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1966 Liechtenstein general election

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1966 Liechtenstein general election
← 1962
4 and 6 February 1966
1970 →
15 seats in the Landtag
8 seats needed for a majority
Turnout95.61% (Increase 0.96pp)
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
FBP Gerard Batliner 48.47 8 0
VU Franz Nägele 42.79 7 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Results by constituency
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Gerard Batliner
FBP		 Gerard Batliner
FBP

General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 4 and 6 February 1966 to elect the 15 members of the Landtag.[1] The Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won eight seats and retained its majority, while the Patriotic Union (VU) won seven. Voter turnout was 95.6%.

The Christian Social Party (CSP) also contested the election, but failed to win seats in the Landtag. Following the election, the coalition government led by prime minister Gerard Batliner remained. The CSP submitted two electoral complaints following the elections, but they were rejected. It was the last FBP-led government to be re-elected until the 2005 elections.

Background

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In the 1962 elections the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won eight seats and retained its majority, while the Patriotic Union (VU) won seven.[2] The coalition government under the leadership of Alexander Frick remained.[3][4] However, Frick resigned in June citing health reasons, and was succeeded by Gerard Batliner in July.[5][6]

Batliner's term in office was characterized by working towards greater international participation, including starting the proceedings towards joining the Council of Europe. It also saw the establishment of the Liechtenstein Music School in 1963 and the Liechtenstein Development Service in 1965.[7] In addition, it also saw the increasing of child allowances following a successful referendum in 1965, and the passing of the Social Welfare Act the same year.[8]

Electoral system

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The 15 members of the Landtag were elected by open list proportional representation from two constituencies, Oberland with 9 seats and Unterland with 6 seats.[9] 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.[10] Landtag members sit for a four-year term.[11] The elections used a majority clause, where the party with the most votes would automatically win the most seats.[9] Only men aged 21 and above were eligible to vote.[12][13]

The electoral threshold of 18% was deemed unconstitutional by the Liechtenstein state court in 1962 and was replaced by a basic mandate system.[9] In addition, a constitutional amendment passed in 1965 increased the number of government councillors from three to five, including making the deputy prime minister a full member of government. The amendment also reduced the term of the prime minister from six to four years, intended to synchronize the prime minister's term with the Landtag and government councillors who served a four-year term.[14]

Campaign

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Gerard Batliner

Both the FBP and VU campaigned on their respective party newspapers, the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt and Liechtensteiner Vaterland.[15][16] The FBP appealed to farmers and criticized the VU for supposedly not having any farmers on its party list for the election.[17] Furthermore, the FBP accused the VU of wanting to achieve a majority of seats in the Landtag "at any cost", and that of lying.[18] The FBP's programme included policies such as expanding welfare, expanding education, establishing sports facilities, environmental issues such as clean land and air, and a balanced budget.[15] The party's candidate for prime minister was the incumbent Batliner.[19]

On the other hand, the VU highlighted its achievements in government, particularly in regards to fulfilling its programme from the 1962 elections, and accused the FBP of claiming credit for the VU's achievements.[20] Furthermore, during campaigning the VU accused the FBP of becoming a "right-wing extremist party", citing alleged concertation of power, disregard to the minority in the Landtag, and youth exploitation.[21] The VU advocated for policies such as protecting private property, expanding education, social legislation, tax modernisation, and affordable housing.[16][22] Its programme also included, among other policies, maintaining friendly relations with Switzerland and Austria, and the building of a hospital in Liechtenstein.[22]

The Christian Social Party (CSP) campaigned on its newspaper, Der Liechtensteiner, which had been founded in 1964.[23] The party appealed to the economically disadvantaged and unemployed; it indirectly accused the FBP and VU of "vote buying". The CSP's programme included policies such as the construction of social housing, supporting small businesses, building sports facilities, and road construction.[24]

Candidates

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Political parties in Liechtenstein require the support of 30 voters from a constituency to be eligible to nominate a candidate list in it.[25] A total of 39 candidates contested the election.[26]

Oberland FBP VU CSP
  • Hugo Büchel
  • Werner Walser
  • Raimund Tschol
  • Friedrich Vogt
  • Florian Hermann
  • Anton Risch
Unterland FBP VU CSP
  • Fritz Kaiser
  • Roland Marxer
  • Hans Meier
Source: Liechtensteiner Volksblatt[26]

Results

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The seat distribution remained unchanged from the February 1953 elections, with the FBP winning a majority of eight seats, whereas the VU won seven.[27] The CSP received 8.7% of the vote, a 1.4% decrease from 1962, and did not win any seats.[27][23] Voter turnout was 95.61%.[28]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Progressive Citizens' Party1,79148.4780
Patriotic Union1,58142.7970
Christian Social Party3238.7400
Total3,695100.00150
Valid votes3,69599.30
Invalid/blank votes260.70
Total votes3,721100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,89295.61
Source: Vogt[27]

By electoral district

[edit]
Electoral district Seats Electorate Party Elected members Substitutes Votes % Seats +/–
Oberland 9 2,635 Patriotic Union
1,149 46.2 5 Increase 1
Progressive Citizens' Party
1,139 45.8 4 Decrease 1
Christian Social Party – – 199 8.0 0 0
Unterland 6 1,257 Progressive Citizens' Party
  • Gebhard Näscher
 652 54.0 4 Increase 1
Patriotic Union
432 35.8 2 Decrease 1
Christian Social Party – – 124 10.2 0 0
Source: Vogt[27]

