2022 Liechtenstein referendums

Last updated

Two referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 2022. The first was held on 26 June 2022, in which voters decided on an exemption for pensioners from paying the annual deductible of the national health insurance. The second was held on 18 September on COVID-19 legislation.

Contents

June referendum

Exemption of pensioners from the annual health insurance deductible
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg
26 June 2022
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svgYes7,81163.90%
Light brown x.svgNo4,41336.10%
Valid votes12,22499.56%
Invalid or blank votes540.44%
Total votes12,278100.00%
Registered voters/turnout20,58059.66%
2022 Liechtenstein June Referendum Map.svg
Yes
  60–70%
  50–60%

In 2021 elections to Landtag, the Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL) won two of the 25 seats and became part of the opposition. [1]

The health insurance system in Liechtenstein has an annual medical deductible of 500 Swiss Francs payable by the insured person. During 2021, the DpL submitted a bill to the Landtag aimed at exempting people who have reached the retirement age of 65, which would result in annual cost for the government of approximately 3.5 million Swiss Francs. On 29 September 2021, the proposal was rejected by 10 votes for and 15 against. [2]

In response, in January 2022 the DpL announced its intention to organize a collection of signatures for a popular initiative. The project was submitted to the authorities and validated on 10 March 2022, paving the way for the collection period which ran from 18 March to the 29 April, with 2,846 validated signatures. [2] [3]

Having collected the signatures of more than 1,000 registered voters in less than six weeks, the initiative was presented to the Landtag within the framework of article 64-2 of the constitution. The parliament rejected it on 4 May 2022 by 9 votes for and 16 against, resulting in it going to a popular vote. [4] [5]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For7,81163.90
Against4,41336.10
Total12,224100.00
Valid votes12,22499.56
Invalid votes450.37
Blank votes90.07
Total votes12,278100.00
Registered voters/turnout20,58059.66
Source: Government of Liechtenstein

By municipality

MunicipalityForAgainstTurnout %
Vaduz 99259258.3
Balzers 95861661.8
Planken 1237273.7
Schaan 1,16563659.6
Triesen 1,03649657.9
Triesenberg 71936265.5
Oberland 4,9932,77460.5
Eschen 92846560.6
Gamprin 33119358.4
Mauren 80842258.6
Ruggell 50736766.2
Schellenberg 24818870.7
Unterland 2,8221,63561.6

September referendum

COVID-19 legislation
Flag of Liechtenstein.svg
18 September 2022
Results
Choice
Votes %
Check-71-128-204-brightblue.svg Yes6,36647.27%
Light brown x.svg No7,10152.73%
Valid votes13,46799.30%
Invalid or blank votes950.70%
Total votes13,562100.00%
Registered voters/turnout20,66065.64%
2022 Liechtenstein September Referendum Map.svg

In order to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, on 9 September 2021, the government introduced the so-called 3G rule (for Getestete, Geimpfte, Genesene, i.e. in English Tested, Vaccinated, Recovered), with the aim of stemming the increase in cases of contamination and thus relieving the pressure on health personnel. The 3G rule prohibited access to public places and events to individuals who cannot prove a negative COVID-19 test or a certificate of vaccination or a document certifying that they have been infected with the disease but are now cured. [6]

The 3G rule was quickly changed into the 2G rule, the government removing by another order the possibility of accessing these places on presentation of a negative test. At the same time, new restrictions were added concerning events organized outdoors. These new measures applied from 15 December 2021 to 18 February 2022. [6]

Meanwhile, on 14 January 2022, more than 400 citizens filed a complaint with the State Court against these measures, which they considered liberticidal. Among the plaintiffs, there were several anti-vaccination groups, most notably the recently-formed People at the Center party. On 10 May, the Court declared the legal basis for these measures insufficient. The court expressed an understanding of the difficult decisions taken by the government in the context of the fight against the pandemic, but nevertheless found the order establishing the 2G rule incompatible with the law and the constitution. [6] [7] [8]

This decision forced the Landtag to amend the Health Act in June. The debates proved to be heated, with one parliamentarian going so far as to qualify the restrictions as a "surveillance system comparable to that of China", with part of parliament deeming the 3G rule sufficient. The Minister of Society and Culture, Manuel Frick, justified these measures by the need for the government to align itself if necessary with the measures taken by the neighbouring Switzerland, with which Liechtenstein is linked by a customs union and on which it depends entirely on matters of intensive care. [6] [8]

The amendment was voted on 29 June with 18 votes for and 7 against. The proposal of the Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL) to submit the law to a referendum was rejected the same day, the Landtag voting with 9 votes for and 16 against. [9] However, Mensch im Mittelpunkt (MiM), a small party created six months earlier, started collecting signatures in order to force a referendum on the new Health Law. [6] [10] From 1 to 29 July, 3,570 signatures were collected and recognized as valid. [11] On 1 August, the government set the referendum for 18 September. [12]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
For6,36647.27
Against7,10152.73
Total13,467100.00
Valid votes13,46799.30
Invalid votes830.61
Blank votes120.09
Total votes13,562100.00
Registered voters/turnout20,66065.64
Source: Government of Liechtenstein

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of Liechtenstein</span>

Political identity came to the territory now occupied by the Principality of Liechtenstein in 814, with the formation of the subcountry of Lower Rhætia. Liechtenstein's borders have remained unchanged since 1434, when the Rhine established the border between the Holy Roman Empire and the Swiss cantons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Progressive Citizens' Party</span> Political party in Liechtenstein

The Progressive Citizens' Party in Liechtenstein is a conservative political party in Liechtenstein. The FBP is one of the two major political parties in Liechtenstein, along with the liberal-conservative Patriotic Union. Founded in 1918 along with the now-defunct Christian-Social People's Party, it is the oldest extant party in Liechtenstein.

