Editing History of Liechtenstein (section)

==Liechtenstein during the 21st century==
{{Expand section|date=January 2024}}
[[File:Prince Alois of Liechtenstein 2024 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Alois, Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein]] in 2024]]
In a [[2003 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum|referendum]] on 16 March 2003, Prince Hans-Adam, who had threatened to leave the country if he lost, won a large majority (64.3%) in favour of overhauling the constitution to effectively give him more powers than any other European monarch. The new constitution gave the prince the right to dismiss governments and approve judicial nominees and allowed him to veto laws simply by refusing to sign them within a six-month period.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.fuerstenhaus.li/en/monarchy/the-reform-of-the-constitution-in-2003/#button2|title=The Reform of the Constitution in 2003|access-date=11 March 2023|archive-date=2 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102172008/https://www.fuerstenhaus.li/en/monarchy/the-reform-of-the-constitution-in-2003/#button2|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/16/liechtenstein.reut/index.html |title=Prince wins Liechtenstein powers |date=16 March 2003 |publisher=[[CNN]] |access-date=10 June 2022 |archive-date=26 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220526221804/http://edition.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/europe/03/16/liechtenstein.reut/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 15 August 2003, Hans-Adam announced he would step down in one year and hand over the reins to his son [[Prince Alois of Liechtenstein|Alois]]. on 15 August 2004, Prince Hans-Adam handed over the  practical running of the principality to his son, Crown Prince Alois, although still remaining official head of state.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17536864|title = Liechtenstein profile - Leaders|work = BBC News|date = 8 March 2017}}</ref>

On 1 July 2007, the first two [[consuls]] in the history of the Principality were appointed to represent Liechtenstein in the [[United States|United States of America]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/fl-aussenstelle-washington/fl-aussenstelle-aktuell?newsid=15219 |title= Portal of the Principality of Liechtenstein - News & Statements|website=www.liechtenstein.li |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090629024340/http://www.liechtenstein.li/en/fl-aussenstelle-washington/fl-aussenstelle-aktuell?newsid=15219 |archive-date=29 June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last1=Melissen|first1=Jan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2rRbATH7L7QC&q=2007+liechtenstein+consuls+in+usa&pg=PA78|title=Consular Affairs and Diplomacy|last2=Fernández|first2=Ana Mar|date=7 February 2011|publisher=Martinus Nijhoff Publishers|isbn=978-90-04-18876-1|language=en}}</ref> On 1 March 2007, the [[Swiss Armed Forces]] "invaded" Liechtenstein territory by mistake, with 170 Swiss Army troops crossing the border.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/13/opinion/13iht-edstamm.4893796.html The New York Times]</ref>

On 27 November 2005, Liechtenstein voters [[Liechtenstein abortion referendum, 2005|rejected an initiative]] that would prohibit [[abortion]] and birth control in the country. The initiative was supported by [[Roman Catholic]] Archbishop [[Wolfgang Haas]]. Prince Alois was initially sympathetic to the proposal, but he became neutral during the run-up to the vote. Instead, a government-sponsored counter proposal was ratified.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rosenbaum |first=Harry |date=28 November 2005 |title=Voters defeat restrictive initiative |url=http://www.dailynews.com/ci_3257356 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707082504/http://www.dailynews.com/ci_3257356 |archive-date=7 July 2013 |access-date=7 July 2013 |newspaper=Associated Press}}</ref> In 2011, Alois announced he would veto any relaxing of the ban on abortion in Liechtenstein, which was an subject for referendum later that year.<ref>{{cite web |date=2011-09-08 |title=Liechtenstein prince threatens to veto referendum |url=https://oklahoman.com/article/feed/293725/liechtenstein-prince-threatens-to-veto-referendum |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523200204/https://oklahoman.com/article/feed/293725/liechtenstein-prince-threatens-to-veto-referendum |archive-date=2019-05-23 |access-date=2019-05-23 |publisher=Associated Press/The Oklahoman}}</ref> Such a veto was not necessary, however, as the voters rejected the proposal.<ref>{{cite news |last=Zeldin |first=Wendy |date=27 September 2011 |title=Liechtenstein: No to Legalized Abortion |url=https://www.loc.gov/lawweb/servlet/lloc_news?disp3_l205402820_text |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222074409/https://www.loc.gov/lawweb/servlet/lloc_news?disp3_l205402820_text |archive-date=22 February 2013 |access-date=7 July 2013 |newspaper=Global Legal Monitor}}</ref>

Following the prince's threat, an initiative called "''{{lang|de|Damit deine Stimme zählt}}''" ("So that your voice counts") was launched to change the constitution of Liechtenstein to prevent the prince from vetoing legislation approved in referendums. [[2012 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum|The referendum]] was held on 1 July 2012, and 76% of voters upheld the prince's power to veto referendum results.<ref name="bbc">{{Cite news |last=Foulkes |first=Imogen |date=2012-06-30 |title=Liechtenstein referendum rejects curbs on royal powers |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18649156 |access-date=2024-08-31 |work=[[BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In November 2022, the [[Landtag of Liechtenstein]] passed a motion calling on the government to introduce a bill legalizing same-sex marriage, with broad support from across the political spectrum. A bill legalizing same-sex marriage was introduced in February 2024 and passed its final reading in the Landtag on 16 May 2024 by a 24–1 vote.<ref>{{cite web |date=9 March 2024 |title=Parlament in Liechtenstein sagt Ja zur Ehe für alle |url=https://mannschaft.com/parlament-in-liechtenstein-sagt-ja-zur-ehe-fuer-alle/ |access-date=17 March 2024 |website=mannschaft.com |language=de}}</ref> 

On 21 October 2024, Liechtenstein joined the [[International Monetary Fund]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vogt |first=Desiree |date=19 October 2024 |title=Ab Montag ist Liechtenstein offiziell IWF-Mitglied |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/ab-montag-ist-liechtenstein-offiziell-iwf-mitglied-art-579704 |access-date=19 October 2024 |work=[[Liechtensteiner Vaterland]] |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ntow |first=Francis |date=22 October 2024 |title=Liechtenstein becomes 191st IMF member |url=https://gna.org.gh/2024/10/liechtenstein-becomes-191th-imf-member/ |access-date=22 October 2024 |work=[[Ghana News Agency]]}}</ref>