Politics of Liechtenstein

It has a form of mixed constitution in which political power is shared by the monarch and a democratically elected parliament.

There is a two-party system (though there are two minor parties as well) and a form of representative democracy in which the prime minister and head of government is responsible to parliament.

[1][2][3] In a national referendum in March 2003, nearly two-thirds of the electorate voted in support of Hans-Adam II's proposed constitutional reform.

Following legislative elections, the head of government is appointed by the prince and proposed and voted on by the parliament.

It is, however, also customary that the leader of the largest minority party in the Diet is appointed the deputy head of government by the monarch.

[7] The Prince's other authorities include exercising the right to mitigate and commute punishments that have been imposed with legal force and the abolition — i.e., the dismissal — of investigations that have been initiated.

The Landtag of Liechtenstein has 25 members, elected for a four-year term by proportional representation in two multi-seat constituencies.

The Landtag's main task is to discuss and adopt resolutions on constitutional proposals and draft government bills.

It has the additional duties of giving its assent to important international treaties; of electing members of the government, judges, and board members of the Principality's institutions; setting the annual budget and approving taxes and other public charges; and supervising the administration of the state.

The president convenes the individual meetings during the session, leads them, and represent the Landtag externally.

Referendums can suspend parliament or change the constitution, but at least 1500 citizens must vote affirmative, so referendums to suspend parliament or change the constitution fail if they have low turnout even if the required percentage of total voters is met.

Liechtenstein's distinctive form of coalition government came to an end in April 1997, when the Patriotic Union won an absolute majority of seats.

The Free List received 12.9% of the vote, a moderate increase from their 12.7% in 2017, and kept their representation at three seats which made them the third-largest party in the Landtag.

Liechtenstein is divided into eleven communes (German: Gemeinden); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, and Vaduz.

[22] The autonomy of the Liechtenstein communities is in the upper range compared to the other Central European states along with Switzerland.

Citizens' cooperatives, which exist in about half of Liechtenstein's municipalities, own forests and pastures for collective use, as well as parceled areas that are left for private use.

[citation needed] The municipalities of Liechtenstein are divided between the two electoral districts of Unterland and Oberland.

This division is historical; the Unterland depends[clarification needed] on Schellenberg, the Oberland on the county of Vaduz.