1989 Liechtenstein general election

none Liechtenstein 1986 February 1993 3 and 5 March 1989 1989 Liechtenstein general election All 25 seats in the Landtag 13 Patriotic Union (Liechtenstein) Hans Brunhart 47.15 13 8 Progressive Citizens' Party Herbert Wille 42.13 12 7 Prime Minister Hans Brunhart Patriotic Union (Liechtenstein) Hans Brunhart Patriotic Union (Liechtenstein) 1989 Liechtenstein election map.svg Results by constituency 90.88% ( 2.42pp) General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 3 and 5 March 1989 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag.Liechtenstein Parliamentary Chamber: Landtag Elections Held in 1989 http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2187_89.htm 22 July 2026 Inter-Parliamentary Union https://web.archive.org/web/20260722171335/http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/2187_89.htm 22 July 2026 live Early elections were called due to the Progressive Citizens' Party's (FBP) Landtag members resiging in protest to the VU refusing to support an investigation into power abuse by the Liechtenstein state court in 1985 as part of the Kunsthaus case. The VU won thirteen seats and retained its majority, while the FBP won twelve. Voter turnout was 91.8% The Landtag was expanded from 15 to 25 seats after a successful in referendum in 1988. Incumbent prime minister Hans Brunhart of the VU sought re-election for a fourth term, while the FBP nominated deputy prime minister Herbert Wille for the position. The election also saw two third parties contest the election; the Free List and the newly-formed Non-Party List, but both parties failed to reach the 8% threshold to win seats in the Landtag. Following the election, the VU and FBP entered into a renewed coalition government, ultimately under the leadership of Brunhart. The new government was sworn in on 5 June 1989. Background 1986 Liechtenstein general election Kunsthaus caseIn the 1986 elections, the VU won a majority of eight seats, whereas the FBP won seven.Liechtenstein Parliamentary Chamber: Landtag Elections Held in 1986 http://archive.ipu.org/parline-e/reports/arc/LIECHTENSTEIN_1986_E.PDF 24 August 2026 Inter-Parliamentary Union As a result, the VU and FBP formed a coalition government, with Hans Brunhart remaining as prime minister.2 May 1986 Der Landtag wählte die neue Koalitionsregierung The state parliament elected the new coalition government https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1986/1433/LOG_0099/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20250321144623/https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1986/1433/LOG_0099/ 21 March 2025 21 March 2025 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 2 A municipal referendum for the building of an art museum in Vaduz was approved in 1980, and then another popular initiative against it succeeded in obtaining enough signatures in 1983. The initiative however, was rejected by the Vaduz municipal council, the government and finally the Liechtenstein state court. In 1984, the organizers behind the initiative successfully appealed for a reconsideration of the state court's ruling. However, president of the state court Erich Seeger overturned the ruling and rejected the consideration, which damaged the reputation of the court and resulted in several resignations.Marxer Wilfried 31 December 2011 Staatsgerichtshofaffäre (Kunsthausfall) https://historisches-lexikon.li/Staatsgerichtshofaffäre_(Kunsthausfall) 11 August 2024 Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein de State Constitutional Court Affair (Kunsthaus Case) Wilfried Marxer Though it was found that an abuse of power had taken place, Seeger was acquitted in 1987. In late 1988, the FBP sought form a commission in the Landtag to investigate the power abuse further, but it was rejected by the majority VU; the FBP threatened to propose a motion of no confidence against Brunhart's government, but withdrew at the request of President of the Landtag, Karlheinz Ritter.23 December 1988 Staatsgerichtshof: Konsequente Haltung der FBP-Fraktion https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1988/4381/LOG_0291/ 30 December 2025 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de State Court: Consistent stance of the FBP parliamentary group On 21 December 1988 all the members of the Landtag belonging to the FBP walked out in protest to the rejection of the commission. Talks between the two parties failed in January 1989 failed as neither party agreed to change position.14 January 1989 VU scheut die Wahrheit und blockiert die Untersuchungskommission https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1989/127/LOG_0013/ 30 December 2025 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de Meier Günther The VU shies away from the truth and blocks the commission of inquiry Following the resignation of Brunhart's government, the Landtag was dissolved early elections were called. Regent