After two terms of one-party Governments, Liechtenstein is returning to the traditional grand coalition of the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) and the Patriotic Union (VU). On 21 April, Parliament elected the new Government. The five Ministers were then appointed by Hereditary Prince Alois. After their first business meeting, the Ministers presented themselves to the media.

Already prior to the elections on 13 March, the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) and the Patriotic Union (VU) confirmed their desire to work together in a grand coalition, as was the case without interruption between 1938 and 1997. In a coalition agreement, the FBP and VU agreed that the FBP, as majority party, would receive three Ministers, and the VU would be represented by two Ministers in the Government. According to this agreement, the FBP would delegate Otmar Hasler as Prime Minister, and the VU would delegate the Deputy Prime Minister.

Government platform will focus on main areas

On Thursday, 21 April 2005, the new Government was elected by Parliament and then appointed by Hereditary Prince Alois. After the swearing-in ceremony, the Ministers held their first Government meeting, in which traditionally the distribution of portfolios is approved, Government affairs are distributed among the individual Ministers, and the Government Officers and secretariat staff are allocated. The newly elected Government then presented itself to the media. Prime Minister Otmar Hasler announced a Government platform; the platform will not contain detailed points for implementation, however, but rather will include focus areas of joint Government activity. The Prime Minister did not want to commit to a time horizon, but he indicated that the two coalition partners had agreed on elaborating the platform as soon as possible during a retreat.

Preservation of the business location

Among the most important tasks of the new Government, Prime Minister Otmar Hasler considers the safeguarding and preservation of the business location, especially the financial center, which is facing great challenges. Securing social achievements is another important chapter, since the shifts in the age demographics require measures to secure pensions. In foreign policy, attention must be paid to the safeguarding of integration policy, which continues to be one of Liechtenstein's challenges. Prime Minister Hasler emphasized that by establishing a coalition Government, the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) and the Patriotic Union (VU) have indicated their willingness to work together.

Coalition of pragmatic policy

Dr. Klaus Tschütscher, new Deputy Prime Minister, also emphasized the desire of the People expressed in the elections for both large parties to work together. Tschütscher considered the short time necessary to form a coalition Government as a sign of the will to work together constructively and to engage in pragmatic policy within the Government. He expressed his hope that the Coalition Committee established by the coalition agreement would be invoked as infrequently as possible: This body should be available to call upon when one of the coalition partners does not comply with or violates the agreements. Tschütscher also emphasized that the VU is signaling a new beginning, with its reentry into a coalition after four years of absence from the Government and its status as opposition party.

Important tasks for the future

Ministers Rita Kieber-Beck, Dr. Martin Meyer, and Hugo Quaderer also provided brief insights into their future Government tasks. In foreign policy, Rita Kieber-Beck (FBP) aims to further consolidate Liechtenstein's role as a reliable partner in the community of nations. Kieber-Beck wants to build on the upgrading of the honorary consul system initiated by her predecessor, Dr. Ernst Walch, and advance the establishment of honorary consulates in Germany and the United States. In the area of culture, support of cultural activities shall be further strengthened and a Liechtenstein Culture Award created.
Hugo Quaderer (VU) declared that the future direction of educational policy must be defined, emphasizing the commonality of the approach. Martin Meyer (FBP) wants to pay close attention to the further strengthening of internal security and take measures to finance health care costs in the long term. The solution of the traffic and transportation problem, like the direction of educational policy, must be undertaken through a common position of the Government.

Election of the Government

On Thursday, Parliament elected the new Government. The collegial Government consists of the Prime Minister and four additional Ministers. For the first time in the history of Liechtenstein, five full-time Ministers have been elected for the 2005 – 2009 term. As a rule, only three or four Ministers served full time in the past.

The following Ministers serve in the new coalition Government formed by the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP) and the Patriotic Union (VU):

Prime Minister Otmar Hasler (FBP)
Otmar Hasler has been Prime Minister since 2001; during his second term, he will direct the Ministries of General Government Affairs, Finance, and Construction and Public Works.

Deputy Prime Minister Klaus Tschütscher (VU)
Klaus Tschütscher has been newly elected to the Government and will serve as Minister of Economic Affairs, Justice, and Sports. He has been elected as Deputy Prime Minister.

Minister Rita Kieber-Beck (FBP)
Rita Kieber-Beck was already a member of the Government during the 2001 – 2005 term. She will serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Family and Equal Opportunity.

Minister Dr. Martin Meyer (FBP)
Martin Meyer will serve in the Government for the first time and will direct the Ministries of Home Affairs, Public Health, and Transport and Telecommunications.

Minister Hugo Quaderer (VU)
Hugo Quaderer, who previously served as VU spokesman in Parliament, enters the Government as Minister of Education, Social Affairs, and Environmental Affairs, Land Use Planning, Agriculture and Forestry.

In addition to the five Ministers, Parliament elected five Alternate Ministers as personal substitutes for each of the regular Ministers, who will represent the Minister in case he or she is unable to attend meetings of the collegial Government. Elected were: Ursula Batliner (FBP), Mauro Pedrazzini (FBP), Patrick Schürmann (FBP), Heike Lins-Sele (VU), and Renate Müssner (VU).