Abbreviation VU Founded 1936 | Leader Günther Fritz | |
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Preceded by Christian-Social People's Party
Liechtenstein Homeland Service Headquarters Fürst-Franz-Josef-Strasse 13
FL-9490 Vaduz Newspaper Liechtensteiner Vaterland | ||
The Patriotic Union (German: Vaterländische Union, VU) is a Christian democratic political party in Liechtenstein. The VU is one of the two major political parties in Liechtenstein, along with the national conservative Progressive Citizens' Party. The VU is the more liberal of the two parties, advocating constitutional monarchy and greater democracy. It is led by Jakob Büchel and has eight members in the Landtag.
History
The Patriotic Union was formed by the 1936 merger of the Christian-Social People's Party (VP) with the minor party Liechtenstein Homeland Service (LHD). While the VP was the larger party, following the merger it was members of the LHD who took prominent positions in the leadership of the new party.
After decades of being the second party to the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), the VU became the largest party in the Landtag for the first time as a result of the 1970 elections. Although it lost the 1974 elections to the FBP, it won the 1978 elections and retained its Landtag majority until February 1993. However, early elections in October 1993 saw it regain its majority, which it held until 2001. After winning the 2009 elections the party lost the 2013 elections to the FBP.