Aftermath

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The government of Gerard Batliner, pictured in 1965

Following the elections, the coalition government between the FBP and VU under the leadership of Batliner remained.[29][30] Alexander Frick became President of the Landtag upon its first session on 6 May 1966, with Franz Nägele of the VU as vice president.[31] The Volksblatt stated that with the CSP the two-party system between the FBP and VU was "put to a real test for the first time". In addition, it also stated that the CSP receiving fewer votes than in 1962 correlated to the electorate choosing to maintain the two-party system.[26]

The CSP filed an electoral complaint claiming that the party was entitled to one mandate in the Oberland electoral district. In addition, a separate electoral complaint was also filed by the CSP alleging that there were irregularities with the distribution of neutral ballot papers, and it requested that the election be annulled. Due to the complaints, the first meeting of the newly-elected Landtag was postponed.[32] In the subsequent hearing on 9 March, the Liechtenstein state court rejected the complaints and declared the elections valid; the CSP and Liechtenstein government were represented by Peter Stern from Vienna and Walter Kieber respectively. The hearing reportedly attracted significant public attention, with the spectator tickets running out within twenty minutes.[33]

References

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  1. ↑ Nohlen & Stöver 2010, p. 1165.
  2. ↑ Vogt 1987, pp. 218–219.
  3. ↑ "Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021" (PDF). www.regierung.li (in German). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  4. ↑ Marxer, Wilfried (31 December 2011). "Koalition" [Coalition]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Archived from the original on 1 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  5. ↑ Frommelt, Fabian (31 December 2011). "Frick, Alexander". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Archived from the original on 31 October 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  6. ↑ Malin 2009, p. 4.
  7. ↑ "Batliner, Gerard". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). 31 December 2011. Archived from the original on 20 October 2025. Retrieved 19 April 2023.
  8. ↑ Brunhart 1986, p. 54.
  9. 1 2 3 Marxer, Wilfried; Frommelt, Fabian (31 December 2011). "Wahlsysteme" [Electoral systems]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  10. ↑ Nohlen & Stöver 2010, p. 1159.
  11. ↑ Vogt, Paul (31 December 2011). "Landtag" [State parliament]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  12. ↑ Marxer, Wilfried; Frommelt, Fabian (31 December 2011). "Stimm- und Wahlrecht" [Right to vote and right to stand for election]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Frick, Julia (31 December 2011). "Frauenstimm- und -wahlrecht" [Women's suffrage and the right to vote]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  14. ↑ Vogt, Paul (31 December 2011). "Regierung" [Government]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  15. 1 2 "Bekenntnis und Ziel" [Commitment and goal]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 5 February 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  16. 1 2 "Mein Vertrauen gehört der Vaterländischen Union!" [My confidence belongs to the Patriotic Union!]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 3 February 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
  17. ↑ "Bauren Wacht Auf" [Farmers wake up]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 4 February 1966. p. 2. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  18. ↑ "VU: Man ist nervös" [VU: They are nervous]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 4 February 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  19. ↑ "Schutz der Heimat - Ja, auch auf Luziensteig, aber mit Regierungschef Dr. Batliner" [Protecting the homeland – yes, at Luziensteig too, but with Head of Government Dr. Batliner.]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 3 February 1966. p. 6. Retrieved 9 September 2026.
  20. ↑ "Die Vaterländische Union hält, was sie verspricht!" [The Patriotic Union keeps its promises!]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 1 February 1966. p. 3. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
  21. ↑ "Wähler!" ["Voter!"]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 1 February 1966. p. 11. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
  22. 1 2 "Arbeitsprogramm der Vaterländischen Union" [Action programme of the Patriotic Union]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 3 February 1966. pp. 6–7. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
  23. 1 2 Marxer, Wilfried (31 December 2011). "Christlich-soziale Partei (CSP)" [Christian Social Party (CSP)]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 5 September 2026.
  24. ↑ "Die Grundsätze der Christlich-sozialen Partei Liechtensteins" [The Principles of the Christian Social Party of Liechtenstein]. Der Liechtensteiner (in German). 4 February 1966. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 10 September 2026.
  25. ↑ "Bekanntmachung" [Notice]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 21 January 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  26. 1 2 3 "Ergebnisse der Landtagswahlen vom letzten Sonntag" [Results of last Sunday's state elections]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 8 February 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  27. 1 2 3 4 Vogt 1987, pp. 219–220.
  28. ↑ Nohlen & Stöver 2010, p. 1182.
  29. ↑ "Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021" (PDF). www.regierung.li (in German). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  30. ↑ Marxer, Wilfried (31 December 2011). "Koalition" [Coalition]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Archived from the original on 1 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  31. ↑ "Landtagseröffnung mit Thronrede des Landesfürsten" [Opening of the Landtag with the Sovereign's Speech from the Throne]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 7 May 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 7 October 2026.
  32. ↑ "Vaduz: Wahlbeschwerde(n)" [Vaduz: Election complaint]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 19 February 1966. p. 2.
  33. ↑ "Die CSP-Wahlbeschwerde abgewiesen!" [The CSP election complaint has been dismissed!]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 10 March 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 10 September 2026.

Bibliography

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