General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 3 and 5 March 1989 to elect the 25 members of the Landtag. Early elections were called due to the Progressive Citizens' Party's (FBP) Landtag members resiging in protest to the VU refusing to support an investigation into power abuse by the Liechtenstein state court in 1985 as part of the Kunsthaus case. The VU won thirteen seats and retained its majority, while the FBP won twelve. Voter turnout was 91.8%

The Landtag was expanded from 15 to 25 seats after a successful in referendum in 1988. Incumbent prime minister Hans Brunhart of the VU sought re-election for a fourth term, while the FBP nominated deputy prime minister Herbert Wille for the position. The election also saw two third parties contest the election; the Free List and the newly-formed Non-Party List, but both parties failed to reach the 8% threshold to win seats in the Landtag. Following the election, the VU and FBP entered into a renewed coalition government, ultimately under the leadership of Brunhart. The new government was sworn in on 5 June 1989.

Background In the 1986 elections, the VU won a majority of eight seats, whereas the FBP won seven. As a result, the VU and FBP formed a coalition government, with Hans Brunhart remaining as prime minister.

A municipal referendum for the building of an art museum in Vaduz was approved in 1980, and then another popular initiative against it succeeded in obtaining enough signatures in 1983. The initiative however, was rejected by the Vaduz municipal council, the government and finally the Liechtenstein state court. In 1984, the organizers behind the initiative successfully appealed for a reconsideration of the state court's ruling. However, president of the state court Erich Seeger overturned the ruling and rejected the consideration, which damaged the reputation of the court and resulted in several resignations.

Though it was found that an abuse of power had taken place, Seeger was acquitted in 1987. In late 1988, the FBP sought form a commission in the Landtag to investigate the power abuse further, but it was rejected by the majority VU; the FBP threatened to propose a motion of no confidence against Brunhart's government, but withdrew at the request of President of the Landtag Karlheinz Ritter. On 21 December 1988 all the members of the Landtag belonging to the FBP walked out in protest to the rejection of the commission. Talks between the two parties failed in January 1989 failed as neither party agreed to change position. Following the resignation of Brunhart's government, the Landtag was dissolved early elections were called. Regent Hans-Adam, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein kept Brunhart's government in office with full authority during this time.

Electoral system

The 25 members of the Landtag are elected via open list proportional representation from two constituencies, Oberland with 15 seats and Unterland with 10 seats. Voters vote for a party list and then may strike through candidates for whom they do not wish to cast a preferential vote, and may add names of candidates from other lists. The electoral threshold to win a seat is 8%. Landtag members sit for a four-year term. Once formed, the Landtag elects the prime minister and four government councillors who govern in a cabinet. Voting is compulsory by law, and those who fail to vote without a valid reason may be fined, but this is no longer enforced. Citizens over 20 years of age who have been resident in the country for one month prior to election day were eligible to vote.

The number of Landtag members was increased from 15 to 25 following a successful referendum in 1988.

Candidates Political parties must have the support of 30 voters from a constituency to be eligible to nominate a candidate list in it. A total of 70 candidates were presented for the election; 56 men and 14 women. OberlandFBPVUFLULL Josef Biedermann Rösle Eberle Louis Gassner Theo Gassner Martin Jehle Johann Kindle Mario Negele Alois Ospelt Gert Risch Georg Schierscher Evi Sochin Anton Vogt Dieter Walch Ernst Walch Karlheinz Ritter Alfons Schädler Emma Brogle Paul Kindle Helmuth Matt Georg Vogt Reinhard Walser Hildegard Beck Hans Peter Foser Walter Schädler Valerie Schädler Xaver Schädler Patrick Hilty Rita Frick Franz WachterGerda Bicker Helen Marxer Sonja Wachter Margrit Willie Ludwig Frommelt Peter Frommelt Hilmar Hoch Hansjörg Hilti Georg Kaufmann Wilfred Marxer Paul VogtLeo Sele Hans Walter Büchel Rainer Ospelt Hans-Peter Rheinbeger Rudolf Schädler Josef BüchelUnterlandFBPVUFLULL Hugo Allgäuer Josef Büchel Pius Büchel Emma Eigenmann Roland Elkuch Otmar Hasler Felix Hassler Carl Kaiser Franz Marxer Heinz Ritter Hermann Hassler Günther Wohlwend Beat Hasler Karl-Heinz Oehri Edwin Marxer Walter Oehry Helga Schindler Manfred Biedermann Irmgard Spalt Oswald KranzBernd Erne Toni RitterGerti MarxerSource: Liechtensteiner Volksblatt

Results

By electoral district Electoral districtSeatsPartyElected membersSubstitutesVotes%SeatsOberland15Patriotic Union58,17048.108Progressive Citizens' Party48,37640.007Free List––9,8308.130Non-Party List––4,5543.770Unterland10Progressive Citizens' Party18,94148.825Patriotic Union17,12344.135Free List––2,2285.740Non-Party List––5081.310Source: Liechtensteiner Volksblatt

Aftermath

Following the election, the VU invited the FBP to begin negotiations for a renewed coalition government, which the FBP accepted. The two parties entered into a renewed coalition government, though the members were unchanged from the 1986 elections; Brunhart would remain as prime minister, and as the junior party in the coalition, Wille would remain as deputy prime minister. The new government was sworn in on 5 June 1989.

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