General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 1 February 1970 to elect the 15 members of the Landtag. The Patriotic Union (VU) won eight seats and gained a majority for the first time since its founding in 1936, while the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won seven. Voter turnout was 94.8%.

Incumbent prime minister Gerard Batliner of the FBP sought re-election for a third term, while the VU nominated Alfred Hilbe for the position. The Christian Social Party (CSP) also contested the election, but failed to win any seats in the Landtag. Following the elections, Batliner resigned and the coalition government between the VU and FBP was placed under the leadership of Hilbe. The new government was sworn in on 18 March 1970, ending 42 years of FBP-led governments.

Background In the 1966 elections, the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won eight seats and retained its majority while the Patriotic Union (VU) won seven. The coalition government under the leadership of Gerard Batliner remained.

Batliner's second term in office was characterised by the establishment of the Association for Special Education Assistance in 1967 and the introduction of unemployment Insurance in 1969. It also saw debate regarding the introduction of women's suffrage in Liechtenstein, with a bipartisan referendum on the issue being rejected by voters in 1968.

Electoral system The 15 members of the Landtag were elected by open list proportional representation from two constituencies, Oberland with 9 seats and Unterland with 6 seats. Voters vote for a party list and then may strike through candidates for whom they do not wish to cast a preferential vote, and may add names of candidates from other lists. The electoral threshold to win a seat is 18%. Landtag members sit for a four-year term. Once formed, the Landtag elects the prime minister and four government councillors who govern in a cabinet. The elections used a majority clause, where the party with the most votes would automatically win the most seats. Only men aged 21 and above were eligible to vote.

Campaign

The FBP's candidate for prime minister was the incumbent Batliner. The FBP presented itself as a party of stability and experience. At the same time, the party highlighted its internal reforms, which allowed for greater youth participation and allowed women to participate in internal party procedures for the first time, arguing that it was a modern party that could adapt to the times. The FBP criticized the VU for demanding a change in government, but supposedly offering no alternatives. During campaigning, it also advocated for improving relations between the state and Liechtenstein's municipalities through policies such as joint projects. The FBP's programme also included policies such as expanding health insurance, building retirement homes for the elderly, workers' rights, and European integration.

The VU nominated incumbent deputy prime minister, Alfred Hilbe, for prime minister in January 1970. The party sought to obtain a majority in the Landtag. Furthermore, it argued that Liechtenstein required a change in leadership and that the VU was ready to assume leadership of the government. Hilbe and the VU accused the FBP of stagnation, undermining the political minority, and hindering cooperation through "arbitrariness". The VU advocated for improved political education for the youth, increased rapport with politicians, and equal employment opportunities for young men and women. Other issues addressed by the VU included expanding unemployment insurance, promoting home ownership, supporting families, and cooperation with the European Communities.

The Christian Social Party (CSP) campaigned through its newspaper, Der Liechtensteiner. The party advocated for electoral reform, and stated that the electoral system disadvantaged third parties. For this reason, as an act of protest, the party did not present candidates in the Oberland electoral district, and only for Unterland. The CSP accused both the FBP and VU of acting undemocratically, including allegedly incentivising or intimidating voters away from the CSP in 1966; the party presented itself as an alternative to the FBP and VU. The party's programme included policies such as tax relief for workers, the introduction of health insurance, social housing, and the establishment of a hospital in Liechtenstein.

Candidates Political parties in Liechtenstein require the support of 30 voters from a constituency to be eligible to nominate a candidate list in it. A total of 32 candidates contested the election. OberlandFBPVU Alexander Frick Peter Marxer Josef Büchel Josef Frommelt Hans Verling Arnold Schurte Gerold Hilbe Gustav Jehle Emanuel Vogt Karlheinz Ritter Roman Gassner Johann Beck Franz Beck Otto Hasler Herbert Kindle Georg Gstöhl Wolfgang Feger Eugen SchädlerUnterlandFBPVUCSP Ernst Büchel Georg Malin Hugo Wohlwend Anton Gerner Heinz Büchel Werner Gstöhl Franz Nägele Cyrill Büchel Alois Kind Eugen Hasler Anton Marxer Gebhard Näscher Fritz Kaiser Rupert WalserSource: Liechtensteiner Volksblatt

Results The VU received 49.6% of the vote, a 6.8% increase from 1966, and won a majority of eight seats, an increase of one. It was the first time that the party achieved a majority since its founding in 1936. The FBP received 48.8%, a 0.4% increase from 1966, and won seven seats, a decrease of one. The CSP saw its vote share decrease from 8.7% to 1.6%, and won no seats.

A total of 4,085 ballots were cast, resulting in a 94.8% voter turnout.

By electoral district Electoral districtSeatsElectoratePartyElected membersSubstitutesVotes%Seats+/–Oberland92,946Patriotic Union1,45652.950Progressive Citizens' Party1,29547.140Unterland61,363Progressive Citizens' Party68352.53 1Patriotic Union55242.53 1Christian Social Party––655.000Source: Vogt

Aftermath

Following the elections, Batliner resigned as prime minister. The VU invited the FBP to begin negotiations for a renewed coalition government, which the FBP accepted. The VU declined a compromise between the two parties regarding spatial planning. Despite internal opposition from within the FBP, the VU and FBP eventually entered into a renewed coalition government, ultimately under the leadership of Hilbe. Following Batliner's resignation, the FBP nominated Walter Kieber for government instead, and as the junior party in the coalition, he became the deputy prime minister. The new government was sworn in on 18 March 1970. Karlheinz Ritter of the VU became became President of the Landtag upon its first session on 13 March 1970, with Alexander Frick of the FBP as vice president.

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