The Patriotic Union (, VU) is a liberal-conservative political party in Liechtenstein. 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, supporting a constitutional monarchy and advocating for greater democratic governance. Since 2026, it is led by Mario Wohlwend and holds ten seats in the 25-member Landtag of Liechtenstein.
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). While the VP was the larger and more popular party, following the merger members of the LHD took prominent positions in the leadership of the new party.
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 general 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, especially when it comes to LGBT rights. It is also economically liberal, advocating a modern liberal market economy with a balanced budget.
Election results Landtag elections Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Rank Status 1936Otto Schaedler New 2nd 1939 3 2nd 1945 1,285 45.28 2nd 1949 1,285 47.07 2nd Feb 1953 1,229 42.60 2nd Jun 1953 1,541 49.57 2nd 1957 1,537 47.64 2nd 1958 1,537 45.53 1 2nd 1962 1,448 42.73 1 2nd 1966Franz Nägele 1,581 42.79 2nd 1970Alfred Hilbe 2,008 49.57 1 1st 1974 16,356 47.26 1 2nd 1978Hans Brunhart 18,244 49.15 1 1st 1982 20,997 53.47 1st 1986 46,793 50.19 1st 1989 75,417 47.15 5 1st Feb 1993 73,217 45.43 2 2nd Oct 1993Mario Frick 78,898 50.12 2 1st 1997 82,786 49.23 1st 2001 76,402 41.35 2 2nd 2005Klaus Tschütscher 74,162 38.23 1 2nd 2009 95,219 47.61 3 1st 2013Thomas Zwiefelhofer 65,118 33.55 5 2nd 2017 65,742 33.73 2nd 2021Daniel Risch 72,361 35.89 2 1st 2025Brigitte Haas 79,478 38.32 1st
Presidents YearsLeaderRef1936–1965Otto Schaedler1965–1974Franz Nägele1974–1992Otto Hasler1992–2001Oswald Kranz2001–2005Heinz Frommelt2005–2011Adolf Heeb2011–2015Jakob Büchel2015–2021Günther Fritz2021–2026Thomas Zwiefelhofer2026–presentMario Wohlwend
Landtag group speakers
YearsLeader1953–1957Ivo Beck1966–1974Roman Gassner1974–1978Herbert Kindle1978–1982Franz Beck1982–1986Georg Gstöhl1986–1989Hermann Hasler1989–1993Reinhard Walser1993–1997Peter Wolff1997–2003Peter Sprenger2004Hugo Quaderer2005–2008Doris Beck2009–2013Peter Hilti2013–2017Christoph Wenaweser2017–2018Violanda Lanter2018–2020Günter Vogt2020–2025Manfred Kaufmann2025–Dagmar Bühler-Nigsch
References
External links