2005 Liechtenstein general election

none Liechtenstein 2001 2009 13 March 2005 2005 Liechtenstein general election All 25 seats in the Landtag 13 86.45% ( 0.34pp) Progressive Citizens' Party Otmar Hasler 48.74 12 13 Patriotic Union (Liechtenstein) Bernd Hammermann 38.23 10 11 Free List (Liechtenstein) Pepo Frick 13.03 3 1 Prime Minister Otmar Hasler Progressive Citizens' Party Otmar Hasler Progressive Citizens' Party File:2005 Liechtenstein general election - Vote share by municipality.svg Vote share by municipality General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 13 March 2005 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag.Landtagswahlen 2005 - Ergebnisse https://www.landtagswahlen.li/resultat/6 live https://web.archive.org/web/20260207180157/https://landtagswahlen.li/resultat/6 7 February 2026 2 March 2026 www.landtagswahlen.li de The Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) remained the largest party in the Landtag but lost its majority, winning twelve seats, with the Patriotic Union (VU) winning ten. The Free List (FL) won three seats. Voter turnout was 86.5%.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1166 Incumbent prime minister Otmar Hasler of the FBP sought re-election for a second term, while the VU nominated Bernd Hammermann for the position. Following the elections, the FBP and VU were asked to form a coalition government, which had previously ended in 1997, ultimately under the leadership of Hasler. The new government was sworn in on 21 April 2005. The election was the first FBP-led government to be re-elected since the 1966 elections. Background 2001 Liechtenstein general electionIn the 2001 elections the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) gained a majority of thirteen seats, whereas the Patriotic Union (VU) won eleven seats, and the Free List won one seat.Landtagswahlen 2001 - Ergebnisse https://www.landtagswahlen.li/resultat/5 live https://web.archive.org/web/20260217224738/https://www.landtagswahlen.li/resultat/5 17 February 2026 23 March 2026 www.landtagswahlen.li de The VU subsequently moved into the opposition and the FBP formed a single-party government, ultimately under the leadership of Otmar Hasler.Marxer Wilfred 31 December 2011 Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei (FBP) https://historisches-lexikon.li/Fortschrittliche_B%C3%BCrgerpartei_(FBP)?marker=FBP 4 December 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de Hasler's term in office oversaw the ending of the 1999–2001 financial crisis and reforms to Liechtenstein's financial centre to adhere to international standards. His term was also marked by the 2003 constitutional referendum, where it was proposed that Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein be given wider powers to appoint judges and rights to dismiss the government and Landtag.Wille Herbert Herbert Wille 31 December 2011 Verfassung https://historisches-lexikon.li/Verfassung 24 December 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de Hasler supported the proposed changes, and they were ultimately accepted by voters.16 March 2003 Liechtenstein prince wins powers http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2853991.stm live https://web.archive.org/web/20250912045034/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2853991.stm 12 September 2025 21 December 2025 BBC News Hans-Adam II had threatened to leave the country and live in Austria should the changes not have been accepted. Otto Büchel of the VU resigned from the Landtag in September 2003 for health reasons and was succeeded by Alexander Marxer.18 September 2003 Otto Büchel gibt Landtagssitz an Alexander Marxer ab https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2003-09-18_20030918/6161/#topDocAnchor://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2003-09-18_20030918/6161/#topDocAnchor 6 May 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 3 de In addition, Adrian Hasler of the FBP resigned in March 2004 to become chief of the National Police and was succeeded by Marco Ospelt.Kindle Peter 14 April 2004 «Sesselrücken» im Landtag https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/!image/000476564_2004-04-14_20040414/2625/-/ 22 August 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 5 de Landtag members not running for re-election MemberConstituencyFirst electedPartyPeter SprengerOberland1997Patriotic UnionPeter WolffOberlandFeb 1993Patriotic UnionWalter HartmannOberlandFeb 1993Patriotic UnionErich Sprenger deOberland2001Patriotic UnionMarco OspeltOberland2004Progressive Citizens' PartyHelmut KonradOberland1997Progressive Citizens' PartyDonath OehriUnterland1997Patriotic UnionIngrid Hassler-GernerUnterlandOct 1993Patriotic UnionJürgen ZechUnterland2001Progressive Citizens' Party Electoral system Elections in Liechtenstein 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 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. The electoral threshold to win a seat is 8%.Liechtenstein Landtag (Diète) - Elections en 2005; Système électoral http://archive.ipu.org/parline-f/reports/1187_B.htm 2 March 2026 Inter-Parliamentary Union fr 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.Vogt Paul Paul Vogt (historian) 31 December 2011 Regierung https://historisches-lexikon.li/Regierung live https://web.archive.org/web/20230721135630/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Regierung 21 July 2023 13 January 2025 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de Voting