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 Patriotic Union is a liberal-conservative political party in Liechtenstein. The VU is one of the two major political parties in Liechtenstein, along with the monarchist conservative Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP). The VU is the relatively more liberal of the two parties, advocating constitutional monarchy and greater democracy. It is led by Thomas Zwiefelhofer and has ten members in the Landtag.
Same-sex marriage has been legal in Liechtenstein since 1 January 2025. 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 took effect on 1 January. Polling suggests that a majority of Liechtensteiners support the legal recognition of same-sex marriage. Liechtenstein was the 22nd country in Europe and the 37th in the world to legalize same-sex marriage.
Gerard Batliner was a lawyer and politician from Liechtenstein who served as Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1962 to 1970. He later served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1974 to 1982 and as the President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1974 to 1977. Additionally, he held numerous positions within the Council of Europe.
The Landtag of the Principality of Liechtenstein, commonly referred to as the Landtag of Liechtenstein, is the unicameral parliament of Liechtenstein.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 13 March 2005 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag. The Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) remained the largest party in the Landtag but lost its majority, winning twelve seats, with the Patriotic Union (VU) winning ten. The Free List (FL) won three seats. Voter turnout was 86.5%.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein between 9 and 11 February 2001 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag. The Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won a majority of thirteen seats, with the Patriotic Union (VU) winning eleven. The Free List (FL) won one seat. Voter turnout was 86.1%.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 2 February 1997 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag. The Patriotic Union (VU) won a majority of thirteen seats, with the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) winning ten. The Free List (FL) won two seats. Voter turnout was 86.8%.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 1 February 1970. The Patriotic Union won eight of the 15 seats in the Landtag, the first time it had held a majority since its formation in 1936. However, it continued the coalition government with the Progressive Citizens' Party, which had existed 1938. Voter turnout was 95%, although only male citizens were allowed to vote.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 31 January and 2 February 1986. The result was a victory for the Patriotic Union, which won 8 of the 15 seats in the Landtag. The Progressive Citizens' Party won seven seats, whilst the new Free List was less than 1% short of the 8% electoral threshold and failed to win a seat. The coalition government of the FBP and the VU continued.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 3 and 5 March 1989. The result was a victory for the Patriotic Union, which won 13 of the 25 seats in the Landtag, which had been enlarged by 10 seats compared to the 1986 elections. Voter turnout was 91%. Early elections were called following the Progressive Citizens' Party's Landtag members resigning in protest due to the VU refusing to support an investigation into power abuse by the Liechtenstein state court in 1985.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein in March 1932. A new electoral system was introduced in which the Landtag was elected in two rounds. In the first round then members were elected, with every municipality with more than 300 inhabitants electing one member. The second round involved the election of the remaining five Landtag members through a national vote with the whole of Liechtenstein serving as one electoral district.
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.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 14 June 1953. The elections were called ahead of schedule after the Patriotic Union members of the Landtag resigned over a dispute regarding the administrative composition of the old age and survivors' insurance office in Liechtenstein. The Progressive Citizens' Party won eight of the 15 seats in the Landtag, but remained in coalition with the Patriotic Union.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 23 March 1958. The elections were called ahead of schedule after the Patriotic Union members of the Landtag resigned over a dispute regarding the electoral law. The Progressive Citizens' Party won nine of the 15 seats in the Landtag, but remained in coalition with the Patriotic Union.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 25 March 1962. The Progressive Citizens' Party won eight of the 15 seats in the Landtag, but remained in coalition with the Patriotic Union. This was the first election contested by the Christian Social Party.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 6 February 1966. The Progressive Citizens' Party won eight of the 15 seats in the Landtag, but remained in coalition with the Patriotic Union.
General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 3 February 2013. Four parties contested the elections; the centre to centre-right Patriotic Union (VU), centre-right Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), centre-left Free List (FL) and newly created right-wing populist alliance The Independents (DU).
Liechtenstein Homeland Service was a political party in Liechtenstein that advocated corporate statism and the abolition of party politics. Shortly after its founding, the party also moved towards Nazism. It merged with the Christian-Social People's Party to form the Patriotic Union in 1936.
Alois Ritter was a lawyer and politician from Liechtenstein who served as the President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein in 1954 and again in 1956. He also served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1945 to 1958.
