Gerard Batliner | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Prime Minister of Liechtenstein | |
| In office 16 July 1962 – 18 March 1970 | |
| Monarch | Franz Joseph II |
| Deputy | Josef Büchel Alfred Hilbe |
| Preceded by | Alexander Frick |
| Succeeded by | Alfred Hilbe |
| President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein | |
| In office January 1974 – December 1977 | |
| Monarch | Franz Joseph II |
| Vice President | Karlheinz Ritter |
| Preceded by | Karlheinz Ritter |
| Succeeded by | Karlheinz Ritter |
| Member of theLandtag of Liechtenstein forUnterland | |
| In office 3 February 1974 – 7 February 1982 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 December 1928 |
| Died | 25 June 2008 (aged 79) Eschen, Liechtenstein |
| Political party | Progressive Citizens' Party |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Gerard Batliner (9 December 1928 – 25 June 2008) was a lawyer and politician fromLiechtenstein who served asPrime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1962 to 1970. He later served in theLandtag of Liechtenstein from 1974 to 1982 and as thePresident of the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1974 to 1977. Additionally, he held numerous positions within theCouncil of Europe.
Batliner was born on 9 December 1928 inEschen as the son of farmer Andreas Batliner and Karolina Schafhauser as one of six children.[1]
He studied law at theUniversity of Fribourg and inParis. From 1956 he worked as a lawyer inVaduz. He was a member of the board of directors of the AHV/IV/FAK in Liechtenstein from 1959 to 1962, and was deputy mayor of Eschen from 1960 to 1962.[1]
Batliner was the fifthPrime Minister of Liechtenstein, from 16 July 1962 to 18 March 1970.[2] He succeeded the role fromAlexander Frick following his resignation in July 1962.[3][4]
During his time in office, Batliner worked in expanding Liechtenstein's foreign affairs, particularly working towards the country's accession into theCouncil of Europe. Additionally, his term in office included the founding, among other things, the Liechtenstein music school in 1963, the Liechtenstein development service in 1965, and the Liechtenstein state art collection in 1969. He also expanded Liechtenstein's welfare, with the social welfare act of 1965 and the founding of the association for special education aid in 1967.[1]
ThePatriotic Union won the1970 Liechtenstein general election, making it the first time it held a majority since its founding in 1936.[5][6] As a result, Batliner was succeeded byAlfred Hilbe on 18 March 1970.[7]
In 1973 Batliner was involved in the founding of the Liechtenstein Society for Environmental Protection.[1] He became involved in politics again when he was elected to theLandtag of Liechtenstein in1974, where he served until 1982.[8] He wasPresident of the Landtag of Liechtenstein from January 1974 to December 1977.[9]
From 1978 to 1982 Batliner was the Liechtenstein parliamentary delegation to the Council of Europe, and was the vice president of theParliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe from 1981 to 1982. Additionally, he was a member of theEuropean Commission of Human Rights from 1983 to 1990 and theVenice Commission from 1991 to 2003.[1]
During the1992 Liechtenstein constitutional crisis, Batliner, among other notable politicians, formed theNonpartisan Committee for Monarchy and Democracy and called for a demonstration against Hans-Adam's threatened dissolution of the Landtag due to disagreements regarding the date of a referendum regarding to Liechtenstein's accession to theEuropean Economic Area. As a result, approximately 2,000 people demonstrated in front of the government house inVaduz.[10] In the run-up to the2003 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum, Batliner was opposed to the proposed changes by the prince.[1]
He received honorary degrees from theUniversity of Basel andInnsbruck.[3]
Batliner married Christina Negele (born 30 July 1946) on 17 July 1965 and they had two children together.[1] He died in Eschen on 25 June 2008, aged 79 years old.[11]
Austria:Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver for Services to the Republic of Austria (1974)[12]
Liechtenstein:Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein (1967)[3]
