Progressive Citizens' Party

The Progressive Citizens' Party in Liechtenstein (German: Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei in Liechtenstein, FBP)[lower-alpha 2] is a conservative[4][5] political party in Liechtenstein. The FBP is one of the two major political parties in Liechtenstein, along with the liberal-conservative Patriotic Union. Founded in 1918 along with the now-defunct Christian-Social People's Party, it is the oldest extant party in Liechtenstein.[10]

Progressive Citizens' Party
Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei
AbbreviationFBP
PresidentRainer Gopp[1]
Founded1918
HeadquartersAltenbach 8
9490 Vaduz
NewspaperNone[lower-alpha 1]
Youth wingYoung FBP[3]
IdeologyConservatism[4][5]
National conservatism[6]
Economic liberalism[6]
Constitutional monarchism[6]
Christian democracy[4]
Political positionCentre-right[7] to right-wing[8]
European affiliationALDE-PACE[9]
(in the Council of Europe)
Colours  Blue
Landtag
10 / 25
Mayors
3 / 11
Municipal Councilsa
51 / 104
Website
www.fbp.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 party was established in 1918 by middle class citizens and members of the agricultural community as a response to the formation of the Christian-Social People's Party (VP).[11] In addition to being linked to the commercial and rural environment, the party was also firmly anchored in the clergy. It won the majority of the elected the 1918 elections,[12] but the VP formed a government.[13]

The VP won elections in 1922, January 1926 and April 1926, but the FBP won the 1928 elections, and became the party of government until 1938,[13] with Josef Hoop serving as Prime Minister until 1945. In 1938 the FBP allowed the Patriotic Union (VU) to join it in a coalition government. The two parties governed in coalition until the 1997 elections,[14] after which the Patriotic Union formed a government. The FBP won the 2001 elections and its leader Otmar Hasler became Prime Minister. Following the 2005 elections the coalition was renewed,[14] with Hasler remaining Prime Minister. The VU's Klaus Tschütscher held the post between 2009 and 2013, after which FBP leader Adrian Hasler became Prime Minister.

In the 2017 state election, the FBP lost 4.8% of the vote and was awarded only nine of the 25 seats. However, it remained the party with the most votes in the state parliament, as the Patriotic Union only gained slightly and still had eight MPs.

In the 2021 state elections, Adrian Hasler and government councilor Mauro Pedrazzini (also a FBP member) decided not to run for government again after eight years. With Sabine Monauni, the FBP nominated a woman as Prime Minister candidate for the state elections for the first time. The party nominated Katrin Eggenberger and Manuel Frick as further candidates for the government.

The FBP achieved 35.9% of the votes in the 2021 state elections and thus ten state parliament seats. Mathematically, the FBP was elected by around 100 voters (0.6%) more. The discrepancy arose from the fact that the voters in the Oberland, with 15 votes per ballot paper, had a higher weight on the total party vote result than the voters in the Unterland with ten votes per person. Voter turnout was stable at 78.0%.

Ideology and policy

The FBP tends to be conservative on social/cultural issues. As for economic issues, it is economically liberal but also claims to follow a social market economy policy.[15] The party states its policies are based on Christian values such as solidarity, respect and justice.[15] It also advocates a dualistic form of government, claiming to support both the monarchy and the people as sovereigns.[15]

LGBT rights
Main article: LGBT rights in Liechtenstein

Compared to the Patriotic Union, members of the FBP are more inclined to support LGBT rights:

Differences between the two main political parties in Liechtenstein on LGBT rights
Subjects on LGBT rightsProgressive Citizens' PartyPatriotic Union
Motion to introduce a Registered Partnership law (24 October 2007)[16] 10 For, 2 Against 6 For, 4 Against
Response to the candidate survey conducted by the Youth wing of the Free List party (leading up to the 2021 general election), containing the following question: Should same-sex couples have the same rights as heterosexual couples in all areas?[17] 20 candidates; 18 (9 'Yes', 9 'Rather Yes') to 2 ('Rather No') 22 candidates; 15 (8 'Yes', 7 'Rather Yes') to 7 (6 'Rather No', 1 'No')
Response to a voter poll conducted in February 2021 by the Liechtenstein Institute, regarding the same survey question listed in the row above.[18] 74% (47% 'Yes', 27% 'Rather Yes') to 27% (13% 'No', 14% 'Rather No')a 68% (41% 'Yes', 27% 'Rather Yes') to 32% (15% 'No', 17% 'Rather No')
Signatories on a motion submitted on 21 September 2022 (i.e., to ask the Landtag to introduce legislation that would legalize same-sex civil marriage)[19][20][21]
15 / 25
(60%)
10 / 10
(100% of sitting members, excluding their three (3) substitute members)
2 / 10
(20% of sitting members, excluding their three (3) substitute members)
Amendment of the General Civil Code and the Partnership Act (Equality of same-sex couples in adoption law)[22] 10 For, 0 Against 7 For, 3 Against
a. Percentages do not add up to 100%.

