2011 Liechtenstein referendums explained

Country:Liechtenstein
Barwidth:180px
Part1 Subject:Registered Partnership Law
Part1 Choice1:For
Part1 Percentage1:68.76
Part1 Choice2:Against
Part1 Percentage2:31.24
Part2 Subject:Allowing abortion within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy
Part2 Choice1:For
Part2 Percentage1:47.66
Part2 Choice2:Against
Part2 Percentage2:52.34
Part3 Subject:Building a new national hospital in Vaduz
Part3 Choice1:For
Part3 Percentage1:41.91
Part3 Choice2:Against
Part3 Percentage2:58.09
Mapdivision:municipality
Mapcaption:Results by municipality for Registered Partnership Law (left), abortion (center) and new hospital (right)

Three referendums were held in Liechtenstein during 2011. The first on approving the registered partnership law was held between 17 and 19 June,[1] [2] and was approved by 68.8% of voters. The law went into effect on 1 September.[3] The second was held on 18 September on allowing abortion within the first twelve weeks of pregnancy.[4] Prince Alois had threatened to veto the result of the referendum should it have turned out in favour,[5] but ultimately it was rejected by voters.[6] The third was on building a new national hospital in Vaduz was held on 30 October, and was also rejected.

Registered partnership law

The registered partnership law (Lebenspartnerschaft) was passed unanimously by the Landtag of Liechtenstein in the second reading on March 16 and published on March 21, 2011.[7] [8] However, the group Vox Populi, led by a cousin of archbishop Wolfgang Haas, announced its intention to force a referendum.[9] [10] According to the constitution, the organisation had until 21 April (30 days) to collect at least 1000 signatures.[11] Because the necessary signatures were gathered (1208 valid signatures), a referendum was held on the evening of 17 June and the morning of 19 June 2011.

Campaign

The registered partnership law was supported by the government and all parties in the Landtag, but opposed by the socially conservative advocacy group "Vox Populi" and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Vaduz.[12]

New hospital

On 28 June the Landtag passed a bill approving spending 83 million francs on the construction of a national hospital in Vaduz by 14 votes to 11. A request for an advisory referendum was rejected by 12 votes to 11, but a committee gathered 2,951 signatures between 8 July and 3 August, forcing a referendum.[13]

Results

Registered partnerships

The referendum achieved a good turnout of about 70 percent as of Friday evening because of a large majority of voters who had already used postal voting.[14] Total turnout was 74.2 percent.[15]

National hospital

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Partnerschaftsgesetz: Volk entscheidet Mitte Juni. de. Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 26 April 2011. 14 June 2011.
  2. News: Liechtensteiner stimmen im Juni über Homo- Ehe ab. de. Schweizerische Depeschenagentur, Liechtensteiner Volksblatt. Vorarlberger Medienhaus. 26 April 2011. 14 June 2011.
  3. Web site: 68,8 % Ja-Stimmen für Partnerschaftsgesetz . 19 June 2012 . 12 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312041806/http://www.volksblatt.li/?newsid=60298&src=vb&region=li . bot: unknown .
  4. Web site: The Local - Liechtenstein to vote on legalising abortion . Thelocal.ch . 2011-09-14 . 2012-02-14.
  5. Web site: Liechtenstein prince threatens to veto referendum . Associated Press/The Oklahoman . 2011-09-08 . 2019-05-23 . 2019-05-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190523200204/https://oklahoman.com/article/feed/293725/liechtenstein-prince-threatens-to-veto-referendum . dead .
  6. http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=li022011 Liechtenstein, 18 September 2011: Deadline solution for abortion
  7. News: Ja zur eingetragenen Partnerschaft. de. Liechtensteiner Volksblatt. 16 March 2011. 14 June 2011. 12 March 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120312041720/http://www.volksblatt.li/?newsid=56596&src=vb&region=li. dead.
  8. News: Landtag einhellig für Partnerschaftsgesetz. de. Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 16 March 2011. 14 June 2011.
  9. News: Partnerschaftsgesetz: Doch noch Widerstand. de. Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 28 March 2011. 14 June 2011.
  10. News: Liechtenstein stimmt über die Homo- Ehe ab. de. Austria Presse Agentur. Teleport. 17 June 2011. 18 June 2011.
  11. News: Liebe ist ein Menschenrecht. de. Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 4 April 2011. 14 June 2011.
  12. Web site: Information zur Volksabstimmung. Government of Liechtenstein. PDF. 18 June 2011. 2 October 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20111002083140/http://login.gmgnet.li/gmgms/abstimmung/dateienordner/abspresseamt/documents/GzD_5_Infobrosch_Partnerschaftsges_634418528686626250.pdf. dead.
  13. http://www.sudd.ch/event.php?lang=en&id=li032011 Liechtenstein, 30 October 2011: New build of the National Hospital
  14. News: Partnerschaftsgesetz lockt viele an die Urne. de. Liechtensteiner Vaterland. 17 June 2011. 18 June 2011.
  15. Web site: Akt. Abstimmungen > Ergebnisse 19.06.2011. de. Presse- und Informationsamt Fürstentum Liechtenstein. 19 June 2011. 19 June 2011.