 February; the first on amending articles 107 and 116 of the constitution to make Romansch an official language, which was approved by over 90% of voters and all cantons. The second was on a popular initiative "on urgent federal resolutions and the protection of people's rights" and was rejected by 85% of voters. The third was on a popular initiative on the private arms industry, and was also rejected by a wide margin, whilst the fourth was on a counter-proposal to the arms industry question, and was approved by voters. The fifth referendum was held on 3 July on the penal code, and was approved. The sixth and final referendum of the year was held on 27 November on a federal resolution on the transient order of the federal budget, and was approved by 72% of voters.
Four referendums were held in Switzerland during 1951. The first was held on 25 February on a federal resolution on transport, and was rejected by voters. The second was held on 15 April on a popular initiative to ensure purchasing power and full employment, together with a counterproposal. The counterproposal was approved by 69% of voters, whilst the original proposal was rejected by 88% of voters. The fourth referendum was held on 8 July on forcing public enterprises to make a financial contribution to the national defence budget, and was also rejected by voters.
A referendum on tenant and consumer protection was held in Switzerland on 13 March 1955. Voters were asked whether they approved of a popular initiative "for the protection of tenants and consumers", which would prolong price controls. Although the proposal was approved by a majority of voters, it was rejected by a majority of cantons, so did not come into force. Voters also voted on a counterproposal, which was rejected by a majority of voters and cantons.
Seven referendums were held in Switzerland in 1972. The first two were held on 5 March on a popular initiative on the promotion of housebuilding and on an amendment to the Swiss Federal Constitution to protect tenants. The popular initiative was rejected, whilst the constitutional amendment was approved. The third and fourth were held on 4 June on measures to stabilise the federal construction market and protecting currency, both of which were approved. The fifth was held on 24 September on a popular initiative for enhanced arms control and a ban on weapon exports, but was narrowly rejected. The final two were held on 3 December on a popular initiative on introducing a "people's pension" and on an agreement with the European Community. The pensions initiative was rejected, whilst the agreement was approved.
Fourteen referendums were held in Switzerland in 1977. The first three were held on 13 March on popular initiatives on foreign infiltration, limiting naturalisation and changing the rules on referendums on treaties. All three were rejected, whilst the counter-proposal was approved. The next two were held on 12 June on changes to sales tax and direct federal taxation (rejected) and on tax harmonisation (approved).
Fifteen referendums were held in Switzerland during 2000. The first five were held on 12 March on reforming the judiciary and four popular initiatives; "for speeding up direct democracy ", "for a just representation of women in federal authorities", "for the protection of men against manipulations in procreation technology" and one to reduce motorised road by 50%. Whilst the judiciary reform was approved, all four popular initiatives were rejected. The next referendum was held on 21 May to authorise sectoral agreements between Switzerland and the European Union, and was approved by around two-thirds of voters.
A three-part referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 30 August 2020. Voters were asked whether they approve of an initiative proposing changes to the constitution to promote the equal representation of women in political bodies, a parliament law allowing dual citizenship for naturalised citizens, and a decision by the government to fund a railway line expansion. All three proposals were rejected.
| General elections | |
|---|---|
| Local elections | |
| Referendums |
|
