Politics of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is a small country in Europe that is led by a prince, but also has a democratic government. It is a semi-constitutional monarchy, meaning power is shared between the prince and people who vote. The Prince of Liechtenstein[/w/5] is the head of state and has important powers, but there is also a parliament that helps make decisions.

The government is run by a Cabinet of Liechtenstein[/w/8], led by a prime minister[/w/4]. This group works with the parliament, called the Landtag[/w/11], to make laws and manage the country. The two main parties are the Progressive Citizens' Party[/w/12] and the Patriotic Union[/w/13], which are both important in deciding how the country is run.

Liechtenstein did not let all adults vote until 1984. Before that year, only men could vote. After a vote by the people, the country changed its rules so that everyone could take part in choosing their leaders.

Constitution

Liechtenstein's current constitution was adopted in March 2003, updating an earlier one from 1921. This constitution made Liechtenstein a constitutional monarchy, where a prince leads but shares power with elected leaders.

In March 2003, most people in Liechtenstein voted to support changes suggested by Prince Hans-Adam II. These changes gave the prince more control, like the ability to block laws or dismiss leaders. Even though some groups criticized these changes, they were approved by about 64% of voters. Later, in 2012, a plan to take away some of the prince's powers was rejected by most voters.

Executive branch

Liechtenstein is ruled by a prince and a parliament that work together. The prince of Liechtenstein chooses the prime minister after elections, and the parliament must agree with this choice. The prime minister usually comes from the party or group of parties that has the most seats in parliament.

The current head of state is Hans-Adam II, who has been in this role since 1989. He can veto laws and make important decisions about the country. In 2004, he gave daily control to his son, Prince Alois. Since April 2025, the prime minister has been Brigitte Haas. The government, led by the prime minister, includes four councillors who help run the country from Vaduz, the capital. These government members are chosen by the prince after being elected by parliament.

Legislative branch

In Liechtenstein, the Prince plays an important role in making laws. He can suggest new laws and stop laws that the elected group of people, called parliament, wants to make. The Prince can also make important decisions quickly if the country needs it, but usually, he needs approval from the head of the government.

The Landtag, which is Liechtenstein’s parliament, has 25 members who are chosen every four years by the people. These members discuss and decide on new laws and important agreements with other countries. They also choose leaders for the government and courts, and they manage the country’s money. The President of the Landtag is chosen at the start of each year to lead the meetings.

The people of Liechtenstein also have strong powers. If enough people ask, they can vote on laws directly. This can even change how the country is run or its rules, but it needs many votes to happen.

Political parties and elections

For other political parties, see List of political parties in Liechtenstein. An overview on elections and election results is included in Elections in Liechtenstein.

Political parties play a big role in deciding who leads the government in Liechtenstein. From 1938 to 1997, two main parties, the FBP and VU, worked together in what we call coalition governments. This changed in 1997 when one party won more seats and began to govern alone. But after the 2005 elections, the two parties started working together again.

Liechtenstein is mostly seen as a two-party system with the FBP and VU. However, since the 2013 elections, more parties have started winning seats in the government. In the 2025 elections, a new party called the Democrats for Liechtenstein won the most seats ever for a third party. These smaller parties help watch over the government's work.

Judicial branch

Main article: Courts of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein's judicial branch includes several important courts. The main courts are the Supreme Court, the Princely Court of Appeals, and the Princely Court of Justice. There are also special courts for administrative law and constitutional law. These courts help make sure the laws are followed fairly.

Administrative divisions

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

Municipalities

Municipalities of Liechtenstein can choose to leave the country by a vote of most of their people.

These small communities have more freedom than many others in Europe, similar to Switzerland. Some have extra pieces of land far away from their main area. In about half of these communities, groups of citizens share forests and pastures together.

The municipalities are split into two areas called Unterland and Oberland, a division that has been around for a long time. Unterland depends on Schellenberg, while Oberland depends on the county of Vaduz.

International organization participation

Liechtenstein belongs to many groups that help countries work together. Some of these groups are the Council of Europe, European Free Trade Association, United Nations, and the International Olympic Committee. These organizations help with many important issues like trade, safety, and sports.

Liechtenstein is also part of groups like the International Atomic Energy Agency, International Criminal Court, and World Trade Organization. These help with topics such as energy, law, and trading between countries.