The FBP nominated incumbent prime minister Adrian Hasler for prime minister, while the VU nominated deputy prime minister Thomas Zwiefelhofer. The Free List nominated Ecki Hermann for prime minister.
Following the elections, the FBP and VU were asked to form a coalition government, ultimately under the leadership of Adrian Hasler. The new government was sworn in on 30 March 2017.
Hasler's term was marked by restructuring Liechtenstein's state budget.[5] His government continued and expanded the tax cooperation agreements that had been done by his predecessors following the 2008 Liechtenstein tax affair, signing tax agreements with numerous countries.[5] His government was also responsible for establishing an asylum task force, and then an amendment to the Liechtenstein asylum law in response to the 2015 European migrant crisis.[6]
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.[7] The electoral threshold to win a seat is 8%.[8] Landtag members sit for a four-year term.[7] Once formed, the Landtag elects the prime minister and four government councillors who govern in a cabinet.[9] 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. Citizens over 18 years of age who have been resident in the country for one month prior to election day are eligible to vote.[7]
Campaign
Main parties
Hasler was expected to seek a second term, and was re-nominated by Progressive Citizens' Party on 18 August 2016. Additionally, the FBP nominated incumbent government councillors Mauro Pedrazzini and Aurelia Frick as government candidates.[10] The party launched its campaign on 22 August, with the slogan "Much achieved. Much to do" (German: Viel erreicht. Viel vor), and with the aim of remaining the largest party in the Landtag.[11]
The VU re-nominated incumbent deputy prime ministerThomas Zwiefelhofer for prime minister on 17 June 2016, who had also been the candidate in 2013. Additionally, the party nominated Daniel Risch and Dominique Gantenbein as government candidates.[12] The party launched its campaign on 21 September, with the slogan "Making more possible. For you and our country" (German: Mehr möglich machen. Für Dich und unser Land).[13] Zwiefelhofer stated that he would not be a part of the next government should the party lose the election.[14]
Major issues of the election were healthcare and the consolidation of the state budget.[15] During campaigning, Hasler came under controversy due to an ongoing dispute with the Liechtenstein mandatory health insurance (OKP), in which Zwiefelhofer, as the junior coalition party, demanded the VU's involvement.[16][17] However, the newspaper Liewo Sonntagszeitung described the run-up to the election as "a campaign without fire" and "lacklustre".[18]
A January 2017 poll by the newspaper Liechtensteiner Vaterland suggested that 50% of respondents would support another coalition government between the FBP and VU.[19] Both parties stated that they were open to the formation of a coalition with the other.[14]
Opposition parties
The Independents, led by Harry Quaderer, did not present any candidates for government. However, the FBP declared the party as a potential coalition partner. Quaderer rejected this, stating that forming a coalition with a major party would only be possible if the "party agrees to the demands we will make".[19] According to polling, the party was expected to perform well, perhaps receiving up to 20% of the vote.[20] The party did not adopt a manifesto for the election, instead relying on party "positions".[21]
The Free List nominated physician Ecki Hermann for prime minister on 26 September 2016. Additionally, it also nominated Thomas Lageder as a government candidate.[22] The party stated that it was open to the formation of a coalition government with other parties.[14] However, both the FBP and VU ruled out a coalition with the Free List due to policy differences.[19] The party campaigned on social issues such as distributive justice.[21]
The FBP received 35.2% of the vote, a 4.8% decrease from their 2013 performance, and won nine seats in the Landtag, a decrease of one. The VU received 33.7% of the vote, a 0.1% increase from 2013, and maintained their eight seats. The DU saw its vote share rise from 15.3% to 18.4% from 2013, and won five seats, the highest of any third party in Liechtenstein's history to that point. The Free List received 12.6% of the vote, an increase of 1.4% from 2013, and maintained its three seats.[1][26][27]
A total of 15,413 ballots were cast, resulting in a 77.8% voter turnout.[1][26] The majority of votes (96%) were cast by post.[1]
The day after the election, Zwiefelhofer announced his resignation as deputy prime minister.[28] The FBP invited the VU to begin negotiations for a renewed coalition government, which the VU accepted.[29] The two parties entered a renewed coalition government, ultimately under the leadership of Hasler. As the junior party in the coalition, Daniel Risch became deputy prime minister.[30] The new government was sworn in on 30 March 2017.[31]
A poll published by the Liechtenstein Institute suggested that a majority of the respondents who voted for the VU did so because of the party's Landtag candidates.[32] On the other hand, voters for the FBP cited the party's government team as the reason for their vote.[33] Voters for the DU and Free List cited party policies.[32]
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