This update covers events that took place between 1st November 2024 and 25th February 2025.
GENERAL
Voters elect first female Prime Minister
On 9th February 2025, Liechtenstein elected its legislature and executive. A populist nationalist formation, the Demokraten pro Liechtenstein (DpL), came third after the two historic formations, the Vaterländische Union (VU) and the Fortschrittliche Bürgerpartei (FBP). Brigitte Haas became the first female Prime Minister in the history of the country, as her conservative party won the election.
Third of population not allowed to vote
A third of the Liechtenstein population does not participate in elections. The country has restrictive naturalisation criteria. On 20th February 2025, the Association for Human Rights published its final study on political participation for the foreign population as part of its Diversity in Politics project. The Association listed various recommendations.
Same sex marriage enters into effect
On 1st January 2025, the amended Marriage Act took effect, allowing same-sex couples to marry, after being voted in last year.
Liechtenstein presents progress regarding equality before UN Committee
On 14th February 2025, the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women concluded its consideration of the sixth periodic report of Liechtenstein. The report underscores the close cooperation between public institutions, non-governmental organisations and civil society, and notes that numerous civil society organisations in Liechtenstein receive support and funding. The Committee Experts commended Liechtenstein’s commitment to improving the status of women. They asked questions about the low number of convictions for gender-based violence offences and whether measures were taken to ensure that investment promoted the rights of vulnerable women globally.
EXPRESSION
Follow up on vote to end state funding for the country’s single public radio
On 4th December 2024, the Parliament discussed the future of Radio Liechtenstein and an amendment to the Media Promotion Act and the Media Act, following the October referendum that decided to end state funding for the country’s only public radio broadcaster.
The next legislative session is scheduled for the end of March 2025. The Parliament will decide how to implement the vote, the radio’s effective end date and a potential privatisation process. In this context, the international organisation Reporters Without Borders called on the Liechtenstein Parliament to “outline a roadmap to ensure the station maintains its editorial independence, internal pluralism, and ability to produce news content”.
We call on the Landtag to act responsibly: delay the privatisation until at least the end of 2026 to give the radio station time to prepare for the transition, and impose guarantees on its future investor so the station maintains its editorial independence, internal pluralism, and ability to produce news content
- Pavol Szalai, Head of Reporters Without Borders EU-Balkans Desk
ASSOCIATION
On 20th February 2025, SOS Children’s Village Liechtenstein presented its 2024 Annual Report. Last year, the organisation supported four national and 39 international programmes for a total of 2.6 million francs (USD 2,894,600).