Josef Büchel (28 February 1910 – 15 November 1991) was a teacher and civil servant from

Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: link=no, Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaking microstate located in the Alps between Austria and Switzerland. Liechtenstein is a semi-constitutional monarchy ...

who served as the

Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein This is a list of heads of government of Liechtenstein. The current () is Daniel Risch, since 25 March 2021. Head of government Provincial administrator (1861–1921) The () was the title of the head of government from 1861 to 1921. Prime ...

from 1957 to 1965.

Early life and career

Büchel was born on 28 February 1910 in

Gamprin Gamprin is a municipality of Liechtenstein, on the Rhine on the border with the municipality of Sennwald, in Switzerland. It had 1,690 inhabitants in 2019. The municipality contains the village of Bendern and scattered hamlets and the Liechtenstein ...

to the father of Felix Büchel and his mother Anna Matt as one of seven children. After training as a teacher Büchel taught in

Balzers Balzers is a village located in southern Liechtenstein. As of 2019, the village had a total population of 4,642. The main part of the village is situated along the east bank of the Rhine. History and culture Historically, the present-day form of ...

from 1931 to 1935 and in

Triesen Triesen () is the third largest of Liechtenstein's municipalities. It contains several historic churches dating from the fifteenth century. It also has a weaving mill from 1863 that is considered a historical monument. The population is around 5, ...

from 1935 to 1945. Büchel founded the Liechtenstein section of the Swiss health and accident insurance Konkordia in 1932. He was also the conductor of the

church choir from 1937 to 1945.

Political career

Büchel entered politics as a member of the Patriotic Union and as an editor of the

Liechtensteiner Vaterland ''Liechtensteiner Vaterland'' (lit. "Liechtenstein Fatherland") is the largest daily newspaper in Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: link=no, Fürstentum Liechtenstein), is a German-speaki ...

from 1938 to 1939 and again from 1941 to 1943. During this time he published several articles friendly to

Nazi Germany Nazi Germany (lit. "National Socialist State"), ' (lit. "Nazi State") for short; also ' (lit. "National Socialist Germany") (officially known as the German Reich from 1933 until 1943, and the Greater German Reich from 1943 to 1945) was ...

. He was also a member of the State Tax Commission from 1939 to 1949 and the chairman of the commission from 1939 to 1944. From 1945 to 1952 he was a government

secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a w ...

. From February to June 1953 and again from 1957 to 1958 he was a member of the

Landtag of Liechtenstein The Landtag of the Principality of Liechtenstein (german: Landtag des Fürstentums Liechtenstein), commonly referred to as the Landtag of Liechtenstein (german: Liechtensteinischer Landtag), is the unicameral parliament of Liechtenstein. Qua ...

. From June 1953 to 1957 he was a deputy member of the Landtag. From 1954 to 1957 he was the party secretary of the Patriotic Union. After the death of

Ferdinand Nigg Ferdinand is a Germanic name composed of the elements "protection", "peace" (PIE "to love, to make peace") or alternatively "journey, travel", Proto-Germanic , abstract noun from root "to fare, travel" (PIE , "to lead, pass over"), and "co ...

13 July 1957 Büchel was appointed

under

Alexander Frick Dr. Alexander Frick (18 February 1910 – 31 October 1991) was a political figure from Liechtenstein. Earlier life From 1929 until 1936 he was a civil servant for the Liechtenstein fiscal administration, becoming director in 1936 and serving unti ...

. After Frick's resignation on 16 July 1962 Büchel also served as deputy under

Gerard Batliner Gerard Batliner (9 December 1928 – 25 June 2008) was a political figure from Liechtenstein. He was born in Eschen, Liechtenstein. He studied law at the University of Fribourg and was an attorney-at-law. Prime Minister of Liechtenstein Bat ...

until 1965. He co-founded the

Family Aid organisation in 1962. From 1967 he worked as an independent legal agent and

trustee Trustee (or the holding of a trusteeship) is a legal term which, in its broadest sense, is a synonym for anyone in a position of trust and so can refer to any individual who holds property, authority, or a position of trust or responsibility to t ...

. From 1970 to 1974 he was president of the truck board of directors and president of the truck supervisory board from 1974 to 1976. He was a judge at the Staatsgerichtshof from 1979 to 1984. He became an

honorary member An academician is a full member of an artistic, literary, engineering, or scientific academy. In many countries, it is an honorific title used to denote a full member of an academy that has a strong influence on national scientific life. In syst ...

of the Switzerland-Liechtenstein Konkordia Association from 1980 to his death. Büchel died on 15 November 1991 in

, aged 81 years old.

Personal life

Büchel married Helena Schächle (1 October 1908 – 26 October 1996) on 1 October 1935 and they had three children together.

Literature

* Der Gemeindenutzen im Fürstentum Liechtenstein (unter besonderer Berücksichtigung des Gemeindebodens) (1953) * Geschäftsbriefe und Geschäftsaufsätze für den Schulunterricht (1958) * Geschichte der Gemeinde Triesen (1989)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Büchel, Josef 1910 births 1991 deaths Heads of government of Liechtenstein Deputy Prime Ministers of Liechtenstein 20th-century Liechtenstein politicians Patriotic Union (Liechtenstein) politicians Members of the Landtag of Liechtenstein