1875 Liechtenstein general election

1875 Liechtenstein general election

8 May 1875

6 seats in the Landtag

General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 8 May 1875 to elect 6 of the 15 members of the Landtag.[1] Half of the twelve elected members were up for re-election after the end of their six-year term, whereas the other half had been elected in 1872 elections. The six seats were indirectly elected by electors selected by voters, while one were appointed by Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein.

Background

The term of the elected Landtag was six years,[2] and the six members elected in the 1869 elections, representing half of the elected members, were up for election due to the expiration of their term. Similarly, two princely-appointed members were also set to be re-appointed by Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein due to the end of their term.[3]

The Landtag's term was characterized by the Baden Casino Company applying for a concession to build a casino in Liechtenstein in 1872, offering the country 8 million Swiss francs.[4] Though met with considerable interest from the Landtag and the majority of the population supporting it due to Liechtenstein struggling from financial difficulties,[5][4] concerns from Johann II and intervention from the Austro-Hungarian Foreign Service meant that the concession ultimately did not go through.[4] Instead, Johann II granted the country a substantial loan to support the economy.[5]

Electors

Electors were selected through elections that were held between 26 and 30 April;[1] each municipality had two electors for every 100 inhabitants.[2] All male citizens aged 24 and above that were self-employed were eligible to vote.[6]

Municipality Electors +/–
Balzers 22 +2
Eschen 18 0
Gamprin 6 0
Mauren 18 –2
Planken 2 0
Ruggell 10 –2
Schaan 20 0
Schellenberg 8 +2
Triesen 18 0
Triesenberg 20 0
Vaduz 18 +2
Total 160 +2
Source: Vogt[1]

Results

Vaduz Castle was the meeting place of the Landtag's electors

The electors met on 8 May in the hall of Vaduz Castle to elect six Landtag members and five deputy members. Of the 160 electors, 156 were present for the voting. The Landtag members and their deputies were elected in three ballots, with two other members being appointed by Johann II.[7] There were no political parties and the election of members was almost entirely focused on an individual's personality.[8]

Elected members

First ballot
Elected member Municipality Votes
Markus Kessler Vaduz 93
Johann Alois Schlegel Triesenberg 89
Sebastian Heeb Ruggell 88
Ferdinand Walser Schaan 82
Source: Vogt[1]
Second ballot
Elected member Municipality Votes
Baptist Johann Fritsche Balzers 84
Michael Kaiser Mauren 78
Source: Vogt[1]

Ferdinand Walser declined his election immediately and Franz Josef Kind was elected instead.[9] Markus Kessler also declined his election and was replaced by Josef Anton Amann, as he was the deputy member who received the most votes.[9]

Elected deputies

First ballot
Elected member Municipality Votes
Josef Anton Amann Vaduz 90
Johann Birgetze Triesen 87
Johann Georg Näscher Gamprin 76
Franz Josef Biedermann Schellenberg 75
Source: Vogt[9]
Third ballot
Elected member Municipality Votes
Franz Josef Kind Eschen 44
Source: Vogt[9]

As Franz Josef Kind had been elected as a full member, his deputy position instead went to Josef Tschetter instead with 26 votes.[9]

Appointed by the prince

Appointed member Municipality
Josef Walser Triesen
Johann Georg Matt Mauren
Source: Vogt[9]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Vogt 1987, p. 190.
  2. 1 2 Marxer, Wilfried; Frommelt, Fabian (31 December 2011). "Wahlsysteme". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  3. ↑ Vogt 1987, p. 189.
  4. 1 2 3 Ospelt, Lukas; Sele, Patrick (9 September 2021). "Spielbanken". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 17 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 Vogt 2012, p. 204.
  6. ↑ Marxer, Wilfried; Frommelt, Fabian (31 December 2011). "Stimm- und Wahlrecht". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Vogt 1987, pp. 190–191.
  8. ↑ Marxer, Wilfried; Frommelt, Fabian (31 December 2011). "Wahlen". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 10 July 2026.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Vogt 1987, p. 191.

Literature