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 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.
The Free List is a political party in Liechtenstein. As of 2023, it has three seats in the Landtag of Liechtenstein and is represented in five of the local councils. It was founded in 1985 and described itself as social-democratic and green.
Liechtenstein has recognized same-sex registered partnerships since 1 September 2011 following approval by voters in a referendum. Liechtenstein was the second country in the world to pass a partnership law by referendum, after Switzerland in 2005.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in Liechtenstein have several but not all of the same rights as non-LGBT people. 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.
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.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 3 February 2013, using a proportional representation system. Four parties contested the elections; the centre-right Patriotic Union (VU) and Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), centre-left Free List (FL) and newly created populist alliance The Independents (DU).
The Independents is a right-wing populist Eurosceptic political party in Liechtenstein. In the 2013 parliamentary election, the first they contested, they won 29,740 votes (15.3%) and four seats in the Landtag. DU is headed by former Patriotic Union parliamentarian Harry Quaderer.
Albert Frick is a politician from Liechtenstein who has served as the President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein since 2013.
Events in the year 2013 in Liechtenstein.
Harald 'Harry' Quaderer is a politician from Liechtenstein, the founder and current leader of The Independents (DU), and a member of the Landtag of Liechtenstein representing Oberland.
Dominique Hasler is a Liechtensteiner politician, teacher and educator. She currently serves as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Education and Sport for the Patriotic Union. She was appointed in March 2021 by Prime Minister Daniel Risch in March 2021, succeeding Katrin Eggenberger.
Katrin Eggenberger is a Swiss-Liechtensteiner academic and politician who served as the Foreign Minister of Liechtenstein from November 2019 to March 2021.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 7 February 2021 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag. The Patriotic Union (VU) and Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) both won ten seats, with the VU receiving just 42 votes more than the FBP. The Independents (DU), which finished third in the 2017 elections but then suffered a split in 2018 when three of its five MPs broke away to form Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL), failed to win a seat, while DpL won two. The Free List retained its three seats, becoming the third-largest party in the Landtag.
Daniel Risch is a politician from Liechtenstein who has served as the Prime Minister of Liechtenstein since 2021. He was previously Deputy Prime Minister 2017 to 2021, under the government of Adrian Hasler.
Christine Wohlwend is a Liechtensteiner businesswoman, forensic technician, and politician who served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 2013 until 2017. Wohlwend represented the Oberland constituency as a member of the Progressive Citizens' Party, and also served as the party's parliamentary group spokeswoman.
General elections are scheduled to be held in Liechtenstein on 2 February 2025 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag. They will be the 48th general elections since the ratification of the 1862 constitution.
Four referendums were held in Liechtenstein in 2024. On 21 January 2024 voters were asked three questions: On introducing an obligation to install photovoltaic panels on non-residential buildings, on the reform of the energy standards in the building sector aimed at emulating those applied in Switzerland since 2014 and in the EU since 2010, as well as on stopping the automatic sending of electronic health records to health insurance beneficiaries. All three proposals were rejected by voters.
The Klaus Tschütscher cabinet was the governing body of Liechtenstein from 25 March 2008 to 27 March 2013. It was appointed by regent Alois and chaired by Klaus Tschütscher
Thomas Rehak is an engineer and political figure from Liechtenstein who has served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein since 2017. He is the current leader of the Democrats for Liechtenstein since 2018.
