40 Years of Women's Suffrage in FL

The 40th anniversary of the introduction of women’s suffrage in the Principality of Liechtenstein is being celebrated with a variety of activities. With the embroidered special stamp “The Cross - a Powerful Symbol” (face value: CHF 9.50) specially designed for this occasion, we are also making a contribution to this politically significant event.

Up until 1984, women in Liechtenstein were excluded from the right to vote in national elections. Their wish to vote failed at the ballot box in 1971 and 1973. Three years later, the Landtag passed a law that enabled women to vote at a local level. The voters of the capital of Vaduz introduced this in the same year and other municipalities followed suit over time.

In 1981, 24 committed women launched the “Sleeping Beauty Campaign”. Through their persistent activities such as effective public relations work, talks with the Government and parliamentarians and a campaign at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, their wish to vote finally succeeded in 1984. Two years later, women across the country were allowed to put their own crosses on the ballot paper for the first time and also stand for election themselves. One female candidate immediately made the leap into the then Landtag consisting of 15 members.