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October 1993 Liechtenstein general election

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October 1993 Liechtenstein general election
← Feb 1993
24 October 1993
1997 →
All 25 seats in the Landtag
13 seats needed for a majority
Turnout85.31% (Decrease 2.23pp)
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
VU Mario Frick 50.12 13 +2
FBP Josef Biedermann 41.34 11 −1
FL Executive committee 8.54 1 −1
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Results by constituency
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Markus Büchel
FBP		 Mario Frick
VU

General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 24 October 1993 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag. Early elections were called following prime minister Markus Büchel being subject to a successful motion of no confidence at the request of his own party, the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP). The Patriotic Union (VU) won a majority of thirteen seats, with the FBP winning eleven. The Free List (FL) won one seat. Voter turnout was 85.3%.[1]

Josef Biedermann was the FBP's nomination for prime minister, while the VU nominated deputy prime minister Mario Frick for the position. Following the election, the VU and FBP were asked to form a coalition government, under the leadership of Frick. The new government was sworn in on 15 December 1993.

Background

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In the February 1993 elections, the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won a plurality of twelve seats, whereas the Patriotic Union (VU) won eleven, and the Free List won one.[2] As a result, the FBP and VU formed a coalition government, under the leadership of Markus Büchel.[3]

By August 1993, Büchel came under significant controversy due to a controversial appointment to the head of the Liechtenstein tax administration.[4] On 31 August, the FBP withdrew confidence in Büchel and publicly called for his resignation as prime minister;[5] the party cited his poor performance in office, untruthfulness, and refusal to work with government colleagues as reasons for the loss in confidence.[5][6] On 14 September, a FBP-initiated motion of no confidence in the Landtag against Büchel succeeded 17–8, thus the body requested his dismissal;[7] Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein coincided the dismissal of the government with dissolving the Landtag, and as such calling for new elections.[8]

The decision to dissolve the Landtag was criticized by members of the VU and Free List, but Hans-Adam II justified the decision as necessary to resolve the political deadlock that had been created by the loss of confidence.[8][9] Büchel was kept in office until a new government was elected, during which time he countersigned the Constitution of the Princely House of Liechtenstein, which had not been discussed in the Landtag.[10]

Electoral system

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The 25 members of the Landtag are elected via open list proportional representation from two constituencies, Oberland with 15 seats and Unterland with 10 seats.[11] 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.[12] The electoral threshold to win a seat is 8%.[11] Landtag members sit for a four-year term. Once formed, the Landtag elects the prime minister and four government councillors who govern in a cabinet.[13] Voting is compulsory by law, and those who fail to vote without a valid reason may be fined, but this is no longer enforced.[14] Citizens over 20 years of age who have been resident in the country for one month prior to election day were eligible to vote.[15]

Campaign

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Josef Biedermann (left) and Mario Frick (right) were the FBP and VU's respective nominations for prime minister

The FBP nominated former Vice president of the Landtag Josef Biedermann for prime minister on 10 September 1993.[16] Initially nominated as Büchel's replacement in the event of his removal as prime minister, Biedermann subsequently became the party's nomination for the position once early elections had been called, and his nomination was confirmed on 22 September.[17][18] Additionally, the party nominated incumbent government councillors Kurt Korner and Cornelia Gassner as government candidates.[19]

The VU nominated incumbent deputy prime minister Mario Frick for prime minister in late September 1993. Additionally, the party nominated incumbent government councillor Michael Ritter and Andrea Willi — the permeant representative of Liechtenstein to the European Free Trade Association — as government candidates.[20]

The respective party programmes remained largely unchanged from the February 1993 election;[21] both Frick and Biedermann held similar policies regarding the economy, European integration, and the revision of the Constitution of Liechtenstein following the 1992 constitutional crisis.[1][22] In a debate on 17 October, the FBP defended its record and argued that withdrawing confidence in Büchel was a "win" for democracy and political accountability. Conversely, the VU put the affair into a negative light and stated that the party would restore stability.[23]

The Free List presented its Landtag candidates on 30 September 1993, running a full list in the Oberland constituency.[24] Similarly to the February election, the party renounced participation in government, but was open to it if the VU and FBP failed to form a coalition.[25] The Non-Party List (ÜLL) did not participate in the election.[26]

Candidates

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Political parties must have the support of 30 voters from a constituency to be eligible to nominate a candidate list in it.[14] A total of 69 candidates were presented for the election; 54 men and 15 women.[26]

Oberland FBP VU FL
  • Evelyne Bermann
  • Gerda Bicker-Brunhart
  • Claudia Heeb-Fleck
  • Christel Hilti-Kaufmann
  • Maria Madl-Sprenger
  • Hans Frommelt
  • Ludwig Frommelt
  • René Hasler
  • Konrad Kindle
  • Clemens Kaufmann
  • Clemens Laternser
  • Helmuth Marxer
  • Daniel Miescher
  • Josef Schädler
  • Paul Vogt
Unterland FBP VU FL
  • Ingrid Allaart-Batliner
  • Rosemarie Schädler-Matt
  • Wolfgang Marxer
  • Markus Büchel
Source: Liechtensteiner Volksblatt[27]

Results

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The VU received 50.1% of the vote, a 4.7% increase from February 1993, and won a majority of thirteen seats. The FBP won 41.3%, a 2.9% decrease from February 1993, and won eleven seats. The Free List saw its vote share decrease from 10.4% to 8.5% from February 1993 and won one seat, at a decrease of one.[1][28]