Hans-Adam, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein kept Brunhart's government in office with full authority during this time.24 January 1989 Der Landtag wurde gestern mittag vorzeitig aufgelöst https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1989/243/LOG_0021/ 30 December 2025 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de The state parliament was dissolved prematurely yesterday at noon Meier Günther Electoral system Elections in Liechtenstein The 25 members of the Landtag are elected via open list proportional representation from two constituencies, Oberland with 15 seats and Unterland with 10 seats.Marxer 2000 62–64 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%.Marxer 2000 62–64 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 Government 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 Citizens over 20 years of age who have been resident in the country for one month prior to election day were eligible to vote.Marxer 2000 57 The number of Landtag members was increased from 15 to 25 following a successful referendum in 1988.Nohlen Stöver 2010 1175 Candidates 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 70 candidates were presented for the election; 56 men and 14 women. OberlandFBPVUFLULL Josef Biedermann Rösle Eberle Louis Gassner Theo Gassner Martin Jehle Johann Kindle Mario Negele Alois Ospelt Gert Risch Georg Schierscher Evi Sochin Anton Vogt Dieter Walch Ernst Walch Karlheinz Ritter Alfons Schädler Emma Brogle Paul Kindle Helmuth Matt Georg Vogt Reinhard Walser Hildegard Beck Hans Peter Foser Walter Schädler Valerie Schädler Xaver Schädler Patrick Hilty Rita Frick Franz WachterGerda Bicker Helen Marxer Sonja Wachter Margrit Willie Ludwig Frommelt Peter Frommelt Hilmar Hoch Hansjörg Hilti Georg Kaufmann Wilfred Marxer Paul VogtLeo Sele Hans Walter Büchel Rainer Ospelt Hans-Peter Rheinbeger Rudolf Schädler Josef BüchelUnterlandFBPVUFLULL Hugo Allgäuer Josef Büchel Pius Büchel Emma Eigenmann Roland Elkuch Otmar Hasler Felix Hassler Carl Kaiser Franz Marxer Heinz Ritter Hermann Hassler Günther Wohlwend Beat Hasler Karl-Heinz Oehri Edwin Marxer Walter Oehry Helga Schindler Manfred Biedermann Irmgard Spalt Oswald KranzBernd Erne Toni RitterGerti MarxerSource: Liechtensteiner VolksblattMeier Günther 6 March 1989 Wahlen 1989: Grosse Verluste für die VU - FBP stabil 1989 Elections: Major losses for the VU – FBP stable https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1989-03-06_19890306/819/LOG_0054/ 24 August 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 & 3 de Results Patriotic Union 75417 13 +5 Progressive Citizens' Party 67382 12 +5 Free List 12090 0 0 Non-Party List 5061 0 New Independent 11957 137 +10 13307 Inter-Parliamentary Union File:Liechtenstein Landtag 1989.svg By electoral district Electoral districtSeatsPartyElected membersSubstitutesVotes%SeatsOberland15Patriotic Union*Paul Kindle Helmuth Matt Alfons Schädler Walter Schädler Reinhard Walser Georg Vogt Karlheinz Ritter Patrick Hilty*Xaver Schädler Franz Wachter58,17048.108Progressive Citizens' Party*Josef Biedermann Dieter Walch Alois Ospelt Johann Kindle Martin Jehle Georg Schierscher Ernst Walch*Louis Gassner Anton Vogt48,37640.007Free List––9,8308.130Non-Party List––4,5543.770Unterland10Progressive Citizens' Party*Emma Eigenmann-Schädler Otmar Hasler Josef Büchel Heinz Ritter Carl Kaiser*Hugo Allgäuer18,94148.825Patriotic Union*Günther Wohlwend Oswald Kranz Manfred Biedermann Walter Oehry Hermann Hassler*Karlheinz Oehri17,12344.135Free List––2,2285.740Non-Party List––5081.310Source: Liechtensteiner Volksblatt Aftermath thumb|The government of Hans Brunhart Following the election, the VU invited the FBP to begin negotiations for a renewed coalition government, which the FBP accepted. The two parties entered into a renewed coalition government, though the members were unchanged from the 1986 elections; Brunhart remained as prime minister, and as the junior party in the coalition, Wille remained as deputy prime minister.Meier Günther 12 May 1989 Regierungsbildung: Neue Akzente Government Formation: New Emphases https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/!image/000476564_1989-05-12_19890512/1733/-/ 24 August 2026 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de The new government was sworn in on 5 June 1989.6 June 1989 Der neugewählten Regierungsmitglieder wurden vereidigt https://www.eliechtensteinensia.li/viewer/image/000476564_1989/2077/LOG_0127/ 13 January 2025 Liechtensteiner Volksblatt 1 de The newly elected members of the government were sworn in References Bibliography Nohlen Dieter Dieter Nohlen Elections in Europe: A data handbook Stöver Philip 2010 Nomos 978-3-8329-5609-7 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 Voting Behavior and Voting Motives in the Principality of Liechtenstein Liectenstein General Category:General elections in Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Category:Premiership of Hans Brunhart