Why Europe’s Most Powerful Monarchy Is Heading for a Constitutional Crisis

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In this video, we’re going to explain Liechtenstein’s unique political setup, and how the push to decriminalise abortion could trigger a constitutional crisis in the country.

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SOURCES:

Liechtenstein’s ‘dualistic’ state:
https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2017/01/30/the-curious-case-of-liechtenstein/

Liechtenstein’s constitution:
https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Liechtenstein_2011

Recurring tension over royal power:
https://blog-iacl-aidc.org/centenary-constitution-liechtenstein/2021/12/14/monarchy-and-direct-democracy-in-liechtenstein-an-impossible-combination

Examples of princely family threatening to leave:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/1713201.stm
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/liechtenstein/9366747/Prince-of-Liechtenstein-threatens-to-leave-after-vote-on-his-powers.html

2003 constitutional referendum:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Liechtenstein_constitutional_referendum

2011 abortion referendum:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Liechtenstein_referendums

2012 constitutional referendum:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Liechtenstein_constitutional_referendum

Alois’ veto threat helped scupper 2011 abortion referendum:
https://verfassungsblog.de/small-country-big-hurdles/

2026 abortion decriminalisation initiative:
https://www.fristenlösung.li/initiative

Initiative received second-highest number of signatures:
https://landesspiegel.li/2026/07/fristenloesung-initiative-will-heute-4970-unterschriften-einreichen/
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/aug/03/liechtenstein-abortion-law-modernised-prince-alois

Polling shows support for abortion decriminalisation initiative:
https://x.com/EuropeElects/status/2088323436913271216

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