February 1953 Liechtenstein general election
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15 February 1953
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All 15 seats in the Landtag 8 seats needed for a majority | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Turnout | 90.52% ( 1.78pp) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 15 February 1953 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 90.5%.
The election saw a new electoral group, the List of Workers and Small Farmers (UEK), contest the election for the only time, but it failed to reach the 18% electoral threshold to win seats in the Landtag. Following the election, the coalition government led by prime minister Alexander Frick remained. Due to a dispute between the FBP and VU regarding the administrative composition of the old age and survivors' insurance (AHV) office in Liechtenstein, the Landtag was dissolved and fresh elections were held in June.
Background
[edit source]In the 1949 elections, the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) retained its majority of eight seats, while the Patriotic Union (VU) won seven.[2] The coalition government under the leadership of Alexander Frick remained.[3][4]
Frick's second term oversaw continued steps towards reforming Liechtenstein into a modern welfare state.[5] Notably, in 1952 the old age and survivors' insurance (AHV) office in Liechtenstein, a mandatory life insurance scheme, was established after a successful referendum despite opposition from peasant workers.[5][6] It also saw Liechtenstein achieve greater international participation, with the country joining the International Court of Justice and signing the Geneva Conventions, both in 1950.[5]
Electoral system
[edit source]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.[7] 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.[8] The electoral threshold to win a seat is 18%.[7] Landtag members sit for a four-year term.[9] Once formed, the Landtag elects the prime minister and two government councillors who govern in a cabinet. The prime minister is appointed for a six-year term, while government councillors sit a four-year term.[10] Only men aged 21 and above were eligible to vote.[11][12]
Campaign
[edit source]
Both the FBP and VU campaigned in their respective party newspapers, the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt and Liechtensteiner Vaterland.[13][14] During the election campaign, the FBP highlighted its achievements in office, such as the expansion of the Liechtenstein state budget, supporting agriculture, workers' interests, investing in education, and spending on social welfare.[14][15] The FBP also highlighted its foreign policy record and asserted that the VU did not have the "confidence" of foreign nations.[14]
On the other hand, the VU appealed to businesspeople, tradespeople, and workers, while campaigning on protecting their interests.[16][17] The party highlighted the achievements of its predecessor party, the Christian-Social People's Party, and also claimed credit for achievements that had taken place since the formation of the coalition government in 1938, such as in education and road construction. Furthermore, the VU accused the FBP of restricting democratic rights in the 1930s, and also for damaging Liechtenstein's relationship with Switzerland.[18] The VU advocated for things such as a free market economy, the expansion of welfare benefits, and vocational education.[13]
Due to no workers being represented in the Landtag in the 1949–1953 legislative term,[19] on 5 October 1952 the Liechtenstein Workers' Association voted to create its own electoral group — the List of Workers and Small Farmers (UEK). The group did not consider itself a political party, but rather a list of nonpartisan workers. Its programme included issues such as the expansion of social legislation, European integration, immigration, employment, and affordable housing.[20] Notably, the list included former VU Landtag member Josef Sele.[21]
Candidates
[edit source]Political parties in Liechtenstein require the support of 30 voters from a constituency to be eligible to nominate a candidate list in it.[22] A total of 39 candidates contested the election.[23]
| Oberland | FBP | VU | UEK |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Unterland | FBP | VU | |
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| Source: Liechtensteiner Volksblatt[23] | |||
Results
[edit source]The seat distribution remained unchanged from the 1949 general election, with the FBP winning a majority of eight seats, whereas the VU won seven. The UEK won 8.9% of the vote, but failed to meet the electoral threshold of 18% to win seats in the Landtag. Voter turnout was 90.52%.[24]
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
| Progressive Citizens' Party | 1,458 | 50.54 | 8 | 0 | |
| Patriotic Union | 1,229 | 42.60 | 7 | 0 | |
| Workers' and Peasants' Party | 198 | 6.86 | 0 | New | |
| Total | 2,885 | 100.00 | 15 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 2,885 | 95.62 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 132 | 4.38 | |||
| Total votes | 3,017 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 3,333 | 90.52 | |||
| Source: Vogt[24] | |||||
By electoral district
[edit source]| Electoral district | Seats | Electorate | Party | Elected members | Substitutes | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oberland | 9 | 2,194 | Patriotic Union | 867 | 45.3 | 5 | 0 | |||
| Progressive Citizens' Party |
|
849 | 44.4 | 4 | 0 | |||||
| Workers' and Peasants' Party | – | – | 198 | 10.3 | 0 | New | ||||
| Unterland | 6 | 1,139 | Progressive Citizens' Party |
|
609 | 62.7 | 4 | 0 | ||
| Patriotic Union |
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362 | 37.3 | 2 | 0 | |||||
| Source: Vogt[24] | ||||||||||
Aftermath
[edit source]Following the elections, the coalition government between the FBP and VU under the leadership of Frick remained.[3][4] Upon the establishment of the AHV, the VU demanded a majority of the seven-member administrative composition including its presidency, which the FBP denied. In response, in the first session of the newly elected Landtag on 24 March 1953 the VU members walked out in protest, resulting in the Landtag being dissolved in May and new elections being called.[25]
References
[edit source]- ↑ Nohlen & Stöver 2010, p. 1165.
