Second Otmar Hasler cabinet

Second Otmar Hasler cabinet
Government of Liechtenstein
Date formed	25 March 2005 (2005-03-25)
Date dissolved	25 March 2009 (2009-03-25)
People and organisations
Head of state	Hans-Adam II Alois (regent)
Head of government	Otmar Hasler
Deputy head of government	Klaus Tschütscher
Total no. of members	5
Member parties	FBP VU
Status in legislature	Coalition 22 / 25 (88%)
Opposition party	Free List
History
Election	2005
Predecessor	First Otmar Hasler cabinet
Successor	Klaus Tschütscher cabinet

The Second Otmar Hasler cabinet was the governing body of Liechtenstein from 21 March 2005 to 25 March 2009. It was appointed by Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein and was chaired by Otmar Hasler.

History

See also: 2008 Liechtenstein tax affair

The 2005 Liechtenstein general election resulted in a win for the Progressive Citizens' Party.[1] As a result, the First Otmar Hasler cabinet was dissolved with Otmar Hasler continuing as Prime Minister of Liechtenstein.[2] The Progressive Citizens' Party and Patriotic Union once again entered into a coalition government.[3]

During the government's term, the 2008 Liechtenstein tax affair took place, where millions of euros belonging to hundreds of citizens living in Germany were channeled into the LGT Bank and other banks in Liechtenstein,[4] taking advantage of Liechtenstein-based trusts to evade paying taxes in Germany.[5] The affair overshadowed the previously planned visit of Hasler to Berlin on February 19, 2008, to meet with the minister of finance, Peer Steinbrück, and the chancellor, Angela Merkel.[6][7] Merkel asked for help in the investigation and cooperation in prevention of tax evasion, pointing out that Liechtenstein provided the US Internal Revenue Service with some data but not the German Ministry of Finances.[8]

The newspaper Die Welt described the event as a "government crisis".[9] Alois, called the investigations an "attack" on Liechtenstein by the Federal Republic and considered pursuing legal remedies.[10] As a result of the affair, the government entered negotiations with a number of countries to discuss tax avoidance issues. It reached an agreement with the United Kingdom in 2009 that will allow the about 5,000 British customers of Liechtenstein's banks that hold for them about £2-3 billion in secret accounts to come clear with British tax authorities under terms of a significantly reduced penalty.[11] The agreement opened up Liechtenstein's banks to greater transparency, but remains controversial in Liechtenstein; some banks feared that clients would move their money elsewhere.[11]

The 2009 Liechtenstein general election resulted in a win for the Patriotic Union.[12] As a result, the cabinet was dissolved and Hasler was by Klaus Tschütscher in the Klaus Tschütscher cabinet.[2][13]

Members

	Picture	Name	Term	Role	Party
Prime Minister
		Otmar Hasler	21 March 2005 – 25 March 2009	Finance Construction	Progressive Citizens' Party
Deputy Prime Minister
		Klaus Tschütscher	21 March 2005 – 25 March 2009	Justice Business Sport	Patriotic Union
Government councillors
		Rita Kieber-Beck	21 March 2005 – 25 March 2009	Foreign affairs Culture Family	Progressive Citizens' Party
		Martin Meyer	21 March 2005 – 25 March 2009	Interior Health Transport Communication	Progressive Citizens' Party
		Hugo Quaderer	21 March 2005 – 25 March 2009	Social services Education Environment Agriculture Forestry	Patriotic Union

See also

• Politics of Liechtenstein

References

1. Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) Elections in Europe: A data handbook, p1166 ISBN 978-3-8329-5609-7
2. "Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021" (PDF). www.regierung.li. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
3. "Koalitionsangebot beschlossen". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 15 March 2005. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
4. Keuchel, Jan; Andresen, Tino (2008-02-16). "Nächste Woche knallt es wieder". Handelsblatt (in German). Archived from the original on 2008-02-19. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
5. "In Deutschland bahnt sich riesiger Steuerskandal an". Agence France Presse (in German). 2008-02-15. Archived from the original on 2008-03-09. Retrieved 2008-02-21.
6. Moore, Matt (2008-02-18). "Germany expands probe of Liechtenstein tax evasion". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
7. "Regierungschef Otmar Hasler bei Bundeskanzlerin Angela Merkel" (Press release) (in German). 2008-02-15. Archived from the original on 2008-03-05.
8. Pfanner, Eric; Landler, Mark (2008-02-20). "Tax Inquiry? Principality Is Offended". The New York Times.
9. "Tausende Verdächtige in Steueraffäre". Die Welt Online (in German). 2008-02-15. Retrieved 2008-02-24.
10. Pfanner, Eric; Landler, Mark (2008-02-19). "Liechtenstein defends its banks in German tax-evasion inquiry". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-02-20.
11. Simonian H (August 12, 2009). "Liechtenstein in talks with Germany on transparency". Financial Times.
12. "Landtagswahlen 2009" (in German). 2009-02-08. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
13. "Neue Regierung gewählt". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 26 March 2009. p. 1. Retrieved 9 January 2025.