General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 15 and 29 July 1928 to elect the 15 members of the Landtag. Early elections had been called due to Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein, forcing the resignation of the Christian-Social People's Party (VP) led government of prime minister Gustav Schädler due to an embezzlement scandal. The Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won a majority of eleven seats, whereas the VP won four. Voter turnout was 93.1%.

Following the elections, Josef Hoop of the FBP became prime minister. The new government was sworn in on 4 August 1928. The election was followed by 42 consecutive years of FBP-led governments, only ending in the 1970 elections.

Background In the April 1926 elections, called early after the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) refused to take their seats in the Landtag, the Christian-Social People's Party (VP) won a majority of nine seats, while the FBP won six. As a result, the VP majority government under the leadership of Gustav Schädler remained.

During the government's term, the 1927 Liechtenstein flood took place, destroying large portions of Schaan, Gamprin and Ruggell, reaching as far as Tosters, Austria, resulting in the deaths of two people and costing Liechtenstein 3.5 million Swiss francs in repairs, severely setting back the country's financial development.

In June 1928 leading members of the VP were arrested for embezzling funds from the National Bank of Liechtenstein for various speculative transactions. Once the scandal came to light, the opposition FBP demanded an investigation, the resignation of Schädler's government, and that new elections to be held. Johann II, Prince of Liechtenstein, who blamed the VP for the scandal, refused to meet Schädler in Vienna. Following a meeting with FBP representatives instead, the prince pressured Schädler's government to resign, which it did on 15 June. Prince Alfred of Liechtenstein was placed as acting prime minister, and fresh elections were called. Despite the VP Landtag members initially refusing to accept the resignation, believing it to be unconstitutional, Johann II defended the dismissal as necessary for Liechtenstein's security.

Campaign Both the VP and FBP campaigned primarily on their respective party newspapers − the Liechtensteiner Nachrichten and Liechtensteiner Volksblatt. The FBP blamed the VP for poor economic conditions in Liechtenstein and for the embezzlement scandal; the party called for those complicit in the scandal to pay for damages. In addition, the FBP accused Schädler and Wilhelm Beck, President of the Landtag, of gross negligence in regards to the national bank and the embezzlement scandal.

Conversely, the VP defended Schädler's record as prime minister, denied him and Beck having any involvement in the scandal, and considered Schädler's dismissal unjustified. In addition, the VP accused the FBP of being complicit in the scandal, particularly government councillor Peter Büchel. The VP criticized the FBP for exploiting the scandal in a way that was against Liechtenstein's interests, and accused the party of providing Johann II false information.

Electoral system The 15 members of the Landtag were elected via a majority system from two constituencies, Oberland with 9 seats and Unterland with 6 seats. Candidates that received the majority of votes in a constituency were elected. If a constituency did not receive enough elected candidates, then a second round would be held. Landtag members sit for a four-year term. Once formed, the Landtag elects the prime minister and two government councillors who govern in a cabinet. The prime minister is appointed for a six-year term, while government councillors sit a four-year term. Only men aged 21 and above were eligible to vote.

Candidates A total of 30 candidates were presented for the election. OberlandFBPVP Ferdinand Risch Georg Vogt Anton Frommelt Heinrich Brunhart Oswald Walser Josef Negele Fritz Walser Emil Walch Ludwig Marxer Josef Gassner Basil Vogt Gustav Ospelt Franz Amann Alois Jehle Baptist Quaderer

Emil Bargetze Adolf FrommeltUnterlandFBPVP Peter Büchel Emil Batliner

Wilhelm Büchel Franz Xaver Hoop

Karl Kaiser Adolf Goop Georg Jäger Felix Büchel Wilhelm Marxer Albrecht Marxer

Franz Josef HaslerSource: Vogt

Results The FBP won a majority of eleven seats, a five seat increase from their April 1926 performance, whereas the VP won four at a five seat decrease. Voter turnout was 93.1%.

By electoral district First round Electoral districtSeatsPartyElected membersVotesSeatswon+/–Oberland9Progressive Citizens' Party62505 5Christian-Social People's Party54903 5Unterland6Progressive Citizens' Party264060Christian-Social People's Party–150500Source: Vogt

Second round Franz Amann and Adolf Frommelt, both belonging to the VP, tied for 689 votes. As only one candidate could progress to the second round, it was put up to lottery to decide which candidate would be selected, which ultimately went in favour of Amann. Electoral districtSeatsPartySeatswonElected membersVotesOberland1Christian-Social People's Party1Franz Amann518Progressive Citizens' Party0–199Source: Vogt

Aftermath

In the opening session of the new Landtag, the VP demanded voluntary proportional representation from the FBP, including having a VP member as deputy prime minister and one government councillor. This former was rejected by the FBP however, as following the January and April 1926 elections, the party had a larger seat share and only received one government councillor, and thus the FBP ultimately agreed to appoint one VP member to government. However, motivated by a desire to not remain in the opposition for long, the VP renounced participation in government.

Despite the FBP's interest in Prince Alfred remaining as prime minister, he declined the position. As such, Ludwig Marxer recommended his friend Josef Hoop who was working in St. Gallen for the position; Hoop was chosen primarily due to him being largely uninvolved in previous political affairs. The new government was elected on 4 August 1936, with Marxer himself becoming deputy prime minister.

The VP suffered a significant defeat, the scandal and the election together are considered the fall of the party. It is also considered the demise of Beck as a national figure, as he was partially blamed for the scandal as chairman of the bank's board of directors; though he continued to lead the party, the membership largely became aimless. There was a myth that the VP lost votes as seasonal workers were unable to participate in the election due to being abroad, but this is unsupported by voting patterns from similar elections.

The election was followed by 42 consecutive years of FBP-led governments, only ending in the 1970 elections with the party's defeat to the VP's successor party Patriotic Union.

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