2013 Liechtenstein general election

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2013 Liechtenstein general election
3 February 2013
All 25 seats in the Landtag
13 seats needed for a majority
Turnout79.80% (Decrease 4.84pp)
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
FBP Adrian Hasler 40.00 10 −1
VU Thomas Zwiefelhofer 33.55 8 −5
DU Harry Quaderer 15.32 4 New
FL Pepo Frick 11.13 3 +2
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
A map of Liechtenstein divided by municipality. The respective municipalities of Liechtenstein are coloured by the respective winner of the most votes in the municipality, with blue denoting the Progressive Citizens' Party and red for the Patriotic Union. In the corner, the individual seat distribution in both the Oberland and Unterland electoral districts are denoted within them, with in addition to the latter parties, The Independents and Free List are also denoted by yellow and green respectively.
Vote share by municipality
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Klaus Tschütscher
VU		 Adrian Hasler
FBP

General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 3 February 2013 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag.[1] The Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won a plurality of ten seats, with the Patriotic Union (VU) winning eight, the lowest in its history. The Independents (DU), which had been formed earlier in the year, won four seats. The Free List won three seats. It was the first time that four parties won seats in the Landtag. Voter turnout was 79.8%.

Incumbent prime minister Klaus Tschütscher did not run for re-election. The VU nominated Thomas Zwiefelhofer for prime minister, while the FBP nominated Adrian Hasler and the Free List nominated Pepo Frick for the position, being the first time that there was three candidates for the position. Following the elections, the FBP and VU were asked to form a coalition government, ultimately under the leadership of Hasler. The new government was sworn in on 27 March 2013. The election is generally considered the end of the two-party system between the FBP and VU, moving towards a multi-party system.

Background

In the 2009 elections the Patriotic Union (VU) gained a majority of thirteen seats, whereas the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won eleven seats and the Free List won one seat.[2] As a result, the VU and FBP formed a coalition government, ultimately under the leadership of Klaus Tschütscher.[3]

Tschütscher's term in office was marked by an effort to move the country away from being a tax haven following the 2008 Liechtenstein tax affair, and included the introduction of austerity measures.[4][5] In addition, it involved the passing of a same-sex registered partnership law and Liechtenstein joining the Schengen Area, both in 2011.[5] The VU lost its majority in February 2011 when Landtag member Harry Quaderer left the party, being the first time in Liechtenstein's history that an incumbent Landtag member had done so.[6]

Landtag members not running for re-election

Member[1] Constituency First elected Party
Arthur Brunhart Oberland 2005 Patriotic Union
Diana Hilti Oberland 2009 Patriotic Union
Gebhard Negele Oberland 2005 Patriotic Union
Peter Hilti Oberland 2009 Patriotic Union
Elmar Kindle Oberland 1997 Progressive Citizens' Party
Doris Frommelt Oberland 2005 Progressive Citizens' Party
Peter Lampert Oberland 2001 Progressive Citizens' Party
Pepo Frick Oberland 2005 Free List
Doris Beck Unterland 2005 Patriotic Union
Günther Kranz Unterland 2005 Patriotic Union
Marlies Amann-Marxer Unterland 2005 Patriotic Union
Renate Wohlwend Unterland Feb 1993 Progressive Citizens' Party

Electoral system

The 25 members of the Landtag are elected by open list proportional representation from two constituencies, Oberland with 15 seats and Unterland with 10 seats. Voters voted for a party list and then may have struck through candidates for whom they did not wish to cast a preferential vote, and may also have added names of candidates from other lists. The electoral threshold to win a seat was 8%.[7] Landtag members sit for a four-year term.[8] Once formed, the Landtag elected the prime minister and two government councillors who were then appointed by the reigning prince to govern in a cabinet.[9] Voting was compulsory by law, and those who failed to vote without a valid reason may be fined, but it was not enforced. Polling stations were open only for one and a half hours on election day. Citizens over 18 years of age who had been resident in the country for at least one month prior to election day were eligible to vote.[8]

Campaign

Main parties

The official photograph of Thomas Zwiefelhofer from 2013
The official photograph of Adrian Hasler from 2013
Thomas Zwiefelhofer (left) and Adrian Hasler (right) were the VU and FBP's respective nominations for prime minister

