June 1953 Liechtenstein general election

June 1953 Liechtenstein general election
14 June 1953
All 15 seats in the Landtag
8 seats needed for a majority
Turnout93.41% (Increase 2.89pp)
Party Leader Vote % Seats +/–
FBP Alexander Frick 50.43 8 0
VU Otto Schaedler 49.57 7 0
This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
Results by constituency
Prime Minister before Prime Minister after
Alexander Frick
FBP		 Alexander Frick
FBP

General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 14 June 1953 to elect the 15 members of the Landtag.[1] Early elections were called after the Patriotic Union (VU) members of the Landtag resigned over a dispute regarding the administrative composition of the old age and survivors' insurance (AHV) office in Liechtenstein. The Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won eight seats and retained its majority, while the VU won seven. Voter turnout was 93.4%.

Similarly to previous elections, the election campaign was characterized by accusations from both parties. Following the elections, the coalition government between the FBP and VU led by prime minister Alexander Frick remained. The election resulted in the highest vote share for the VU to that point, and as a result the FBP conceded to the VU's demands regarding the AHV.

Background

In the February 1953 elections, the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) retained its majority of eight seats, while the Patriotic Union (VU) won seven.[2] The coalition government under the leadership of Alexander Frick remained.[3][4]

Frick's second term oversaw continued steps towards reforming Liechtenstein into a modern welfare state.[5] Notably, in 1952 the old age and survivors' insurance (AHV) office in Liechtenstein, a mandatory life insurance scheme, was established after a successful referendum despite opposition from peasant workers.[5][6] Upon the establishment of the office, the VU demanded a majority of the seven-member administrative composition including its presidency, citing the party's strong electoral position and the FBP already holding a majority of the boards of the National Bank of Liechtenstein and Liechtensteinische Kraftwerke.[7] The FBP rejected this demand and thus in the first session of the newly-elected Landtag on 24 March 1953 the VU members walked out in protest, resulting in the Landtag being dissolved in May and new elections being called.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10] The electoral threshold to win a seat is 18%.[9] Landtag members sit for a four-year term. Once formed, the Landtag elects the prime minister and two government councillors who govern in a cabinet.[11] Only men aged 21 and above were eligible to vote.[12][13]

Campaign

Alexander Frick, pictured in 1954

Both the FBP and VU campaigned on their respective party newspapers, the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt and Liechtensteiner Vaterland.[14][15] The FBP accused the VU of acting arbitrarily and lying when criticizing members of the former.[14] In addition, Frick defended the FBP's claim to the board of the AHV as being inline with Liechtenstein's proportional representation system.[16]

Conversely, the VU continued to argue its right to the majority of the AHV board and accused the FBP of conducting a "brutal, power-hungry game" in the Landtag and undermining Liechtenstein's interests.[15] During the election campaign, according to the Volksblatt, the VU accused Frick of misconduct as prime minister, but the FBP asserted that such claims were false.[17]

Candidates

Political parties must have the support of 30 voters from a constituency to be eligible to nominate a candidate list in it.[18] A total of 30 candidates were presented for the election.[19]

Oberland FBP VU
Unterland FBP VU
Source: Liechtensteiner Vaterland[19]

Results

The seat distribution remained unchanged from the February 1953 elections, with the FBP winning a majority of eight seats, whereas the VU won seven. Voter turnout was 93.41%.[20]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Progressive Citizens' Party1,56850.4380
Patriotic Union1,54149.5770
Total3,109100.00150
Valid votes3,10997.95
Invalid/blank votes652.05
Total votes3,174100.00
Registered voters/turnout3,39893.41
Source: Vogt[20]

By electoral district

Electoral district Seats Electorate Party Elected members Substitutes Votes % Seats
Oberland 9 2,261 Patriotic Union
1,104 53.5 5
Progressive Citizens' Party
  • Engelbert Schädler
  • Albert Schädler
 959 46.5 4
Unterland 6 1,137 Progressive Citizens' Party
  • Rudolf Marxer
  • Karl Goop
 609 58.2 4
Patriotic Union
437 41.8 2
Source: Vogt[20]

Aftermath

Following the elections, the coalition government between the FBP and VU under the leadership of Frick remained.[3][4] The VU received its highest vote share to that point in the election, receiving only 27 less votes than the FBP. Due to this, the FBP conceded to the VU's demands and allowed for the party to hold a majority of the administrative composition of the AHV.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Nohlen & Stöver 2010, p. 1165.
  2. ↑ Nohlen & Stöver 2010, p. 1182.
  3. 1 2 "Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021" (PDF). www.regierung.li (in German). Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  4. 1 2 Marxer, Wilfried (31 December 2011). "Koalition" [Coalition]. Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Archived from the original on 1 August 2026. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  5. 1 2 Frommelt, Fabian (31 December 2011). "Frick, Alexander". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  6. ↑ Hoch, Hilmar; Kaufmann, Walter (31 December 2011). "Alters- und Hinterlassenenversicherung (AHV)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 31 July 2026.
  7. 1 2 Brunhart 1986, p. 48.
  8. ↑ Brunhart 1986, pp. 47–48.
  9. 1 2 Marxer, Wilfried; Frommelt, Fabian (31 December 2011). "Wahlsysteme". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 17 November 2024.
  10. ↑ Nohlen & Stöver 2010, p. 1159.
  11. ↑ Vogt, Paul (31 December 2011). "Regierung". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Archived from the original on 21 July 2023. Retrieved 13 January 2025.
  12. ↑ Marxer, Wilfried; Frommelt, Fabian (31 December 2011). "Stimm- und Wahlrecht". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  13. ↑ Frick, Julia (31 December 2011). "Frauenstimm- und -wahlrecht". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 7 December 2024.
  14. 1 2 "Verfassung oder Willkür?" [Constitution or Arbitrariness?]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 11 June 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  15. 1 2 "Zur Stimme des Arbeiters" [To the voice of the worker]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 6 November 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  16. ↑ "Der Landtag aufgelöst!" [The state parliament dissolved!]. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 16 May 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Wer einmal lügt... Die Kampfmethoden des Gegners". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 11 June 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Bekanntmachung" [Notice]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 21 January 1953. p. 1. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  19. 1 2 "Landtagswahlen vom 14. Juni 1953". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 17 June 1953. p. 3. Retrieved 28 July 2026.
  20. 1 2 3 Vogt 1987, pp. 214–215.

Bibliography

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