General elections were held in Liechtenstein on 1 September 1957 to elect the 15 members of the Landtag. The Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) won eight seats and retained its majority, while the Patriotic Union (VU) won seven. Voter turnout was 93.4%.

Following the elections, the coalition government between the FBP and VU led by prime minister Alexander Frick remained. The new government was sworn in on 31 December 1957. An electoral complaint was filed by the VU following the election, which resulted in a constitutional amendment and fresh elections being held in 1958.

Background In the June 1953 elections the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) retained its majority of eight seats, while the Patriotic Union (VU) won seven. The coalition government under the leadership of Alexander Frick remained. The elections had been called early due to the VU members of the Landtag walking out in protest of the FBP rejecting the former's demands to have a majority of the seven-member administrative composition of the old age and survivors' insurance (AHV).

Frick's third term in office oversaw land consolidation in 1956 to strengthen agriculture. It also saw adjustments to the border with Switzerland in 1955, and the signing of a double taxation agreement with Austria the following year.

Electoral system The 15 members of the Landtag were elected by open list proportional representation from two constituencies, Oberland with 9 seats and Unterland with 6 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 18%. 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.

Campaign

Both the FBP and VU campaigned on their respective party newspapers, the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt and Liechtensteiner Vaterland. The FBP accused the VU's programme of copying the former, specifically in regards to economic and social policy. Similarly, the FBP appealed to workers, farmers, and tradespeople while accusing the VU of intentionally withholding information from voters. The party campaigned on things such as the construction of private housing, expanding health insurance, taxation reform, increasing pensions, and the establishment of an agricultural school. The party's candidate for prime minister was the incumbent Frick.

Conversely, the VU also criticized the FBP's programme for being vague and recycled from the VU's own policies. The party argued that Liechtenstein required a change in leadership, and that the VU was ready to assume government leadership. During campaigning, the party also appealed to workers and trade unionists, highlighting the party's achievements in improving worker conditions and claiming credit for the introduction of the AHV. The Volksblatt speculated that former deputy prime minister, Alois Vogt, was the VU's candidate for prime minister should it have won the election.

An electoral group, named the Workers’ and Farmers’ Party of the Liechtenstein Unterland () was formed ahead of the election, but it was not allowed to contest as it did not meet electoral regulations.

Candidates Political parties in Liechtenstein require the support of 30 voters from a constituency to be eligible to nominate a candidate list in it. A total of 30 candidates contested the election. OberlandFBPVU Josef Hoop Martin Risch Fidel Brunhart Hans Gassner Ernst Ospelt Stefan Wachter Franz Josef Schurte Josef Büchel Albert Laternser Alois Ritter Alois Ospelt Andreas Vogt Wendelin Beck Josef Büchel Johann Beck Alois Vogt Ludwig Beck Josef GassnerUnterlandFBPVU Georg Oehri Ernst Büchel Leo Gerner Josef Oehri Engelbert Kranz Alfons Büchel Johann Georg Hasler Alois Oehri Gebhard Gerner Paul Büchel Felix Hasler Paul OehriSource: Liechtensteiner Vaterland

Results The seat distribution remained unchanged from the June 1953 elections, with the FBP winning a majority of eight seats, whereas the VU won seven. Voter turnout was 93.39%.

By electoral district Electoral districtSeatsElectoratePartyElected membersSubstitutesVotes%Seats+/–Oberland92,353Patriotic Union1,06250.250Progressive Citizens' Party1,05349.840Unterland61,172Progressive Citizens' Party63657.240Patriotic Union47542.820Source: Vogt

Aftermath Following the elections, the coalition government between the FBP and VU under the leadership of Frick remained. The new government was sworn in on 31 December 1957.

The VU filed an electoral complaint following the election, alleging that citizens who had given up their residency in the country were allowed to vote in the Unterland electoral district. The FBP rejected this demand in the Landtag, but at the request of Franz Joseph II, Prince of Liechtenstein both parties agreed to amended the constitution to make it so that the Liechtenstein state court would decide on electoral complaints instead of the Landtag. The amendment also made it so that scheduled elections must be held in February or March. As per the agreement, fresh elections were held in 1958.

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