In a press conference on 10 May 2012, Tschütscher declared his intention to not seek re-election, being the first prime minister that chose not to do so;[10][11] it was speculated by foreign media that his reasoning was to prevent a defeat of the VU.[4][10] The VU nominated Thomas Zwiefelhofer for prime minister on 21 August 2012.[12][13] Other people considered for the position included former Mayor of Vaduz Karlheinz Ospelt, but he declined to seek the position.[14] Additionally, the party nominated Marlies Amann-Marxer and Marcus Rick as government candidates.[12][13] The party aimed to remain the largest party in the Landtag, but Zwiefelhofer also stated that he intended to be part of the next government regardless if the VU lost the election.[12][15]

The FBP nominated chief of the National Police Adrian Hasler for prime minister. Additionally, the party nominated Mauro Pedrazzini and Aurelia Frick as government candidates.[16] Hasler stated that he would not be a part of the next government should the FBP lose the election, instead remaining as the chief of police.[15] VU party president Jakob Büchel criticized the newspaper Liechtensteiner Volksblatt for revealing the VU's government candidates ahead of time, which the newspaper defended against and called Büchel's statement a "backward step in press freedom".[17]

Major issues of the election was the Liechtenstein state budget, immigration, and pension reform.[18][19] In particular, increasing the government's revenue was a controversial issue; the FBP campaigned on raising the retirement age, increased taxation for higher incomes, and introducing a policy of withholding tax on cross-border commuters’ incomes.[19] On the other hand, the VU rejected the introduction of a minimum tax; it campaigned on the continued introduction of austerity measures and, diversifying the economy, and investing in education.[18][19][20] Both parties stated that they were open to the formation of a renewed coalition government.[18]

Opposition parties

The Free List nominated physician and Landtag member Pepo Frick for prime minister in October 2012, being the first time that the party presented a candidate for the position; the party stated that it was open to the formation of a coalition with other parties.[19][21] It was speculated that the Free List could fail to reach the electoral threshold of 8% to re-enter the Landtag, as it had received only 8.9% of the vote in 2009.[2][21] The party campaigned on extending the lifetime working period and moderate liberalization of Liechtenstein's immigration policies.[18][19] The party's programme also included policies such as economic support for the disadvantaged, equal participation between men and women, and environmental protection.[22]

Harry Quaderer, who had been serving as an independent member of the Landtag since leaving the VU in February 2011, formed an electoral group around him in late 2012.[6][23] The group did not consider itself a political party, but instead as a coalition of independent candidates. It did not adopt a manifesto for the election, and candidates were given significant autonomy on their positions; candidates campaigned broadly on members of the government being directly elected and voting rights for Liechtensteiners living abroad.[23] It also campaigned for reducing the corporate tax rate.[19]

Opinion polls

On 28 January 2013, the newspaper Liechtensteiner Vaterland published a poll in which they asked their readers, "Which party conducted the best election campaign?" About 10,000 people responded, and the results of the poll were as follows:[24]

Source Date VU FBP DU FL Other
Vaterland[24] 28 January 2013 44.8% 40.5% 6.8% 7.9% —

Candidates

Candidates had the same eligibility criteria as voters. Political parties in Liechtenstein required the support of 30 voters from a constituency to be eligible to nominate a candidate list in it.[8] A total of 68 candidates contested the election; 50 men and 18 women.[25]

Oberland FBP VU DU FL
Unterland FBP VU DU FL
Source: Landtagswahlen 2013[1]

Results

The FBP received 40% of the vote, a 7.5% increase from their 2009 performance, and won ten seats in the Landtag. The VU received 33.6% of the vote, a 14% decrease from 2009, and won eight seats at a decrease of five, the lowest in the party's history. The DU received 15.3% of the vote and won four seats, the highest of any third party in Liechtenstein's history to that point. The Free List saw its vote share increase from 8.9% to 11.1% from 2009, and won three seats.[1][26][27] This was the first election in Liechtenstein in which four different political groups won seats in the Landtag.[26]

