1957 Liechtenstein general election

none September 2026 September 2026 Liechtenstein Jun 1953 1958 1 September 1957 1957 Liechtenstein general election 15 seats in the Landtag 8 93.39% ( 0.02pp) Progressive Citizens' Party Alexander Frick 52.36 8 8 Patriotic Union (Liechtenstein) Otto Schaedler 47.64 7 7 Prime Minister Alexander Frick Progressive Citizens' Party Alexander Frick Progressive Citizens' Party 1939 Liechtenstein election map.svg Results by constituency 1937 A map of Liechtenstein divided by electoral district. The two respective districts of Oberland and Unterland are coloured by the respective winner of the most seats in the district, with blue denoting the Progressive Citizens' Party and red for the Patriotic Union. Similarly, the individual seat distribution in each district is denoted within them.General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 1 September 1957 to elect the 15 members of the Landtag.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1165 The Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won eight seats and retained its majority, while the Patriotic Union (VU) won seven. Voter turnout was 93.4%. Following the elections, the coalition government between the FBP and VU led by prime minister Alexander Frick remained. The new government was sworn in on 31 December 1957. An electoral complaint was filed by the VU following the election, which resulted in a constitutional amendment and fresh elections being held in 1958. Background June 1953 Liechtenstein general electionIn the June 1953 elections the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) retained its majority of eight seats, while the Patriotic Union (VU) won seven.Vogt 1987 214–215 The coalition government under the leadership of prime minister Alexander Frick remained.Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021 https://www.regierung.li/files/attachments/Regierungsmitglieder-1862-2021-stand-0421.pdf?t=638338392447228367 live https://web.archive.org/web/20240216125957/https://www.regierung.li/files/attachments/Regierungsmitglieder-1862-2021-stand-0421.pdf?t=638338392447228367 16 February 2024 15 February 2024 www.regierung.li de Members of the Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein 1862–2021Marxer Wilfried Wilfried Marxer 31 December 2011 Koalition Coalition https://historisches-lexikon.li/Koalition live https://web.archive.org/web/20260801223746/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Koalition 1 August 2026 28 August 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de The elections had been called early due to the VU members of the Landtag walking out in protest of the FBP rejecting the former's demands to have a majority of the seven-member administrative composition of the old age and survivors' insurance (AHV).Brunhart 1986 47–48 Frick's third term in office oversaw land consolidation in 1956 to strengthen agriculture. It also saw adjustments to the border with Switzerland in 1955, and the signing of a double taxation agreement with Austria the following year.Frommelt Fabian 31 December 2011 Frick, Alexander https://historisches-lexikon.li/Frick,_Alexander?marker=Alexander+Frick live https://web.archive.org/web/20251031093831/https://historisches-lexikon.li/Frick,_Alexander?marker=Alexander+Frick 31 October 2025 18 May 2023 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de Electoral system 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.Marxer Wilfried Wilfried Marxer Frommelt Fabian 31 December 2011 Wahlsysteme https://historisches-lexikon.li/Wahlsysteme?marker=Gemeindewahlen 17 November 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de Electoral systems 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.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1159 The electoral threshold to win a seat is 18%. Landtag members sit for a four-year term.Vogt Paul Paul Vogt (historian) 31 December 2011 Landtag State parliament https://historisches-lexikon.li/Landtag 8 September 2026 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de 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.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 Government Only men aged 21 and above were eligible to vote.Marxer Wilfried Wilfried Marxer Frommelt Fabian 31 December 2011 Stimm- und Wahlrecht https://historisches-lexikon.li/Stimm-_und_Wahlrecht 28 July 2026 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de Right to vote and right to stand for electionFrick Julia 31 December 2011 Frauenstimm- und -wahlrecht https://historisches-lexikon.li/Frauenstimm-_und_-wahlrecht 7 December 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de Women's suffrage and the right to vote Campaign thumb|Alexander Frick, pictured in 1960|alt=A photograph of Alexander Frick standing while on the telephone in 1960 Both the FBP and VU campaigned on their respective party newspapers, the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt and Liechtensteiner Vaterland.31 August 1956 Unser beschlossenes Arbeitsprogramm Our adopted work programme https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1957-08-31_19570831/681/LOG_0000/ 31 August 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de31 August 1957 Das Landesinteresse verlangt den Führungswechsel The interest of the state demands a change of leadership https://www.vaterland.li/epaper/liechtensteiner-vaterland-1957-08-31-epa-5244/?searchword=Landtagswahlen subscription 31 August 2026 Liechtensteiner Vaterland 1 de The FBP accused the VU's programme of copying the former, specifically in regards to economic and social policy.31 August 1957 Das abgeschriebene Tätigkeitsprogramm der Union The Union’s plagiarised programme of activities https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1957-08-31_19570831/682/#topDocAnchor 31 August 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 2 de Similarly, the FBP appealed to workers, farmers, and tradespeople while accusing the VU of intentionally withholding information from voters.31 August 1957 Dieses grosse ? This big ? https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1957-08-31_19570831/683/#topDocAnchor 