- ↑ Nohlen & Stöver 2010, p. 1182.
- 1 2 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.
- 1 2 "Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021" [Members of the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein 1862–2021] (PDF). www.regierung.li (in German). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- 1 2 3 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.
- ↑ Hoch, Hilmar; Kaufmann, Walter (31 December 2011). "Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung (AHV)" [Old-Age and Survivors' Insurance (AHV)]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 31 July 2026.
- 1 2 Marxer, Wilfried; Frommelt, Fabian (31 December 2011). "Wahlsysteme" [Electoral systems]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
- ↑ Nohlen & Stöver 2010, p. 1159.
- ↑ Vogt, Paul (31 December 2011). "Landtag" [State parliament]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 8 September 2026.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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.
- 1 2 "Warum stimme ich geschlossen für die Vaterländische Union?" [Why am I voting solidly for the Patriotic Union?]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 14 February 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Warum stimme ich am Sonntag Bürgerpartei" [Why am I voting for the Citizens' Party on Sunday?]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 14 February 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Aus einem Programm" [From a programme]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 7 February 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
- ↑ "Gewerbeleute und Handwerker!" [Businesspeople and tradespeople!]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 14 February 1953. p. 2. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ "Aufruf des Landesvorstandes der Vaterländischen Union an alle Arbeiter" [Call by the state executive committee of the Patriotic Union to all workers]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 14 February 1953. p. 6. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ ""Eine Resolution Im Rampenlicht"" ["A resolution in the spotlight"]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 11 February 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 13 September 2026.
- ↑ Marxer, Wilfried (31 December 2011). "Liste der Unselbständig Erwerbenden und Kleinbauern" [List of Workers and Small Farmers]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- ↑ Fehr et al. 1995, p. 48.
- ↑ Büchel, Donat (31 December 2011). "Sele, Josef (1897–1969)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 19 September 2024.
- ↑ "Bekanntmachung" [Notice]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 21 January 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 "Die Wahlen zum Landtag" [The state parliament elections]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 17 February 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
- 1 2 3 Vogt 1987, pp. 213–214.
- ↑ Brunhart 1986, pp. 47–48.
Bibliography
[edit source]- Nohlen, Dieter; Stöver, Philip (2010). Elections in Europe: A data handbook. Nomos. ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7.
- Vogt, Paul (1987). 125 Jahre Landtag [125 Years of the State Parliament]] (in German). Vaduz: Landtag of the Principality of Liechtenstein.
- Brunhart, Arthur (1986). 50 Jahre für Liechtenstein [50 Years for Liechtenstein] (in German). Vaduz: Vaterländische Union – via Liechtenstein State Library.
- Fehr, Alice; Quaderer, Rupert; Geiger, Peter; Brunhart, Arthur; Schädler, Alfons (1995). 75 Jahre Liechtensteiner Arbeitnehmerverband [75 years of the Liechtensteiner Workers' Association] (in German). Vaduz: Liechtenstein Employees' Association – via Liechtenstein State Library.