A total of 15,363 ballots were cast, resulting in a 79.8% voter turnout. The majority of votes (96%) were cast by post.[1]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Progressive Citizens' Party77,64440.0010–1
Patriotic Union65,11833.558–5
The Independents29,73915.324New
Free List21,60411.133+2
Total194,105100.00250
Valid votes14,72395.83
Invalid/blank votes6404.17
Total votes15,363100.00
Registered voters/turnout19,25179.80
Source: Landtagswahlen 2013[1]

By electoral district

Electoral district Seats Electorate Party Candidates Subsititutes Votes % Swing Seats
won		 +/–
Oberland 15 12,521 Progressive Citizens' Party Christian Batliner
Alois Beck
Wendelin Lampert
Christine Wohlwend
Albert Frick
Eugen Nägele
  • Norman Marxer
  • Helmuth Büchel
 55,233 39.3 Decrease 2.5 6 0
Patriotic Union Frank Konrad
Christoph Wenaweser
Thomas Vogt
Christoph Beck
Karin Rüdisser-Quaderer
48,586 34.6 Decrease 14.3 5 Decrease 3
The Independents Harry Quaderer
Pio Schurti
20,748 14.8 New 2 New
Free List Helen Konzett Bargetze
Thomas Lageder
  • Andreas Heeb
 16,058 11.4 Increase 2.0 2 Increase 2
Unterland 10 6,730 Progressive Citizens' Party Johannes Kaiser
Elfried Hasler
Gerold Büchel
Manfred Batliner
22,411 41.9 Decrease 6.3 4 Decrease 1
Patriotic Union Judith Öhri
Violanda Lanter-Koller
Peter Büchel
16,532 30.9 Decrease 13.3 3 Decrease 2
The Independents Herbert Elkuch
Erich Hasler
  • Peter Wachter
 8,991 16.8 New 2 New
Free List Wolfgang Marxer
5,546 10.4 Increase 2.7 1 Increase 1
Source: Landtagswahlen 2013[1]

Aftermath

The five members of Adrian Hasler's government standing parallel to each other in 2013
The government of Adrian Hasler

Following the election, the FBP invited the VU to begin negotiations for a renewed coalition government, which the VU accepted.[28] The two parties entered into a renewed coalition government, ultimately under the leadership of Hasler. As the junior party in the coalition, Zwiefelhofer became deputy prime minister.[29] The new government was sworn in on 27 March 2013.[30] Albert Frick of the FBP became President of the Landtag, with Violanda Lanter-Koller of the VU as vice president.[30]

Following the election, the group around Quaderer formalized to form The Independents (DU) in order to be entitled to public funding;[23] the success of the group was considered by observers to be a result of protest votes against austerity measures in the country.[26][27][31] It was also postulated that greater diversity in the Landtag was a result of a decreased partisanship of voters.[32] The election is generally considered the end of the two-party system between the FBP and VU, moving towards a multi-party system.[33] Members of the VU expressed their disappointment of the result.[34]

