Ernst Walch

Ernst Walch
Walch in 2024
President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein
In office
February 1993 – October 1993
MonarchHans Adam II
Vice PresidentOtmar Hasler
Preceded byKarlheinz Ritter
Succeeded byPaul Kindle
Member of the Landtag of Liechtenstein for Oberland
In office
2 February 1986 – 1996
Personal details
Born (1956-05-12) 12 May 1956 (age 68)
Vaduz, Liechtenstein
Political partyProgressive Citizens' Party
Spouse
Margrit Keller
​
​
(m. 1980; died 2024)​
Children6

Ernst Joseph Walch (born 12 May 1956) is a politician from Liechtenstein who served as the President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein in 1993. He also served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1989 to 1996.

Early life

He studied law in Innsbruck, where he earned his doctorate in 1980, and at the New York University School of Law, Graduate Division, Institute of Comparative Law, where he received his Master of Comparative Jurisprudence in 1981. He was admitted to the bar in the United States in 1983 and in Liechtenstein in 1984.[1]

Career

He was a member of the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1989 to 1996 as a member of the Progressive Citizens' Party.[1] He was the President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein from February 1993 to October 1993.[2] From 1983 to 1993 Walch represented the Progressive Citizens' Party as member of the Steering committee of the European Democrat Union.[1] He served as the Liechtenstein minister of foreign affairs from 2001 to 2005 in the first Otmar Hasler cabinet.[3]

Walch belongs to various professional organizations, including the New York State Bar Association, the Liechtenstein Law Society and the German-Austrian-Swiss Registered Association of Lawyers (DACH). He is also a certified interpreter and translator for English and German. In addition, he has authored numerous publications on international legal issues, notably international commercial law. He is a partner in the Liechtenstein law firm Walch & Schurti.[1]

From 2006 Walch was a member of the board of directors of the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt until it ceased operations in March 2023 due to declining subscriptions and rising costs.[1][4] On 13 August 2024, the Progressive Citizens' Party nominated Walch for Prime Minister of Liechtenstein in the 2025 Liechtenstein general election. At 68 years old, he is the oldest candidate in Liechtenstein's history.[5]

Personal life

Walch married Margrit Keller (10 December 1955 – 2024) on 22 November 1980 and they had six children together.[1] She died of cancer in 2024.[6]

Honours

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Walch, Ernst". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). 31 December 2011. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Mitglieder - Präsidenten". March 27, 2019. Archived from the original on March 27, 2019.
  3. ^ Quaderer, Elias (14 August 2024). "Ernst Walch will FBP-Regierungschef werden – aber nur für vier Jahre". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). Retrieved 14 August 2024.
  4. ^ Leovac, Katarina (February 12, 2023). ""Wir haben etliche Möglichkeiten diskutiert "" [We discussed a number of options]. Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). Retrieved 2023-02-28.
  5. ^ "Präsentation des FBP-Regierungsteams für die Landtagswahlen 2025". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). 13 August 2024. Retrieved 13 August 2024.
  6. ^ Stahl-Frick, Bettina (28 September 2024). "Ernst Walch: «Die Zeit ist reif für ein weiteres Kapitel»". Liechtensteiner Vaterland (in German). Retrieved 2 November 2024.
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