Same-sex marriage will soon be legal in Liechtenstein. In November 2022, the Landtag passed a motion calling on the government to introduce a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, with broad support from across the political spectrum. A bill legalizing same-sex marriage was introduced in February 2024 and passed its final reading in the Landtag on 16 May 2024 by a 24–1 vote. It received royal assent from Prince Alois on 9 July 2024, and is scheduled to enter into force on 1 January 2025. Polling suggests that a majority of Liechtensteiners support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">LGBT rights in Liechtenstein</span>

The rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) people in Liechtenstein have developed significantly over time. Same-sex sexual activity has been legal since 1989, with an equal age of consent since 2001. Same-sex couples have had access to registered partnerships since 2011, and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation has been outlawed in some areas since 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Constitution of Liechtenstein</span> Fundamental law of Liechtenstein

The Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein was promulgated on 5 October 1921, replacing the 1862 constitution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2005 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum</span> Referendum on abortion

A constitutional referendum on the subject of abortion law was held in Liechtenstein on 27 November 2005. Voters were presented with a "For Life" proposal and a counterproposal by the Landtag. For the first time since 1925, a Landtag counterproposal was approved, whilst the "For Life" initiative was rejected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1939 Liechtenstein general election</span>

General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 4 April 1939. Although a new system of proportional representation had been introduced to pacify voters at a time when the country was under threat from neighbouring Nazi Germany, it was not used and the elections became known as the "silent elections" as no actual vote was held. Instead, the governing Progressive Citizens' Party and opposition Patriotic Union formed a coalition, assigning a roughly equal number of seats each, in order to prevent the German National Movement in Liechtenstein from acquiring any seats in the Landtag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Liechtenstein referendums</span>

Three referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 2011. The first on approving the registered partnership law was held between 17 and 19 June, and was approved by 68.8% of voters. The law went into effect on 1 September. The second was held on 18 September on allowing abortion within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy. Prince Alois had threatened to veto the result of the referendum should it have turned out in favour, but ultimately it was rejected by voters. The third was on building a new national hospital in Vaduz was held on 30 October, and was also rejected.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2015 Liechtenstein Health Insurance Act referendum</span>

A referendum on the Health Insurance Act was held in Liechtenstein on 13 December 2015. It was approved by 53% of voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2016 Liechtenstein Family Allowances Act referendum</span>

A referendum on amendments to the Family Allowances Act was held in Liechtenstein on 18 September 2016. The amendments were rejected by 82% of voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2018 Liechtenstein Tour de Ski referendum</span>

A referendum on the financing of the Tour de Ski was held in Liechtenstein on 25 November 2018. The proposal was rejected by 59% of voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Liechtenstein referendum</span> Referendums in Liechtenstein on the HalbeHalbe proposal, dual citizenship and rail expansion

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Democrats for Liechtenstein</span> Political party in Liechtenstein

The Democrats for Liechtenstein is a political party in Liechtenstein. Formed as a splinter of The Independents in September 2018, the party initially held three seats in the Landtag of Liechtenstein. It won 11.1% of votes and two seats in the 2021 general election.

In the courts of Liechtenstein, the order of precedence, in ascending order is as follows:

  1. Princely Court of Justice.
  2. Princely Court of Appeals
  3. Princely Constitutional Court

Events in the year 2022 in Liechtenstein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum</span>

A constitutional referendum was held in Liechtenstein on 29 January 2023. Voters voted on a proposal to ban casinos, with 73% voting against the proposal. If a ban had been approved, casinos in Liechtenstein would have been closed and banned by 2028.

Events in the year 2023 in Liechtenstein.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2025 Liechtenstein general election</span>

General elections are scheduled to be held in Liechtenstein on 9 February 2025 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag. They will be the 49th general elections since the ratification of the 1862 constitution.

Five referendums have been held in Liechtenstein in 2024, with a sixth planned for September.

Mensch Im Mittelpunkt is a anti-COVID restrictions and anti-vaccine political party in Liechtenstein.

References

  1. ↑ "Landtag election 2021". Government of Liechtenstein.
  2. 1 2 ch, Beat Müller, beat (arobas) sudd (point) (2022-06-26). "Liechtenstein, 26. Juni 2022 : Befreiung der Rentnerinnen und Rentner von der Franchise (Kostenbeteiligung) -- [en allemand]". sudd.ch (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Anmeldung eines Initiativbegehrens zur Abänderung des Gesetzes über die Krankenversicherung
  4. ↑ Anordnung der Volksabstimmung über das Initiativbegehren zur Abänderung des Gesetzes über die Krankenversicherung (Befreiung der Kostenbeteiligung (Franchise) für Versicherte, die das ordentliche Rentenalter erreicht haben)
  5. ↑ Franchisebefreiung im Rentenalter [ permanent dead link ]
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Liechtenstein, 18. September 2022 : Gesundheitsgesetz (2G-Regelung zur Bekämpfung der Covid-19-Pandemie)" . Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  7. ↑ "Referendum zustande gekommen: Stimmvolk wird über 2G-Gesetz entscheiden". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 29 July 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  8. 1 2 Meier, Günther (20 July 2022). ""Gib dem Volk eine Stimme": In Liechtenstein wird das Referendum gegen die Corona-Politik ergriffen". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  9. ↑ "2G-Gesetz mehrheitlich angenommen". Lie:Zeit (in German). 29 June 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  10. ↑ "Neue Partei in Liechtenstein?". Lie:Zeit (in German). 5 January 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "Amtsblatt » Kundmachung Anzeige". apps.llv.li (in German). Retrieved 31 August 2022..
  12. ↑ "Amtsblatt » Kundmachung Anzeige". apps.llv.li (in German). Retrieved 31 August 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.