See also

References

  1. "Landtagswahlen 2013 - Ergebnisse" [2013 State Elections – Results]. www.landtagswahlen.li (in German). Archived from the original on 18 February 2026. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
  2. "Landtagswahlen 2009 - Ergebnisse" [2009 State Elections – Results]. www.landtagswahlen.li (in German). Archived from the original on 20 January 2026. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
  3. "Zusammenarbeit besiegelt" [Collaboration sealed]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 25 March 2009. p. 1. Archived from the original on 26 February 2026. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  4. Burmeister, Thomas (1 February 2013). "Cleaner but poorer, Liechtenstein goes to the polls". Europe Online Magazine. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  5. "Tschütscher, Klaus". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). 9 May 2023. Archived from the original on 11 September 2025. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  6. Franke, Holger (16 February 2011). "VU verliert Absolute" [VU loses absolute majority]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 16 February 2011.
  7. Marxer, Wilfried; Frommelt, Fabian (31 December 2011). "Wahlsysteme" [Electoral systems]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  8. "Principality of Liechtenstein: Parliamentary Elections 7 February 2021" (PDF). Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights. OSCE. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  9. 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.
  10. "VU bringt komplett neues Regierungsteam" [VU presents a completely new government team]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 10 May 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  11. Quaderer, Elias (21 February 2024). "Vor 2009 haben Regierungschefs nie selbst bestimmt, wann sie aufhören" [Before 2009, heads of government never decided for themselves when to step down]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). Retrieved 4 March 2026.
  12. Fritz, Günther (22 August 2012). "Das VU-Regierungsteam: Mit Kopf und Herz für Liechtenstein" [The VU Government Team: With Head and Heart for Liechtenstein]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). p. 1. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  13. Franke, Holger (23 August 2012). "Zwiefelhofer, Rick und Amann-Marxer" [Zwiefelhofer, Rick and Amann-Marxer]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 5. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  14. "Karlheinz Ospelt: Keine Kandidatur 2013" [Karlheinz Ospelt: No candidacy in 2013]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 6 June 2012. Archived from the original on 22 February 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  15. "Wahl 2013: Thomas Zwiefelhofer auch als Regierungsrat denkbar" [2013 Election: Thomas Zwiefelhofer also a possibility for Government Councillor]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 24 August 2012. p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  16. Benvenuti, Michael (23 August 2012). "Landespolizeichef Adrian Hasler Regierungschef-Kandidat der FBP" [State Police Chief Adrian Hasler is the FBP's candidate for Head of Government]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  17. Benvenuti, Michael (21 August 2012). "Pressefreiheit ja – aber nur, wenn es der VU passt?" [Freedom of the press, yes—but only when it suits the VU?]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 3. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  18. Mattivi, Johannes (19 November 2012). "Grossparteien wollen Koalition" [Major parties want a coalition]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  19. Mattiv, Johannes (29 October 2012). "Fortsetzung der grossen Koalition" [Continuation of the grand coalition]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  20. Brunhart, Richard (28 November 2012). "Realistische Schritte vorwärts" [Realistic steps forward]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). p. 8. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  21. Benvenuti, Michael (27 October 2013). "Premiere bei Landtagswahlen 2013: FL will den Regierungschef stellen" [A first in the 2013 state elections: FL aims to provide the head of government]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  22. Vogt, Désirée (17 November 2012). ""Kein Hochglanz-Flyer, sondern Arbeitsinstrument"" ["Not a glossy flyer, but a working tool"]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). p. 7. Retrieved 28 September 2026.
  23. Marxer, Wilfred (12 November 2018). "DU – Die Unabhängigen für Liechtenstein" [DU – The Independents for Liechtenstein]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Archived from the original on 17 January 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  24. "Beste Beurteilung für Wahlkampf der VU" [Top marks for VU election campaign]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2025. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  25. "Kandidaten für die Landtagswahlen 2013" [Candidates for the 2013 state elections]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 1 December 2012. p. 7. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  26. "New Independent party rattles Liechtenstein vote". GlobalPost. 3 February 2013. Archived from the original on 21 July 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  27. "Politics in tiny Liechtenstein shaken up by surprise election success of independents". Fox News. 3 February 2013. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
  28. Mattivi, Johannes (22 February 2013). "FBP startet Verhandlungen über Grosse Koalition mit der VU" [FBP begins negotiations with the VU on a grand coalition]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  29. Benvenuti, Michael (27 March 2013). "Koalition statt Ko-Opposition: FBP und VU für Ende der Parteipolitik" [Coalition instead of co-opposition: FBP and VU favor an end to party politics]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Archived from the original on 20 February 2026. Retrieved 5 November 2024.
  30. Hasler, Martin (28 March 2013). "Landtag und Regierung vereidigt - Erbprinz warnt vor Schuldenfalle" [State Parliament and Government Sworn In – Hereditary Prince Warns of Debt Trap]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). p. 1. Archived from the original on 21 February 2026. Retrieved 18 February 2026.
  31. Ritzer, Uwe (30 March 2013). "Angst im Paradies" [Fear in Paradise]. Süddeutsche Zeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 13 January 2026. Retrieved 11 January 2026.
  32. "Mehrheit der Stimmzettel wurden angepasst" [The majority of the ballots were adjusted]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 4 February 2013. Archived from the original on 16 December 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2013.
  33. Marxer, Wilfred (27 January 2025). "Parteien" [Parties]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 1 March 2026.
  34. "VU: Amann-Marxer und Rick zum Wahlausgang" [VU: Amann-Marxer and Rick on the election result]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt. 4 February 2013. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 4 February 2013.