is compulsory by law, and those who fail to vote without a valid reason may be fined, but this is no longer enforced.Marxer 2000 58 Polling stations are open only for one and a half hours on election day; the elections were first where voting could be carried out by post.Liechtenstein Landtag (Diète) - Elections en 2005 http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2187_05.htm 2 March 2026 Inter-Parliamentary Union fr Citizens over 18 years of age who have been a resident in the country for one month prior to election day are eligible to vote. Campaign Otmar Hasler (cropped) (4).jpg Bernd Hammermann 2018 (cropped).jpg Otmar Hasler (left) and Bernd Hammermann (right) were the FBP and VU's respective nominations for prime minister 150 300 Hasler was expected to seek a second term and was renominated by the FBP on 19 November 2004. Additionally, the FBP nominated Martin Meyer and incumbent deputy prime minister Rita Kieber-Beck as government candidates.Frommelt Martin 20 November 2004 FBP-Regierungsteam mit neuem Gesicht https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2004/8239/#topDocAnchor 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de The party aimed to maintain its majority in the Landtag and stated that it was open to the formation of a coalition government.Frommelt Martin 17 November 2004 Mit Dreier-Regierungsteam https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2004/8147/LOG_0266/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de25 January 2005 "Nur eine FBP-Mehrheit sichert eine Koalition" https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/389/LOG_0018/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 5 de The party campaigned on maintaining the current course of Hasler's government.Frommelt Martin 19 January 2005 Am Erfolg weiterbauen https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/245/LOG_0013/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de The VU nominated Bernd Hammermann, a journalist from Schellenberg, for prime minister on 18 October 2004. Additionally, the party nominated Maja Marxer-Schädler and Klaus Tschütscher as government candidates.Kindle Peter 2 October 2004 "Das ist die VU nom heute" https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2004/7021/LOG_0228/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 3 deRisch Martin 19 October 2004 Von werten und einem erzahmten "Löwenzahn" https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2004/7416/LOG_0242/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 6 de The party stated that it was open to the formation of a coalition government; it campaigned broadly on a people-focused economy and investing in education.Risch Martin 21 January 2025 Ein Chancen-Programm https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/308/LOG_0015/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 4 de Major issues of the election were unemployment, reform of vocational education, and welfare.Frommelt Martin 26 February 2004 Otmar Hasler oder Bernd Hammermann? https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/1255/LOG_0044/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 3 de In a debate on 26 February 2005, Hammermann criticized Hasler's government for acting inconsistently and not reforming enough, focusing on shortcomings in healthcare and social policy, stating that Liechtenstein needed to "change". On the other hand, Hasler focused on his achievements in office and criticized Hammermann for a lack of political experience. The Free List presented its Landtag candidates in December 2004;Kindle Peter 11 December 2004 Total 60 Kandidaten https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2004/8791/LOG_0286/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de the party stated that it was open to the formation of a coalition government, but the FBP and VU rejected this.Frommelt Martin 29 January 2005 "Wir sagen offen wie es weitergeht" https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/505/LOG_0022/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de The party campaigned on allowing for foreigners to be naturalized in Liechtenstein after 15 years of residency rather than 30 and opposed the raising of insurance premiums.Risch Martin 24 February 2005 Landtagskandidaten-Talk https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/1200/LOG_0042/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 8 de Opinion polls SourceDateVUFBPFLOtherPatriotic Union24 February 2005 Hasler oder Hammermann? https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/1193/LOG_0042/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 deJanuary 200540%39%21%— Candidates Candidates have the same eligibility criteria as voters. Political parties must have the support of 30 voters from a constituency to be eligible to nominate a candidate list in it.Marxer 2000 58 A total of 60 candidates stood in the election; 41 men and 19 women. OberlandFBPVUFL Alois Beck Peter Lampert Wendelin Lampert Elmar Kindle Klaus Wanger Doris Frommelt Josy Biedermann Thomas Gstöhl Urs Vogt Christa Eberle Krt Eberle Patrick Schürmann Hansrudi Sele Angelika Tinner-Wolf Monika Forster Hugo Quaderer Arthur Brunhart Gebhard Negele Heinz Vogt Jürgen Beck Harry Quaderer Henrik Caduff Rony Bargetze Ronald Büchel Ursula Schädler Christian Ritter Barbara Ritter-Hagen Waltraud Schlegel-Biedermann Corina Beck Conny Bieri-Frommelt Pepo Frick Paul Vogt Claudia Heeb-Fleck Georg Kaufmann Hansjörg Hilti