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Liechtenstein has a general election today, which means they'll elect the 25 members of their Landtag, record high number of 75 candidates, 23 women and 52 men. Let's look at their basic system and some of their quirks.
Landtag des FĂĽrstentums Liechtenstein (Parliament of the Principality of Liechtenstein) uses open list proportional representation with 2 multi-member constituencies, Oberland (15 seats) and Unterland (10 seats). The national threshold is steep 8%!
Turnout is pretty much expected to be high, since already 75% of the electorate voted by mail. The party's candidates for Prime Minister usually don't run in the elction but are considered during gov't formation. Direct voting will be available between 10AM and 12PM.
The country is a semi-constitutional monarchy. Head of state is currently Prince Hans-Adam II and the head of gov't is Adrian Hasler (FBP)
The Prince has the power to intervene in the country's governance, for example threatning to veto a referendum on legalisation of abortion if it were to pass, which it didn't.
So, let's looks at the parties running: The biggest party is Fortschrittliche BĂĽrgerpartei (FBP, Progressive Citizens' party) is a christian, conservative and monarchist party, which is currently leading gov't. It has 9/25 seats.
The party was formed as an opposition to the christian-social VP, and purseud christian-conservative and reactionary politics and was popular amongst the clergy.
The party is ideologically very traditionalist and monarchist, fighting for the strengthening of the monarch's powers and direct democracy during the 2002 referendum.
The party has been the biggest since the 2013 election, but that might change because of the Aurelia Frick (FBP foreign affaires, justice and culture minister) impeachment trial. More on that later. Volksblatt is a newspaper closely linked to the party.
It's the oldest and second largest (after Vaterland) newspaper in Liechtenstein.
The second biggest and junior partner in gov't is VU (Vaterländische Union, Patriotic Union). Moderate, conservative and christian, the party can be seen as a moderate equivalent to FBP.
The second biggest and junior partner in gov't is VU (Vaterländische Union, Patriotic Union). Moderate, conservative and christian, the party can be seen as a moderate equivalent to FBP.
It has 8/25 seats. The party has it's origin in the People's Party (VP), which later merged with the fascist Liechtenstein Homeland Service (LHD) and formed today's VU in 1936. (VU actually used to be social liberal).
During the 20th century the party profiled itself as a that advocated more democratic people's rights, social security, solidarity in society and a strong, mixed economy, but it became more similair to the FBP over the years.The party's newspaper used to be the Liechtensteiner…
…Vaterland, but today it's independent. The third (tied) largest party is Freie Liste (FL, Free List), a green, social democratic. It has 3/25 seats. The party was founded in 1985 and ran in the 1986 election, but was unable to pass the threshold.
It advocates for a representative monarchy, gender equality, enviroment and integration of foreigners. The third largest (tied) party in the Landtag is Demokraten pro Liechtenstein (DpL, Democrats for Liechtenstein). It has 3/35 seats
The party emerged after Thomas Rehak , Herbert Elkuch and Erich Hasler were contoversially expelled from du. The party is largely similair to it. The fourth and final party is Die Unabhängigen (du, The Independents). It has 2/25 seats.
It's a national conservative and populist party, but it has taken a less polarising and more pragmatic program recently. Now, let's compare the differences between FBP and VU.
VU is 100% more immigration friendly, advocating for the shortening of the 30-year naturalisation process and is generaly against tougher immigration requirements. The same can't be said about FBP.
The parties are generally for equalising the rights of hetero- and homosexual couples. The parties are generally similair in other aspects, though. The two parties are able to balance liberal and conservative stances pretty well. Now, into the Aurelia Frick impeachment trial.
Aurelia Frick didn't survive a no-confidence vote, which was put against her for budget overruns, lack of transparency, disreputable consultancy assignments, careless handling of taxpayers' money, false statements and influence on financial control.
She was then accused by the public prosecutor for abuse of official authority an got sent to criminal court, where PM Hasler and Councilor Mauro Pedrazzini testified as witnesses. This might put a big blow to FBP's electoral performance.
And it's also intresting to see if du is able to get above 8% after the split. This election will also show better representation for women, with FBP having a female lead candidate.
Thanks so much for reading this MASSIVE thread, if you have any questions, please ask :) and I'll inform you if anything about the election is happening later.
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