General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 18 March 1872 to elect 7 of the 15 members of the Landtag. Half of the twelve elected members were up for re-election after the end of their six-year term, whereas the other half had been elected in 1869 elections. In addition, a seventh seat was up for election to fill the vacancy left by Karl Schädler. The seven seats were indirectly elected by electors selected by voters, while one were appointed by Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein.
Background The term of the elected Landtag was six years, and the six members elected in the 1866 elections, representing half of the elected members, were up for election due to the expiration of their term. Similarly, one princely-appointed member (Wilhelm Schlegel) was also set to be re-appointed by Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein due to the end of their term.
An additional seventh seat was also up for election to fill the vacancy that had been left by Karl Schädler when he resigned from the Landtag on 27 May 1871 due to colorectal cancer. He was succeeded as President of the Landtag by Schlegel.
The Landtag's term was characterized by passing numerous laws including establishing a state school council in 1869, the Poor Relief Act of 1869, building ordnance in 1870, and Rhine flood protection structures in 1871.
Electors Electors were selected through elections that were held between 1 and 8 March; each municipality had two electors for every 100 inhabitants. All male citizens aged 24 and above that were self-employed were eligible to vote.
MunicipalityElectors+/–Balzers22 +2Eschen180Gamprin60Mauren18–2Planken20Ruggell120Schaan200Schellenberg60Triesen180Triesenberg200Vaduz160Total1580Source: Vogt
Results
The electors met on 18 March in the hall of Vaduz Castle to elect seven Landtag members and five deputy members. Of the 158 electors, 150 were present for the voting. The Landtag members and their deputies were elected in three ballots, with one other member being appointed by Johann II. There were no political parties and the election of members was almost entirely focused on an individual's personality.
Elected members +First ballotElected memberMunicipalityVotesRuggell111Christoph WangerSchaan95Vaduz89Franz WolfingerBalzers85Alois SchlegelEschen76Source: Vogt +Third ballotElected memberMunicipalityVotesMartin Josef OehryEschen44Peter RheinbergerVaduz39Source: Vogt
Elected deputies +First ballotElected memberMunicipalityVotesVaduz114Andreas NägeleSchaan86Stefan RischTriesenberg76Johann Josef SchafhauserEschen73Source: Vogt +Third ballotElected memberMunicipalityVotesAlois RheinbergerVaduz44Source: Vogt
Appointed by the prince Appointed memberMunicipalityWilhelm SchlegelSchaanSource: Vogt
Aftermath Following the elections, Schlegel remained as President of the Landtag and as vice president.
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