| |
|
|
| |
Home
>
World
> Europe
> Liechtenstein
|
History and Government
History: The last remnant of the Holy Roman Empire, the pocket-sized Principality of Liechtenstein is a prosperous independent hereditary monarchy. Liechtenstein’s ruler of 51 years, until his death in November 1989, was His Highness Franz Joseph II. His son and heir, Prince Hans Adam (now His Highness Hans Adam II) was granted all the Regency’s executive powers in 1984. The country is united with Switzerland in a Customs Union and represented by Switzerland abroad. The population shares German-Swiss traditions, values, social courtesies and behaviour, but remains proud of its independent status. From 1928 until 1970, the Progressive Citizens’ Party (FPB) was the dominant political party in the country before the Fatherland Party (VU) took power in the 1970 election.
The VU won the next four Landtag elections, including the 1986 poll at which women (who had been debarred from voting until 1984) were able to participate for the first time. However, the FPB were returned to power at the most recent poll in February 2001 under the leadership of Otmar Hasler. As a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Liechtenstein has joined the European Economic Area (EEA), creating a free trade area from the combined membership of the European Union and EFTA. A referendum on the issue in December 1992 produced a 56 per cent vote in favour of the EEA; another referendum in April 1995 ratified the terms and Liechtenstein joined the EEA the following month.
Economic relations with Europe and constitutional reform are the main political issues in the country at the present time. The European issue has in part been driven by Hans Adam: in late 1993, he revised the Hausgesetz (the ‘house code’ of the ruling family), including in it the right for the population constitutionally to depose him or even abolish the monarchy altogether if they so wished. Nonetheless, hints that he would step down at the turn of the century in favour of his son, Prince Alois, have not so far been fulfilled. In 2001, he clashed again with the Landtag over proposed constitutional changes (which would increase his powers and which are widely unpopular) and over investigations into money laundering. This has become a major issue in Liechtenstein since the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, the grouping of the world’s richest 24 countries, initiated a major assault on multi-national fraud. In April 2002, Liechtenstein was ‘named and shamed’ as one of seven countries worldwide which have refused to introduce adequate measures to deal with the problem.
Government: The single-chamber assembly, the Landtag, has 25 members directly elected every four years by proportional representation. The sovereign, a hereditary monarch, is head of state.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
