Gerard Batliner
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 the Landtag of Liechtenstein for Unterland | |
| In office 3 February 1974 – 7 February 1982 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 December 1928 |
| Died | 25 June 2008 (aged 79) Eschen, Liechtenstein |
| Party | Progressive Citizens' Party |
| Spouse |
Christina Negele (m. 1965) |
| Children | 2 |
Gerard Batliner (9 December 1928 – 25 June 2008) was a lawyer and politician from Liechtenstein who served as Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1962 to 1970. A member of the Progressive Citizens' Party (FBP), he later served in the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1974 to 1982 and as the President of the Landtag of Liechtenstein from 1974 to 1977. Additionally, he held numerous positions within the Council of Europe.
Initially working as a lawyer in Vaduz, Batliner entered politics as the vice president of the Progressive Citizens' Party and deputy mayor of Eschen. He succeeded Alexander Frick as prime minister following his resignation in July 1962, and upon taking office was the youngest head of government in Europe. His term in office focused on expanding Liechtenstein's foreign affairs, particularly towards membership in the Council of Europe. It also involved the introduction of numerous welfare laws and organizations. Following an electoral defeat, he resigned in February 1970.
Batliner returned to politics in 1974 when he was elected to the Landtag of Liechtenstein, for which he also served as its president from 1974 to 1977. He held positions in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, European Commission of Human Rights and Venice Commission. Outside of politics, he was involved in numerous academic circles, initiating the founding of and directing the Liechtenstein Institute in 1986. He died in 2008.