Country name
conventional long form : Principality of Liechtenstein
conventional short form: Liechtenstein
local long form: Furstentum Liechtenstein
local short form: Liechtenstein

Data code LS

Government type hereditary constitutional monarchy

National capital Vaduz

Administrative divisions 11 communes (Gemeinden, singular - Gemeinde); Balzers, Eschen, Gamprin,Mauren, Planken, Ruggell, Schaan, Schellenberg, Triesen, Triesenberg, Vaduz

Independence 23 January 1719 (Imperial Principality of Liechtenstein established)

National holiday Assumption Day, 15 August

Constitution 5 October 1921

Legal system local civil and penal codes; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations

Suffrage 20 years of age; universal

Executive branch
chief of state: Prince Hans ADAM II (since 13 November 1989, assumed executive powers26 August 1984); Heir Apparent Prince ALOIS von und zu Liechtenstein (born11 June 1968)
head of government: Head of Government Mario FRICK (since 15 December 1993) and Deputy Headof Government Michael RITTER (since 14 April 1997)
cabinet: Cabinet elected by the Diet; confirmed by the prince
elections : none; the prince is a hereditary monarch; following legislative elections,the leader of the majority party in the Diet is usually appointed the headof government by the prince and the leader of the largest minority party inthe Diet is usually appointed the deputy head of government by the prince

Legislative branch unicameral Diet or Landtag (25 seats; members are elected by directpopular vote under proportional representation to serve four-year terms)
elections: last held on 2 February 1997 (next to be held by NA 2001)
election results: percent of vote by party - VU 50.1%, FBP 41.3%, FL 8.5%; seats by party- VU 13, FBP 10, FL 2

Judicial branch Supreme Court or Oberster Gerichtshof; Superior Court or Obergericht

Political parties and leaders Fatherland Union or VU [Dr. Oswald KRANZ]; Progressive Citizens' Partyor FBP [Otmar HASLER]; The Free List or FL

International organization participation CE, EBRD, ECE, EFTA, IAEA, ICRM, IFRCS, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, ITU,OSCE, PCA, UN, UNCTAD, UPU, WCL, WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US Liechtenstein does not have an embassy in the US, but is representedby the Swiss embassy in routine diplomatic matters

Diplomatic representation from the US the US does not have an embassy in Liechtenstein, but the US Ambassadorat Bern (Switzerland) has been nominated to be the non-resident US Ambassadorto Liechtenstein

Flag description two equal horizontal bands of blue (top) and red with a gold crown onthe hoist side of the blue band

NOTE: The information regarding Liechtenstein on this page is re-published from the 1997 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Liechtenstein Government 1997 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Liechtenstein Government 1997 should be addressed to the CIA.