Gerard Batliner

Gerard Batliner (/bˈætlɪnər/, German: [ɡərˈaɾt batlˈiːnɜ]; 9 December 1928 – 25 June 2008) was an advocate and political figure from Liechtenstein who served as Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1962 to 1970.

Gerard Batliner
Prime Minister of Liechtenstein
In office
16 July 1962 – 18 March 1970
MonarchFranz Joseph II
DeputyJosef Büchel
Alfred Hilbe[1]
Preceded byAlexander Frick
Succeeded byAlfred Hilbe
President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein
In office
January 1974 – December 1977
MonarchFranz Joseph II
Prime MinisterAlfred Hilbe
Walter Kieber
Preceded byKarlheinz Ritter
Succeeded byKarlheinz Ritter
Member of the Landtag of Liechtenstein
In office
1974–1982
Personal details
Born9 December 1928
Eschen, Liechtenstein
Died25 June 2008 (aged 79)
Eschen, Liechtenstein
Political partyProgressive Citizens' Party
Spouse
Christina Negele
(m. 1965)
Children2
CabinetFirst Gerard Batliner cabinet
Second Gerard Batliner cabinet
Third Gerard Batliner cabinet

Early life and career

Batliner was born on 9 December 1928 in Eschen as the son of farmer Andreas Batliner and Karolina Schafhauser as one of six children.[2]

He studied law at the University of Fribourg and in Paris. From 1956 he worked as a lawyer in Vaduz. He was a member of the board of directors of the AHV/IV/FAK in Liechtenstein from 1959 to 1962.[2]

Prime Minister of Liechtenstein

Batliner was the fifth Prime Minister of Liechtenstein, from 16 July 1962 to 18 March 1970.[3] He succeeded the role from Alexander Frick following his resignation in July 1962.[4]

He worked in expanding Liechtenstein's foreign affairs, particularly working towards the country's accession into the Council of Europe. Batliner's term also included the establishment of the Liechtenstein Development Service in 1965, and the Social Welfare Act in 1967.[2]

Later life

In 1973 Batliner was involved in the founding of the Liechtenstein Society for Environmental Protection.[2]

In 1974 Batliner became involved in politics again where he served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein until 1982.[2] He served as the President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein from January 1974 to December 1977.[5] He was also a member of the European Commission on Human Rights from 1983 to 1990 and the head of the Liechtenstein delegation to the European Commission for Democracy through Law from 1991 to 2003.[2]

He received honorary degrees from the University of Basel and Innsbruck. He died in Eschen on 25 June 2008, aged 79 years old.[6]

Personal life

Batliner married Christina Negele (born 30 July 1946) on 17 July 1965 and they had two children together.[2]

Honors and awards

See also

References

Preceded by Head of Government of Liechtenstein
1962–1970
Succeeded by