31 August 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 3 de The party campaigned on issues such as the construction of private housing, expanding health insurance, taxation reform, increasing pensions, and the establishment of an agricultural school. The party's candidate for prime minister was the incumbent Frick. Conversely, the VU also criticized the FBP's programme for being vague and recycled from the VU's own policies. The party argued that Liechtenstein required a change in leadership, and that the VU was ready to assume government leadership. During campaigning, the party also appealed to workers and trade unionists, highlighting the party's achievements in improving worker conditions and claiming credit for the introduction of the AHV.31 August 1958 Der Arbeiter und seine Liste The worker and his list https://www.vaterland.li/epaper/liechtensteiner-vaterland-1957-08-31-epa-5244/?searchword=Landtagswahlen&page=p43105 subscription 31 August 2026 Liechtensteiner Vaterland 2 The Volksblatt speculated that former deputy prime minister, Alois Vogt, was the VU's candidate for prime minister should it have won the election.22 March 1962 Im Zeichen der Einheit und der Stärke In the spirit of unity and strength https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/!image/000476564_1962-03-22_19620322/285/-/ 5 September 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de An electoral group, named the Workers’ and Farmers’ Party of the Liechtenstein Unterland (de Arbeiter- und Bauernpartei des Liechtensteiner Unterlandes) was formed ahead of the election, but it was not allowed to contest as it did not meet electoral regulations.Marxer Milic Rochat 2024 400 Candidates Political parties in Liechtenstein require the support of 30 voters from a constituency to be eligible to nominate a candidate list in it.21 January 1953 Bekanntmachung Notice https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/!image/000469834_1953-01-21_19530121/35/-/ 4 August 2026 Liechtensteiner Vaterland 3 de A total of 30 candidates contested the election.17 June 1953 Landtagswahlen 1. September 1957 State parliament election 1 September 1957 https://www.vaterland.li/epaper/liechtensteiner-vaterland-1957-09-04-epa-5245/?page=p43113 subscription 31 August 2026 Liechtensteiner Vaterland 2 de OberlandFBPVU Josef Hoop Martin Risch Fidel Brunhart Hans Gassner Ernst Ospelt Stefan Wachter Franz Josef Schurte Josef Büchel Albert Laternser Alois Ritter Alois Ospelt Andreas Vogt Wendelin Beck Josef Büchel Johann Beck Alois Vogt Ludwig Beck Josef GassnerUnterlandFBPVU Georg Oehri Ernst Büchel Leo Gerner Josef Oehri Engelbert Kranz Alfons Büchel Johann Georg Hasler Alois Oehri Gebhard Gerner Paul Büchel Felix Hasler Paul OehriSource: Liechtensteiner Vaterland Results The seat distribution remained unchanged from the June 1953 elections, with the FBP winning a majority of eight seats, whereas the VU won seven.Vogt 1987 215–216 Voter turnout was 93.39%.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1182File:Landtag liechtenstein 1945-1970.svg Progressive Citizens' Party 1689 8 0 Patriotic Union 1537 7 0 66 0 3525 VogtVogt 1987 215–216 A diagram of the seat destruction as a result of the election. It denotes eight for the FBP and seven for the VU respectively. By electoral district Electoral districtSeatsElectoratePartyElected membersSubstitutesVotes%Seats+/–Oberland92,353Patriotic Union*Alois Ritter Johann Beck Ludwig Beck Josef Büchel Andreas Vogt*Alois Vogt Roman Gassner Wendelin Beck1,06250.250Progressive Citizens' Party*Martin Risch Josef Hoop Hans Gassner Stefan Wachter*Fidel Brunhart Franz Josef Schurte Josef Büchel1,05349.840Unterland61,172Progressive Citizens' Party*Georg Oehri Ernst Büchel Leo Gerner Josef Oehri*Engelbert Kranz Alfons Büchel63657.240Patriotic Union*Alois Oehri Johann Georg Hasler*Gebhard Gerner Paul Büchel47542.820Source: VogtVogt 1987 215–216 Aftermath Following the elections, the coalition government between the FBP and VU under the leadership of Frick remained. The new government was sworn in on 31 December 1957.4 January 1958 Bericht über die Landtagssitzung vom 31. December 1957 Report on the State Parliament session of 31 December 1957 https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1958/1/LOG_0004/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250321143235/https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1958/1/LOG_0004/ 21 March 2025 21 March 2025 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de The VU filed an electoral complaint following the election, alleging that citizens who had given up their residency in the country were allowed to vote in the Unterland electoral district. The FBP rejected this demand in the Landtag,Brunhart 1986 49 but at the request of Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein both parties agreed to amended the constitution to make it so that the Liechtenstein state court would decide on electoral complaints instead of the Landtag. The amendment also made it so that scheduled elections must be held in February or March. As per the agreement, fresh elections were held in 1958.Brunhart 1986 49Vogt 1987 216 References Bibliography Nohlen Dieter Dieter Nohlen Elections in Europe: A data handbook Stöver Philip 2010 Nomos 978-3-8329-5609-7 Vogt Paul Paul Vogt (historian) 125 Jahre Landtag 1987 Landtag of the Principality of Liechtenstein Vaduz de 125 Years of the State Parliament Brunhart Arthur Arthur Brunhart https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000468232/1/LOG_0000/ 50 Jahre für Liechtenstein 1986 Vaterländische Union Vaduz de 50 Years for Liechtenstein Liechtenstein State Library Marxer Wilfried Wilfried Marxer Das politische System Liechtensteins 2024 Liechtenstein-Institut Baden-Baden de The political system of Liechtenstein Thomas Milic Schriftenreihe des Liechtenstein-Instituts 1 Philippe Rochat Parteien https://s3.eu-central-1.amazonaws.com/ext-linst-c5-web-liechtenstein-institut.li-2019/6317/3437/7094/14_Parteien.pdf Liechtenstein General Category:General elections in Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Category:Premiership of Alexander Frick