The FBP also voted en bloc with the Free List (FL) party on 6 May 2022 to narrowly defeat a proposed legislation (i.e., Amendment to the Article 25 of the Partnership Act) that would have limited adoption and reproductive rights of same-sex couples.[23][24][25]

Electoral history

Landtag elections
Election Leader Votes  % Seats +/– Rank Government
1918 Franz Verling
7 / 15
 New 1st Coalition
1922 Josef Ospelt
4 / 15
 Decrease 3 Decrease 2nd Opposition
1926 (Jan) Bernhard Risch
6 / 15
 Increase 2 Steady 2nd Opposition
1926 (Apr) Ludwig Marxer
6 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Opposition
1928 Josef Hoop
11 / 15
 Increase 5 Increase 1st Coalition
1930
15 / 15
 Increase 4 Steady 1st Coalition
1932
13 / 15
 Decrease 2 Steady 1st Coalition
1936
11 / 15
 Decrease 2 Steady 1st Coalition
1939
8 / 15
 Decrease 3 Steady 1st Coalition
1945 1,553 54.72
8 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition
1949 Alexander Frick 1,555 52.93
8 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition
1953 (Feb) 1,458 50.54
8 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition
1953 (Jun) 1,568 50.43
8 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition
1957 1,689 52.36
8 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition
1958 1,839 54.47
9 / 15
 Increase 1 Steady 1st Coalition
1962 Gerard Batliner 1,599 47.18
8 / 15
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st Coalition
1966 1,791 48.47
8 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 1st Coalition
1970 1,978 48.83
7 / 15
 Decrease 1 Decrease 2nd Coalition
1974 Walter Kieber 17,332 50.08
8 / 15
 Increase 1 Increase 1st Coalition
1978 18,872 50.85
7 / 15
 Decrease 1 Decrease 2nd Coalition
1982 Otto Hasler 18,273 46.53
7 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Coalition
1986 39,853 42.75
7 / 15
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Coalition
1989 75,417 42.13
12 / 25
 Increase 5 Steady 2nd Coalition
1993 (Feb) Markus Büchel 71,209 44.19
12 / 25
 Steady 0 Steady 2nd Coalition
1993 (Oct) 65,075 41.34
11 / 25
 Decrease 1 Steady 2nd Coalition
1997 65,914 39.20
10 / 25
 Decrease 1 Steady 2nd Opposition
2001 Otmar Hasler 92,204 49.90
13 / 25
 Increase 3 Increase 1st Coalition
2005 94,545 48.74
12 / 25
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st Coalition
2009 Ernst Walch 86,951 43.47
11 / 25
 Decrease 1 Decrease 2nd Coalition
2013 Adrian Hasler 77,644 40.00
10 / 25
 Decrease 1 Increase 1st Coalition
2017 68,673 35.24
9 / 25
 Decrease 1 Steady 1st Coalition
2021 Sabine Monauni 72,319 35.88
10 / 25
 Increase 1 Decrease 2nd Coalition

Notes
  1. Previously Liechtensteiner Volksblatt.[2]
  2. Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei can also be translated as "Progressive Civic Party".

References
  1. "Präsidium" (in German). FBP. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  2. "Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei". e-archiv.li (in German). Liechtenstein National Archives. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  3. "Junge FBP" (in German). FBP. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  4. Nordsieck, Wolfram (2021). "Liechtenstein". Parties and Elections in Europe. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  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. Stefanini, Sara (5 February 2017). "Liechtenstein's Populists Gain Ground". Politico. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  7. "Liechtenstein voters elect new government". The Local. Agence France-Presse. 3 February 2013. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  8. O'Mara, Michael, ed. (1999). Facts about the World's Nations. H. W. Wilson. p. 565. ISBN 9780824209551.
  9. ALDE PACE - Members, alde-pace.org
  10. "History". Fürstentum Liechtenstein. Government of Liechtenstein Marketing. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
  11. Vincent E McHale (1983) Political parties of Europe, Greenwood Press, p609 ISBN 0-313-23804-9
  12. Nohlen, D & Stöver, P (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1182 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
  13. McHale, p611
  14. Nohlen & Stöver, p1157
  15. "Unser Selbstverständnis" (in German). FBP. Archived from the original on 29 March 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2023.
  16. "Motion Betreffend Eingetragene Partnerschaft Gleichgeschlechtlicher Paare Der Abgeordneten Paul Vogt, Pepo Frick Und Andrea Matt Vom (25. SEPTEMBER 2007)" (in German).
  17. "Gleiche Leiche Rechte für Alle!" (in German). FreieListe.li. 18 January 2021.
  18. "Wahlumfrage: Rückhalt für gleichgeschlechtliche Paare" (in German). Das Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 6 March 2021.
  19. "Motion zur öffnung der Ehe für alle" (PDF). Landtag.li (in German). 21 September 2022.
  20. "«Ehe für alle» kommt ins Rollen". Vaterland.li (in German). 21 September 2022.
  21. "15 Abgeordnete wollen die «Ehe für alle»". Vaterland.li (in German). 14 September 2022.
  22. "Landtag, 2. Dezember 2022, Trakt. 25-29 (watch from 01:19:27 to 01:44:37; see vote result around the 01:41:53 mark)". vimeopro (in German). 2 December 2022.
  23. "Abänderung des Partnerschaftsgesetzes und des Allgemeinen Bürgerlichen Gesetzbuches (Einführung der Stiefkindadoption für eingetragene Partner/innen und Lebensgefährt/innen) (Nr. 19/2022) [1. Lesung: 11. März 2022] - Stellungnahme der Regierung (Nr. 41/2022); 2. Lesung". landtag.li (in German). 6 May 2022.
  24. "Landtag, 6. Mai 2022, Trakt. 25 - 29". vimeopro (in German). 6 May 2022.
  25. "Art. 25 gekippt: Etappensieg für gleichgeschlechtliche Paare - Liechtenstein - Liechtensteiner Volksblatt, die Tageszeitung für Liechtenstein". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German).
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