A total of 12,017 ballots were cast, resulting in a 85.3% voter turnout.[28]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Patriotic Union78,89850.1213+2
Progressive Citizens' Party65,07541.3411–1
Free List13,4478.541–1
Total157,420100.00250
Valid votes11,79998.19
Invalid/blank votes2181.81
Total votes12,017100.00
Registered voters/turnout14,08685.31
Source: Nohlen & Stöver[28]

By electoral district

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Electoral district Seats Party Elected members Substitutes Votes % Seats
Oberland 15 Patriotic Union
60,440 51.09 8
Progressive Citizens' Party
47,125 39.84 6
Free List
10,725 9.01 1
Unterland 10 Patriotic Union
18,460 47.18 5
Progressive Citizens' Party
17,951 45.88 5
Free List – – 2,719 6.95 0
Source: Liechtensteiner Volksblatt[29][27]

Aftermath

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Following the election, Biedermann resigned as a government candidate.[30] The VU invited the FBP to begin negotiations for a coalition government, which the FBP accepted.[31] Kurt Korner also did not participate in the new government.[32] The nomination of a new government candidate was put up to a party election by the FBP; the subsequent selection process between Thomas Büchel and Hubert Büchel voted in favour of Thomas Büchel.[32] The VU and FBP entered into a renewed coalition government, ultimately under the leadership of Frick. As the junior party in the coalition, Büchel became deputy prime minister. The new government was sworn in on 15 December 1993.[33][34]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 "Liechtenstein Parliamentary Chamber: Landtag Elections Held in 1993". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  2. ↑ "Liechtenstein Parliamentary Chamber: Landtag Elections Held in 1993". Inter-Parliamentary Union. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  3. ↑ "Die neue Regierung mit Regierungschef Markus Büchel ist im Amt". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 27 May 2026. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  4. ↑ Hoch, Hubert (13 August 1993). "Ist das nun die «moderne Personalpolitik»?". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 Hoch, Hubert (31 August 1993). "Regierungschef von eigener Partei zum Rücktritt aufgefordert". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  6. ↑ Meier, Günther (2 September 1993). "Keine Einigung zwischen FBP-Führung und Regierungschef". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Fritz, Günther (15 September 1993). "Regierungschef gestürzt". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  8. 1 2 Meier, Günther (16 September 1993). "Landtag wurde aufgelöst, Regierungschef Büchel bleibt im Amt". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2026.
  9. ↑ "S. D. Fürst Hans-Adam II.: «Hiermit löse ich den Landtag auf!»". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 16 September 1993. p. 3. Retrieved 24 July 2026.
  10. ↑ "Büchel, Markus (1959–2013)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). 31 July 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2024.
  11. 1 2 Marxer 2000, pp. 62–64.
  12. ↑ Vogt, Paul (31 December 2011). "Landtag" [State parliament]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 8 September 2026.
  13. ↑ Vogt, Paul (31 December 2011). "Regierung". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  14. 1 2 Marxer 2000, p. 58.
  15. ↑ Marxer 2000, p. 57.
  16. ↑ Meier, Günther (11 September 1993). "Josef Biedermann – Regierungschef-Kandidat des FBP-Vorstandes". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  17. ↑ Meier, Günther (14 September 1993). "Parteien sehen keinen zwingenden Grund für sofortige Neuwahlen". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  18. ↑ "Josef Biedermann erhielt das Vertrauen der FBP-Delegierten am Parteitag". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 23 September 1993. p. 3. Retrieved 20 July 2026.
  19. ↑ Meier, Günther (4 October 1993). "FBP: Es geht um Liechtenstein, es geht um unsere Zukunft". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  20. ↑ "VU nominierte Dr. Mario Frick". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 29 September 1993. p. 3. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  21. ↑ Meier, Günther (13 October 1993). "Weitgehend unveränderte Wahlprogramme der drei Parteien". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  22. ↑ "Spitzenkandidaten beziehen Stellung zu aktuellen politischen Fragen". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 15 October 1993. p. 3. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  23. ↑ ""Es ist wichtig, zur Wahl zu gehen, zum Zeichen der Demokratie"". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 18 October 1993. p. 3. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  24. ↑ "Nominationen der Freien Liste". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 2 October 1993. p. 2. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  25. ↑ Meier, Günther (30 September 1993). "Bürgerpartei, Union und Freie Liste bewerben sich bei Wahlen 1993". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  26. 1 2 Meier, Günther (5 October 1993). "Total 69 Kandidaten bewerben sich um die 25 Sitze im Landtag". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  27. 1 2 "Die Kandidaten und ihre Stimmen". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 25 October 1993. p. 2. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  28. 1 2 3 Nohlen & Stöver 2010, p. 1181–1183.
  29. ↑ "Die Vaterländische Union erhält die absolute Mehrheit". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 25 October 1993. p. 2. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  30. ↑ "Verzicht auf Mitwirkung in neuer Regierung". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 27 October 1993. p. 1. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  31. ↑ "Landesausschuss erteilte Verhandlungsmandat für Regierungsbeteiligung". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 13 November 1993. p. 1. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  32. 1 2 Meier, Günther (4 December 1993). "Thomas Büchel un Dr. Cornelia Gassner als Regierungsmitglieder". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 3. Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  33. ↑ Fritz, Günther (13 November 1993). "FBP für gemeinsame Regierungsbildung mit VU". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 26 July 2026.
  34. ↑ Meier, Günther (16 December 1993). "Landtag wählte neue Regierung - Ernennung durch Fürst Hans-Adam II". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). Retrieved 10 November 2024.

Bibliography

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