Kunsthaus case

The Kunsthaus case was a political controversy in Liechtenstein that lasted from 1985 to 1989 regarding alleged power abuse by the president of the Liechtenstein state court Erich Seeger when he overturned a previous ruling of the court in 1984. The controversy damaged the reputation of the state court and caused in tensions among party lines, resulting in early elections being called in 1988.

Affair

In 1969, Franz Joseph II allowed for artworks owned by the House of Liechtenstein to be displayed in a new museum built in Liechtenstein.[1] In 1975, Vaduz permitted land for the museum to be built on and it was approved via a local referendum in 1980. In 1983, a new popular initiative succeeded in obtaining enough signatures to make another referendum regarding the building of the museum. However, the initiative was rejected by the Vaduz municipal council, the government and finally the Liechtenstein state court.[2]

On 22 May 1984, the people behind the initiative appealed for a reconsideration of the state court's ruling, which was approved on 15 October. However, on 9 November, the president of the state court Erich Seeger ordered a new investigation and on 15 February 1985 overturned the previous ruling and rejected the reconsideration. This damaged the reputation of the state court and resulted in several resignations by member.[2] In April 1985 Seeger was charged by the public prosecution office for abuse of power in the state court. Despite it being found that an abuse of power had taken place, he was subsequently acquitted in May 1987.[2]

In 1988, the Progressive Citizens' Party sought to form a commission in the Landtag of Liechtenstein to investigate the power abuse further. However, it was rejected by the majority Patriotic Union.[2] As a result, on 21 December 1988 all the members of the Landtag belonging to the Progressive Citizens' Party resigned in protest and early elections were called. In the subsequent 1989 general election the Patriotic Union maintained its majority.[3] The people behind the popular initiative had formed the Non-Party List in 1987, which sought to challenge the political dominance of both parties.[4] It contested the election, but failed to reach the electoral threshold to win seats in the Landtag.[3]

References

1. Wanger, Harald (31 December 2011). "Liechtenstein, Franz Josef II". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 15 June 2023.
2. Marxer, Wilfred (31 December 2011). "Staatsgerichtshofaffäre (Kunsthausfall)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 11 August 2024.
3. "Ergebnisse der Landtagwahlen 1989". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 6 March 1989. p. 3. Retrieved 25 January 2025.
4. Marxer, Wilfred (31 December 2011). "Überparteiliche Liste". Historical Lexicon of the Principality of Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 25 January 2025.