Liechtenstein Government - 1986

GEOGRAPHICAL NAMES 

Official name: Principality of Liechtenstein

Type, hereditary constitutional monarchy

Capital: Vaduz

Political subdivisions: 11 communes

Legal system: principality has its own civil and penal codes; lowest court is county court (Landgericht), presided over by one judge, which decides minor civil cases and summary criminal offenses; criminal court (Kriminalgericht), with a bench of five judges, is for major crimes; another court of mixed jurisdiction is the court of assizes (three judges) for misdemeanors; Superior Court (Obergerichtl and Supreme Court (Oberster Gerichtshof) are courts of appeal for civil and criminal cases (five judges each); an administrative court of appeal from government actions and the State Court determine the constitutionality of laws; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations

Branches: unicameral legislature (Diet) with 15 deputies elected to four-year terms, hereditary Prince, independent judiciary

Government leaders: FRANZ JOSFF II, Prince (since 1938); Hans BRUNHART, Head of Government (Prime Minister; since May 1978); the Prince transferred most of his executive powers to his son, Prince HANS ADAM, in August 1984

Suffrage: universal adult

Elections: every four years; last election 1986

Political parties and leaders: Fatherland Union (VU), Dr. Otto Hasler; Progressive Citizens’ Party (FBP), Dr. Herbert Batliner, Christian Social Party, Fritz Kaiser

Voting strength: (1986) VU 50.2% (8 seats), FBP about 41.9% (7 seats)

Communists: none

Member of: Council of Europe, EFTA, IAEA, INTELSAT, INTERPOL, ITU, UNCTAD, UNIDO, UNICEF, UPU, WIPO; considering UN membership; has consultative status in the EC; under several

post-World War 1 treaties Switzerland handles Liechtenstein’s customs and represents the principality abroad on a diplomatic and consular level w henever requested to do so by the Liechtenstein Government

NOTE: The information regarding Liechtenstein on this page is re-published from the 1986 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency and other sources. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Liechtenstein 1986 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Liechtenstein 1986 should be addressed to the CIA or the source cited on each page.