Luzia Walch-Schädler Werner SchädlerUnterlandFBPVUFL Markus Büchel Renate Wohlwend Johannes Kaiser Franz Heeb Rudolf Lampert Adrian Gstöhl Herbert Kind Monica Bereiter-Amann Helmut Bühler Fredi Hilti Ivo Klein Günther Kranz Doris Beck Marlies Amann-Marxer Alexander Marxer Ursula Diana Oehry Peter Kranz Peter Frommelt Hannes Horst Lorenz Hannes Clavadetscher Andrea Matt Wolfgang Marxer Stefanie Von Grünigen-SeleSource: Landtagswahlen 2005 Results The FBP received 48.8% of the vote, a 1.1% decrease from their 2001 performance, and won twelve seats in the Landtag, a decrease of one. The VU received 38.2% of the vote, a 3.4% decrease from 2001, and won ten seats, a decrease of one. The Free List saw its vote share increase from 9.7% to 13% from 2001 and won three seats, an increase of two. A total of 15,070 ballots were cast, resulting in a 86.5% voter turnout.Progressive Citizens' Party 94545 12 –1 Patriotic Union 74162 10 –1 Free List 25273 3 +2 0 14663 404 17428 Landtagswahlen 2005 File:Liechtenstein Landtag 2005.svg By electoral district Electoral districtSeatsElectoratePartyElected membersSubstitutesVotes%SwingSeats won+/–Oberland1511,499Progressive Citizens' Party*Alois Beck Peter Lampert Wendelin Lampert Elmar Kindle Klaus Wanger Doris Frommelt Josy Biedermann*Thomas Gstöhl Urs Vogt66,38946.7 1.470Patriotic Union*Hugo Quaderer Arthur Brunhart Gebhard Negele Heinz Vogt Jürgen Beck Harry Quaderer*Henrik Caduff Rony Bargetze55,37239.0 3.36 1Free List*Pepo Frick Paul Vogt*Claudia Heeb-Fleck20,31914.3 4.72 1Unterland105,929Progressive Citizens' Party*Markus Büchel Renate Wohlwend Johannes Kaiser Franz Heeb Rudolf Lampert*Adrian Gstöhl28,15654.3 0.65 1Patriotic Union*Ivo Klein Günther Kranz Doris Beck Marlies Amann-Marxer*Alexander Marxer18,79036.2 2.540Free List*Andrea Matt*Wolfgang Marxer4,9549.5 3.11 1Source: Landtagswahlen 2005 Aftermath Following the election, the FBP invited the VU to begin negotiations for a renewed coalition government, which the VU accepted.Frommelt Martin 15 March 2005 Koalitionsangebot beschlossen https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/1665/LOG_0058/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de18 March 2005 Positives Koalitionsgespräch https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/1757/LOG_0061/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de In late March, Hammermann resigned as a government candidate, and in early April the VU leadership removed Marxer-Schädler as a government candidate; the latter of which drew criticism from the newspaper Liechtensteiner Volksblatt as a “slap in the face” for women in Liechtenstein politics.Frommelt Martin 29 March 2005 "Neuanfang" bei der VU https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/1953/LOG_0067/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de16 September 2020 Sie haben ihren Regierungssitz auf sicher https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/sie-haben-ihren-regierungssitz-auf-sicher-art-430108 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Vaterland deFrommelt Martin 6 April 2005 "Schlag ins Gesicht" für Frauenpolitik https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/2167/LOG_0074/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de Instead, the party nominated Hugo Quaderer for government, and as such he resigned his seat in the Landtag.Frommelt Martin 7 April 2005 FBP und VU weitgehend einig https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/2195/LOG_0075/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de4 September 2017 Quaderer, Hugo https://historisches-lexikon.li/Quaderer,_Hugo 12 April 2026 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de The FBP and VU entered into a renewed coalition government ultimately under the leadership of Hasler. As the junior party in the coalition, Tschütscher became deputy prime minister. The new government was sworn in on 21 April 2005.Frommelt Martin 22 April 2005 Konstruktives Miteinander https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_2005/2563/LOG_0088/ 12 April 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de It was postulated by Wilfried Marxer of the Liechtenstein Institute that the success of the FBP came from Hasler being a significantly more popular candidate than Hammermann. He also concluded that the 2003 constitutional referendum had a minimal effect on voting behaviour, with voter partisanship remaining largely unchanged from the 2001 elections regardless of whether one supported their party's stance on the referendum or not.Marxer 2005 49–50 See also Elections in Liechtenstein List of Liechtenstein general elections References Bibliography Nohlen Dieter Dieter Nohlen Elections in Europe: A data handbook Stöver Philip 2010 Nomos 978-3-8329-5609-7 Marxer Wilfried Einflüsse der Verfassungsabstimmung auf die Landtagswahlen 2005 – Thesen, Befunde, Interpretationen 2005 Liechtenstein-Institut Bendern de Wilfried Marxer https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/ext-linst-c5-web-liechtenstein-institut.li-2019/2515/8557/6042/LIB_031.pdf Marxer Wilfried Wilfried Marxer https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/ext-linst-c5-web-liechtenstein-institut.li-2019/4715/7434/9872/LPS_30_Umbruch.pdf Wahlverhalten und Wahlmotive im Fürstentum Liechtenstein 2000 Verlag der Liechtensteinischen Akademischen Gesellschaft 3-7211-1044-7 Vaduz de Category:General elections in Liechtenstein Liechtenstein General Liechtenstein Category:Premiership of Otmar Hasler