Liechtenstein
Parliamentary Elections
Electoral system
- Unicameral parliament
- Name: Diet (Landtag)
- Members: 25
- Term: 4 years
- Constituencies: 2 multi-member constituencies (15 seats for Oberland and 10 seats for Unterland).
- Voting system: Proportional representation, using the simple electoral quotient with remaining seats distributed on the basis of greatest remainders. In order to qualify for representation in the Landtag, a party must obtain 8% of the votes cast in the whole country. When division by the relevant quotient does not result in as many elected Deputies as there are seats to be filled in the constituency concerned, there takes place a second-stage division of "supplementary votes" among those parties which have met the 8% requirement. Each list contains, as far as possible, as many candidates as there are seats to be filled. A vote cast for a candidate is also counted as a vote cast for his party. The seats won by each list are allotted to those of its members who have received the most votes.
- Voter requirements: 18 years of age; Liechtenstein citizenship; residence in the country for a minimum of one month prior to the elections.
- Voting is compulsory and those failing to do so are liable to a fine of up to SFr. 20.- if they do not have a valid excuse (travel abroad, sickness, etc.).
Latest Election
Election results 2009
Parliamentary elections were held in Liechtenstein on 8 February 2009. The Patriotic Union (VU) improved significantly compared to the 2005 elections (gaining 9,40 percentage points), and won majority in the Landtag. The Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) lost ground, as did the Free List (FL). In the end a coalition government was formed, consisting of the VU and the FBP.
Sources
Government (Liechtenstein), in Europa World online. London, Routledge. University of Bergen. Retrieved 29 August 2006 from http://www.europaworld.com/entry/li.is.13
Government Spokesperson’s Office webpage Election system
Inter-Parliamentary Union, PARLINE database on national parliaments
