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Democrats for Liechtenstein

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Democrats for Liechtenstein
Demokraten pro Liechtenstein
AbbreviationDpL
LeaderThomas Rehak
Founded21 September 2018
Split fromThe Independents
Ideology
Political positionRight-wing[5]
Colours  Blue
Landtag
2 / 25
Mayors
0 / 11
Municipal Councils
5 / 104
Website
www.dpl.li/

The Democrats for Liechtenstein (German: Demokraten pro Liechtenstein; abbreviated DpL) is a political party in Liechtenstein. Formed as a splinter of The Independents in September 2018,[6] the party initially held three seats in the Landtag of Liechtenstein.[7] It won 11.1% of votes and two seats in the 2021 general election.[8]

History

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On 16 August 2018, Landtag member Erich Hasler was expelled from The Independents (DU) under controversial circumstances. Thomas Rehak and Herbert Elkuch, also members of the Landtag representing The Independents, subsequently left the party in opposition to Hasler's expulsion.[9] The three founded a new parliamentary group, provisionally named "New Faction" (German: Neue Fraktion). This left The Independents with only two members of the Landtag; the new group was granted DU's seat in the presidium of the Landtag. The Democrats for Liechtenstein (DpL) party was officially founded on 21 September 2018, with Thomas Rehak becoming its leader.[6][10]

There was initially controversy about whether the DpL was entitled to public funding, since it had entered the Landtag without standing for election. In February 2019, the Administrative Court granted DpL the annual lump sum of CHF 55,000 which all parties represented in the Landtag are entitled to under the Political Party Financing Act.[6]

In the 2021 election, the DpL won two seats, with Thomas Rehak and Herbert Elkuch remaining members of parliament, and Erich Hasler elected deputy member for DpL.[11] In 2024 polling, the party is expected to receive a significantly increased share of the vote from 2021 in the 2025 Liechtenstein general election.[12]

Political positions

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The DpL, along with the DU, is considered ideologically right-wing populist.[13] It is sceptical of migration and European integration.[13]

The party launched a popular initiative in 2022 for the exemption of pensioners from the annual health insurance deductible in response to the Landtag rejecting a proposal on 29 September 2021.[14] The proposal received 2,846 valid signatures on 29 April 2022, and it was accepted in the subsequent referendum on 26 June.[15]

On 27 June 2023 the DpL proposed a popular initiative for the constitution of Liechtenstein to be amended to change the election of Prime Minister and government to be elected then is given to the Landtag as a proposal, which is then voted for in secret ballots. If the parties with the highest number of votes enter into a coalition agreement following the election, then five of the six nominated candidates will form the future government. If no coalition agreement is reached, the party with the highest vote must nominate two additional government ministers who are not already a member.[16] The initiative received 1,994 valid signatures, but was rejected by voters in the subsequent referendum on 25 February 2024.[17]

The DpL has also presented another popular initiative regarding the privatization of Radio Liechtenstein, the Liechtenstein state broadcasting station.[18] It received 1,729 valid signatures on 2 August 2024 and is set to be held as a subject for referendum on 27 October.[19][20]

Electoral results

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Landtag elections

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Election Leader Votes % Seats +/– Rank Government
2021 Thomas Rehak 22,456 11.14
2 / 25
 New 4th Opposition

Local elections

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Mayoral elections
Year First round Second round Total

Mayors

Votes % Mayors Votes % Mayors
2019 719 5.5 0 625 11.5 0 0
Source: 1, 2
Municipal councils
Year Votes % Seats
2019 3,119 2.1
1 / 104
2023 8,980 6.1
5 / 104
Source: 1, 2, 3

References

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  1. ^ ""Ich rechne mit einem knappen Wahlausgang"". Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 23 January 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  2. ^ "DpL – Demokraten pro Liechtenstein". DpL. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  3. ^ https://www.euronews.com/2021/02/07/in-liechtenstein-38-378-of-the-world-s-wealthiest-people-go-to-the-polls In Liechtenstein, 38,378 of the world's wealthiest people go to the polls
  4. ^ "Europa ist (noch) kein Politikum im Land". Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  5. ^ ""QAnon"-Anhänger wollen in den Landtag". Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 12 December 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Marxer, Wilfred (10 March 2020). "Demokraten pro Liechtenstein (DpL) (DpL)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 21 February 2024.
  7. ^ "Liechtenstein". Europe Elects. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Landtag election 2021". Government of Liechtenstein.
  9. ^ "Rehak and Elkuch turn their backs on DU". Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 17 August 2018.
  10. ^ "Die neue Partei heisst DPL". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 21 September 2018. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Landtagswahlen 2021 – Ergebnisse". Principality of Liechtenstein. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  12. ^ Sele, David (3 July 2024). "Trend: VU und FBP stürzen ab, DpL auf 23 Prozent". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). Retrieved 28 July 2024.
  13. ^ a b Crowcroft, Orlando (7 February 2021). "In Liechtenstein, 38,378 of the world's wealthiest go to the polls". Euronews. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  14. ^ ch, Beat Müller, beat (arobas) sudd (point) (2022-06-26). "Liechtenstein, 26. Juni 2022 : Befreiung der Rentnerinnen und Rentner von der Franchise (Kostenbeteiligung) -- [en allemand]". sudd.ch (in French). Retrieved 2024-09-22.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ "Ergebnisse der Abstimmung". Fürstentum Liechtenstein Abstimmungen (in German). 26 June 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  16. ^ "Verfassungsinitiative angemeldet". DPL - Demokraten pro Liechtenstein (in German). 27 June 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  17. ^ "Liechtenstein, 25. Februar 2024 : Einbezug des Volkes bei der Bestellung der Regierung". Base de données et moteur de recherche pour la démocratie directe (in French). 2024-02-25. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  18. ^ "Am 27. Oktober entscheidet das Stimmvolk über Radio L". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 6 September 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  19. ^ "DpL übergeben 1729 Unterschriften". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 2 August 2024. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
  20. ^ Sele, David (4 September 2024). "Landtag lehnt Privatisierung von Radio L ab". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). Retrieved 22 September 2024.
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