Alfred J. Hilbe (/hˈɪlb/, German: [ˈalfreːt hˈɪlbə]; 22 July 1928 – 31 October 2011) was a politician from Liechtenstein who served as Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1970 to 1974. He previously served as deputy prime minister from 1965 to 1970.
Alfred Hilbe | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Hilbe in 1974 | |
| Prime Minister of Liechtenstein | |
| In office 18 March 1970 – 27 March 1974 | |
| Monarch | Franz Joseph II |
| Deputy | Walter Kieber |
| Preceded by | Gerard Batliner |
| Succeeded by | Walter Kieber |
| Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein | |
| In office 16 June 1965 – 18 March 1970 | |
| Monarch | Franz Joseph II |
| Prime Minister | Gerard Batliner |
| Preceded by | Josef Büchel |
| Succeeded by | Walter Kieber |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 22 July 1928 Gmunden, Austria |
| Died | 31 October 2011 (aged 83) Feldkirch, Austria |
| Political party | Patriotic Union |
| Spouse |
Virginia Hilbe (m. 1951) |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
editHilbe was born in Gmunden, Austria,as the son of Franz Hilbe and Elisabeth Glatz. He attended high school in Vaduz and Zurich. Hilbe enrolled in the École libre des sciences politiques in Paris, where he received a diploma in 1950. From 1950 to 1951, he studied economics in Innsbruck.[1]
Starting from 1954, he worked in the private sector and in the Liechtenstein embassy in Bern.[1] He was a secretary at the Liechtenstein embassy in Bern, run by Prince Heinrich Hartneid of Liechtenstein.[2]
Prime Minister of Liechtenstein
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Hilbe was the Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 1965 to 18 March 1970 under Gerard Batliner, and then Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 18 March 1970 to 27 March 1974.[3][4] His party Patriotic Union won the 1970 Liechtenstein general election with 49.57% of the vote, making it the first time it had held a majority since its formation in 1936 and Hilbe was appointed to serve as prime minister.[5][6]
During his term in office, he pioneered reforms of Liechtenstein's school system and efforts to address women's suffrage in Liechtenstein via two separate referendums on the topic in 1971 and 1973, though unsuccessful. In addition, his term included the reopening of the Liechtenstein National Museum and the extension of a free trade agreement between Switzerland and the European Economic Community to Liechtenstein in 1972.[1]
Later life
editFrom 1974, Hilbe became a honorary member of the Patriotic Union and a self-employed financial consultant in Vaduz and Schaan. He was also the president of the board of directors at the old age and survivors’ insurance from 1974 to 1978. From 1965 to 1995 he was a member of the press association for the Liechtensteiner Vaterland.[1]
From 1980 to 1982, and again from 1988 to 1990, he was the president of the Switzerland–Liechtenstein society. He was also president of the Liechtenstein tennis association. He was made an honorary member of the Switzerland–Liechtenstein society in 2000.[1]
Personal life
editHilbe married Virginia Joseph (born 14 July 1928) 27 October 1951 and they had one child together.[1] He died on 31 October 2011, aged 83 years old.[2]
Honours
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See also
editNotes
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Hilbe, Alfred". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ a b Wohlwend, Walter Bruno (2 November 2011). "Dr. Alfred Hilbe ist gestorben". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). Retrieved 24 November 2024.
- ^ "Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021" (PDF). www.regierung.li. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
- ^ "Heute: Vereidigung der neuen Regierung". Liechtensteiner Volksblatt (in German). 18 March 1970. Retrieved 10 November 2024.
- ^ "Liechtenstein's Voters End 32-Year Coalition". The New York Times. 2 February 1970. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Marxer, Wilfried (31 December 2011). "Patriotic Union (VU)". Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein (in German). Retrieved 14 May 2023.