Patriotic Union (Liechtenstein)

The Patriotic Union (German: Vaterländische Union, VU) is a liberal-conservative political party in Liechtenstein.[6] The VU is one of the two major political parties in Liechtenstein, along with the monarchist conservative Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP). The VU is the relatively more liberal of the two parties, advocating constitutional monarchy and greater democracy.[12][13] It is led by Thomas Zwiefelhofer and has ten members in the Landtag.

Patriotic Union
Vaterländische Union
AbbreviationVU
PresidentThomas Zwiefelhofer
SecretaryMichael Winkler
Founded1936
Merger ofChristian-Social People's Party
Liechtenstein Homeland Service
HeadquartersFürst-Franz-Josef-Strasse 13
FL-9490 Vaduz[1]
NewspaperLiechtensteiner Vaterland[2]
Youth wingYouth Union[3]
Women's wingWomen's Union[4]
IdeologyConservatism[5]
Liberal conservatism[6]
Economic liberalism[7]
Constitutional monarchism[8]
Christian democracy[7]
Political positionCentre[9] to centre-right[10]
European affiliationALDE-PACE[11]
(in the Council of Europe)
European Democrat Union
Colours  Red
Landtag
10 / 25
Mayors
8 / 11
Municipal Councilsa
43 / 104
Website
www.vu-online.li
a. Municipal Councils = Number listed on respective website subtracted by number of elected mayors (who serve as members on their respective local councils, but are elected separately from other council members) as of 2 April 2023.

History

The Patriotic Union was formed by the 1936 merger of the Christian-Social People's Party (VP) with the minor party Liechtenstein Homeland Service (LHD).[14] While the VP was the larger party, following the merger members of the LHD took prominent positions in the leadership of the new party.[2]

After decades of being second to the Progressive Citizens' Party, the VU became the largest party in the Landtag for the first time as a result of the 1970 elections. Although it lost the 1974 elections to the FBP, it won the 1978 elections and retained its Landtag majority until February 1993. However, early elections in October 1993 saw it regain its majority, which it held until 2001. After the 2005 state elections, which brought in an all-time low of votes, the VU provided 10 of the 25 deputies and was represented by Deputy Prime Minister Klaus Tschütscher and Hugo Quaderer in the five-member government. The VU emerged as the clear winner from the 2009 state elections and had an absolute majority in the state parliament for the 2009-2013 legislative period with 13 seats and provided the new head of government in the coalition government with the FBP. The Patriotic Union lost five seats in the state parliament in the 2013 state elections and was then represented with eight seats and provided two of the four government councillors. In the 2017 state election, the Patriotic Union was able to slightly increase its share of the vote by 0.2%, but still retained 8 of the 25 seats in the state parliament. In the 2021 state elections, the VU achieved 10 out of 25 mandates and recorded a 2.1% increase in votes compared to the 2017 state elections.

Currently, its member Daniel Risch is the head of government. Furthermore, the party also has two members (Dominique Hasler and Graziella Marok-Wachter) as government councillors.

Ideology

The party is liberal-conservative but has members that are more socially conservative, specially when comes to LGBT rights. It is also economically liberal, advocating a modern liberal market economy with balanced budget.[15]

Election results

Landtag elections
Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Rank Government
1936 Otto Schaedler
4 / 15
 – 2nd Opposition
1939
7 / 15
 Increase 3 Steady 2nd Coalition
1945 1,285 45.28
7 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Coalition
1949 1,285 47.07
7 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Coalition
1953 (Feb) 1,229 42.60
7 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Coalition
1953 (Jun) 1,541 49.57
7 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Coalition
1957 1,537 47.64
7 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Coalition
1958 1,537 45.53
6 / 15
 Decrease 1 Steady 2nd Coalition
1962 1,448 42.73
7 / 15
 Increase 1 Steady 2nd Coalition
1966 Franz Nägele 1,581 42.79
7 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Coalition
1970 Alfred Hilbe 2,008 49.57
8 / 15
 Increase 1 Increase 1st Coalition
1974 16,356 47.26
7 / 15
 Decrease 1 Decrease 2nd Coalition
1978 Hans Brunhart 18,244 49.15
8 / 15
 Increase 1 Increase 1st Coalition
1982 20,997 53.47
8 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition
1986 46,793 50.19
8 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition
1989 75,417 47.15
13 / 25
 Increase 5 Steady 1st Coalition
1993 (Feb) 73,217 45.43
11 / 25
 Decrease 2 Decrease 2nd Coalition
1993 (Oct) Mario Frick 78,898 50.12
13 / 25
 Increase 2 Increase 1st Coalition
1997 82,786 49.3
13 / 25
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition
2001 76,402 41.35
11 / 25
 Decrease 2 Decrease 2nd Opposition
2005 Heinz Frommelt 74,162 38.23
10 / 25
 Decrease 1 Steady 2nd Coalition
2009 Adolf Heeb 95,219 47.61
13 / 25
 Increase 3 Increase 1st Coalition
2013 Thomas Zwiefelhofer 65,118 33.55
8 / 25
 Decrease 5 Decrease 2nd Coalition
2017 65,742 33.73
8 / 25
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Coalition
2021 Daniel Risch 72,361 35.89
10 / 25
 Increase 2 Increase 1st Coalition

Leaders
Years Leader
1936–1965Otto Schaedler
1965–1974Franz Nägele
1974–1992Otto Hasler
1992–2001Oswald Kranz
2001–2005Heinz Frommelt
2005–2011Adolf Heeb
2011–2015Jakob Büchel
2015–2021Günther Fritz
2021–presentThomas Zwiefelhofer

References
  1. "Kontakt" (in German). Patriotic Union. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  2. "Vaterländische Union". e-archiv.li (in German). Liechtenstein National Archives. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  3. "Jugendunion" (in German). Patriotic Union. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  4. "Frauenunion" (in German). Patriotic Union. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  5. "The curious case of Liechtenstein: A country caught between a prince and democracy". London School of Economics. 30 January 2017. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  6. "Liechtenstein voters elect new government". The Local. Agence France-Presse. 3 February 2013.
  7. Stefanini, Sara (5 February 2017). "Liechtenstein's Populists Gain Ground". Politico. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  8. "Statuten der Vaterländischen Union" (PDF). Vaterländische Union. October 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
  9. "Independents upset Liechtenstein's 3-party system". U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. 3 February 2013.
  10. Riches, Christopher; Stalker, Peter (6 October 2016). A Guide to Countries of the World (4th ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-106079-3.
  11. ALDE PACE - Members, alde-pace.org
  12. "Wertvorstellungen der Vaterländischen Union" (PDF) (in German). p. 15. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  13. Day, Alan John (2002). Political parties of the world. London: John Harper. p. 302. ISBN 978-0-9536278-7-5.
  14. "Parties in Liechtenstein 1921-1943". Prince and People: Liechtenstein Civics (in German). School Office of the Principality of Liechtenstein. 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  15. "Wertvorstellungen der Vaterländischen Union" (PDF) (in German). Patriotic Union. p. 12. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 March 2022. Retrieved 1 July 2023.


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