The head of government of Liechtenstein (), known informally as the prime minister, is the chief executive of the government of Liechtenstein and chairs the cabinet of Liechtenstein. They are appointed by the sovereign prince of Liechtenstein with the consent of the Landtag of Liechtenstein (parliament of Liechtenstein) and are expected to command the confidence of both the prince and the Landtag. The appointed head of government is typically the leader of the political party with the most seats in the Landtag or a coalition of parties. The head of government cannot be a member of the Landtag at the same time, although they should meet the eligibility requirements for that office.

The position originated as in the 14th century. The role functioned as the head of the district office (), subordinate to the court of House of Liechtenstein. It was originally an undesired post within the court; this changed after Michael Menzinger applied for the role in 1833. The title was changed to governor () as a concession following the Revolution of 1848 in Liechtenstein and was formalized upon the ratification of the 1862 constitution of Liechtenstein on 26 September. For this reason, Menzinger is considered the first governor of Liechtenstein. In 1921, a new constitution was ratified in which the office was replaced by that of the prime minister. Under this constitution, the eligibility for becoming head of government was changed to require being natural-born in Liechtenstein. However, this requirement has been considered inactive since 1992.

The incumbent prime minister has been Brigitte Haas since 10 April 2025. There are currently six living former prime ministers, with Walter Kieber being the most recent death, in 2014.

Head of government

Political parties

State administrator (1861–1921) The (), also known as 'Governor', was the title of the head of government from 1848 to 1921.

PortraitNameTerm of officePartyCabinetPrinceTook office Left officeDuration1Michael Menzinger18331861Independent—Aloys IIJohann II 2 Karl Freiherr Haus von Hausen 1861 1884 Independent Hausen 3 Carl von In der Maur 1884 1892 Independent In der Maur I 4 Friedrich Stellwag von Carion 1892 1896 Independent Carion (3) Carl von In der Maur 1897 1913 Independent In der Maur II — Josef Ospelt 1913 1914 Independent — 5 Leopold Freiherr von Imhof 1914 1918 Independent Imhof — Martin Ritter 1918 1918 Christian-Social People's Party Provisional Executive Committee 6 Prince Karl Aloys of Liechtenstein 1918 1920 Independent Prince Karl Aloys 7 Josef Peer 1920 1921 Independent Peer 8 Josef Ospelt 1921 1921 Progressive Citizens' Party Ospelt

Prime Minister (1921–present) The () is the current title for the head of government. The office replaced that of State Administrator upon the ratification of the constitution of Liechtenstein on 5 October 1921.

PortraitNameTerm of officeElectionPartyCabinetPrinceTook office Left officeDuration 1 Josef Ospelt19211922 — Progressive Citizens' PartyOspeltJohann II — Alfons Feger 1922 1922 — Christian-Social People's Party — — Felix Gubelmann 1922 1922 — Progressive Citizens' Party — 2 Gustav Schädler 1922 1928 192219261926 Christian-Social People's Party Schädler — Prince Alfred of Liechtenstein 1928 1928 — Independent —3Josef Hoop19281945192819301932Progressive Citizens' PartyHoop IFranz I 1936 Hoop II—1939Hoop IIIFranz Josef II —1945 Hoop IV4Alexander Frick19451962 —1949Progressive Citizens' Party Frick I —195319531957 Frick II —19581962 Frick III5Gerard Batliner19621970 —Progressive Citizens' Party Batliner I —1966 Batliner II — Batliner III 6 Alfred Hilbe 1970 1974 1970 Patriotic Union Hilbe 7 Walter Kieber 1974 1978 1974 Progressive Citizens' Party Kieber8Hans Brunhart19781993 1978Patriotic Union Brunhart I 1982 Brunhart II 1986 Brunhart III1989Brunhart IVHans-Adam II 9 Markus Büchel 1993 1993 1993 Progressive Citizens' Party Büchel10Mario Frick19932001 1993Patriotic Union Frick I 1997 Frick II11Otmar Hasler20012009 2001Progressive Citizens' Party O. Hasler I 2005 O. Hasler II 12 Klaus Tschütscher 2009 2013 2009 Patriotic Union Tschütscher13Adrian Hasler20132021 2013Progressive Citizens' Party A. Hasler I 2017 A. Hasler II 14 Daniel Risch 2021 2025 2021 Patriotic Union Risch 15 Brigitte Haas 2025 Incumbent 2025 Patriotic Union Haas

Timeline

Deputy head of government The deputy head of government is the secondary chief executive in Liechtenstein. One of the government councillors is appointed to the position by the prince of Liechtenstein upon the proposal of the Landtag of Liechtenstein.

PortraitNameTerm of officePartyPrime MinisterCabinetTook office Left officeDuration NameParty1Alfons Feger19221928Christian-Social People's PartyJosef OspeltProgressive Citizens' PartyOspelt Alfons Feger Christian-Social People's Party — Felix Gubelmann Progressive Citizens' Party — Gustav Schädler Christian-Social People's Party SchädlerVacant Prince Alfred of Liechtenstein Independent — 2 Ludwig Marxer 1928 1933 Progressive Citizens' PartyJosef HoopProgressive Citizens' PartyHoop I3Anton Frommelt19331938Progressive Citizens' Party Hoop II4Alois Vogt19381945Patriotic Union Hoop III Hoop IV5Ferdinand Nigg19451957Patriotic UnionAlexander FrickProgressive Citizens' Party Frick IFrick II6Josef Büchel19571965Patriotic Union Frick IIIGerard BatlinerProgressive Citizens' Party Batliner I7Alfred Hilbe19651970Patriotic Union Batliner II Batliner III 8 Walter Kieber 1970 1974 Progressive Citizens' Party Alfred Hilbe Patriotic Union Hilbe 9 Hans Brunhart 1974 1978 Patriotic Union Walter Kieber Progressive Citizens' Party Kieber (8) Walter Kieber 1978 1980 Progressive Citizens' PartyHans BrunhartPatriotic UnionBrunhart I10Hilmar Ospelt19801986Progressive Citizens' PartyBrunhart II11Herbert Wille19861993Progressive Citizens' Party Brunhart III 12 Mario Frick 1993 1993 Patriotic Union Markus Büchel Progressive Citizens' Party Büchel 13 Thomas Büchel 1993 1997 Progressive Citizens' PartyMario FrickPatriotic Union Frick I 14 Michael Ritter 1997 2001 Patriotic Union Frick II 15 Rita Kieber-Beck 2001 2005 Progressive Citizens' PartyOtmar HaslerProgressive Citizens' Party O. Hasler I 16 Klaus Tschütscher 2005 2009 Patriotic Union O. Hasler II 17 Martin Meyer 2009 2013 Progressive Citizens' Party Klaus Tschütscher Patriotic Union Tschütscher 18 Thomas Zwiefelhofer 2013 2017 Patriotic UnionAdrian HaslerProgressive Citizens' Party A. Hasler I 19 Daniel Risch 2017 2021 Patriotic Union A. Hasler II20Sabine Monauni2021IncumbentProgressive Citizens' Party Daniel Risch Patriotic Union Risch Brigitte Haas Patriotic Union Haas

Timeline

See also Politics of Liechtenstein List of monarchs of Liechtenstein List of Liechtenstein general elections List of cabinets of Liechtenstein Lists of office-holders

References

Further reading