Government of European Principality of Liechtenstein to Be Led by Woman for First Time in Over 100 Years

For the first time in the history of the monarchical state, a woman will become Prime Minister of the Principality of Liechtenstein - Brigitte Haas. Her party won the parliamentary elections, Politico reports.

In these elections, the centre-right Patriotic Union received 38.3% of the vote, while its colleague from previous coalitions, the conservative Progressive Civic Party, received 27.5%. The third place went to the right-wing populist Democrats for Liechtenstein, which has made significant gains since the previous election, and the fourth place to the left-wing Free List.

For more than a century, Liechtenstein's prime ministers have been men. Women in the principality were granted the right to vote only in 1984, and the first female member of parliament was elected two years later. Gender parity in Liechtenstein's government has not yet been achieved, the OSCE notes. In the current elections, less than a third of the largest parties had women on their lists.

Brigitte Haas is the chairman of the Liechtenstein Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and has extensive economic experience and international connections.

The Liechtenstein parliament consists of 25 members, who combine lawmaking with other work. Voting in the elections is mandatory by law, and the turnout in these elections exceeded 76%, with citizens voting mainly by post.

Liechtenstein, which is one of the smallest countries in Europe, remains a hereditary monarchy. The tiny principality with a population of 36,000, sandwiched between Switzerland and Austria, does not even have its own currency. The country uses the Swiss franc. The national anthem of the principality is sung to the tune of the British ‘God Save the Queen’. 

The Crown Prince of Liechtenstein still has the greatest powers among European monarchs: he has the absolute right to veto any decision made by the parliament or even the entire population. He can also dismiss members of the government, dissolve the parliament, and veto any court decision in Liechtenstein.  

Unlike other modern European monarchs, the Prince of Liechtenstein makes full use of his political power. He regularly intervenes in political discussions, saying which position he prefers, which decision should be made by the parliament or government in a particular area.