{{Short description|Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 2021 to 2025}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Daniel Risch | image = Risch-Daniel-Portrait-2021-03 (cropped).jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2021 | office = Prime Minister of Liechtenstein | monarch = Hans-Adam II<br />''Alois (regent)'' | deputy = Sabine Monauni | term_start = 25 March 2021 | term_end = 10 April 2025 | predecessor = Adrian Hasler | successor = Brigitte Haas | office2 = Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein | prime_minister2 = Adrian Hasler | predecessor2 = Thomas Zwiefelhofer | successor2 = Sabine Monauni | term_start2 = 30 March 2017 | term_end2 = 25 March 2021 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1978|3|5|df=y}} | birth_place = Grabs, Switzerland | death_date = | death_place = | party = Patriotic Union | spouse = Jasmin Schädler | children = 2 | monarch2 = Hans-Adam II<br />''Alois (regent)'' | honorific_prefix = His Excellency | module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Daniel Risch interview.ogg|title=Daniel Risch's voice|type=interview|description=Risch speaks on his position of the legalisation of cannabis.<br />Recorded September 2018}} | relations = Peter Sprenger (uncle) }} '''Daniel Risch''' ({{IPA|de|ˈdaːniːɛl ˈʁɪʃ}}; born 5 March 1978) is a politician from Liechtenstein who served as the Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 2021 to 2025. He was previously the Deputy Prime Minister from 2017 to 2021, under the government of Adrian Hasler.<ref name="officehistory2">{{Cite web |title=Mitglieder der Regierung des Fürstentums Liechtenstein 1862-2021 |url=https://www.regierung.li/files/attachments/Regierungsmitglieder-1862-2021-stand-0421.pdf?t=638338392447228367 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216125957/https://www.regierung.li/files/attachments/Regierungsmitglieder-1862-2021-stand-0421.pdf?t=638338392447228367 |archive-date=16 February 2024 |access-date=15 February 2024 |website=www.regierung.li}}</ref>
== Early career == Risch attended Liechtenstein Grammar School in Vaduz from 1990 to 1998, and received a business baccalaureate.<ref name="official">{{cite web |title=Dr Daniel Risch |url=https://www.regierung.li/members-of-government/daniel-risch/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729013428/https://www.regierung.li/members-of-government/daniel-risch/ |archive-date=29 July 2023 |access-date=25 July 2022 |website=regierung.li |publisher=The Government of the Principality of Liechtenstein}}</ref> He later studied business administration at the Swiss universities of St. Gallen and Zurich, as well as LMU Munich from 1999 to 2003.<ref name="official"/> He graduated with a degree in economics (lic. oec. publ.) from the University of Zurich.<ref name="lexikon"/>
Risch then started doctoral studies in business informatics at the University of Freiburg in 2004,<ref name="official"/> and from 2006 to 2007 was a visiting scholar at the University of Melbourne as part of a research stay.<ref name="official"/> During this period, he also worked as a lecturer at the {{ill|University of Applied Sciences of Northwestern Switzerland|de|Fachhochschule Nordwestschweiz}}.<ref name="official"/> He completed his studies at Freiburg in 2007 and received a doctorate in economics (dr. rer. pol.).<ref name="lexikon"/>
From 2007, he was the Project Manager, Head of Sales and Chief Marketing Officer at Unic AG, an e-business consulting company, in Zurich and Bern.<ref name="official"/> From 2015 until entering government in 2017, he worked as Chief Marketing Officer at Liechtensteinische Post.<ref name="lexikon"/>
From 2015 to 2017, he was a board member at a Liechtensteiner forum for information and communications technology (IKT Forum Liechtenstein).<ref name="lexikon"/>
== Prime Minister of Liechtenstein == [[File:Daniel Risch und Olaf Scholz.jpg|thumb|Risch meets with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in May 2022.]] Risch was a candidate for government in the 2017 Liechtenstein general election as a member of the Patriotic Union.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 June 2016 |title=VU präsentiert Regierungsteam für Wahlen 2017 |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/vu-praesentiert-regierungsteam-fuer-wahlen-2017-art-209601 |access-date=29 November 2024 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref> Following the resignation of Thomas Zwiefelhofer, Risch was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister of Liechtenstein on 30 March 2017 in a renewed coalition government between the Patriotic Union and Progressive Citizens' Party.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 February 2017 |title=VU geht in die Koalitionsverhandlungen |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/vu-geht-in-die-koalitionsverhandlungen-art-251989 |access-date=22 August 2025 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=30 March 2017 |title=Landtag hat neue Regierung gewählt |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/landtag-hat-neue-regierung-gewaehlt-art-261054 |access-date=5 December 2024 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref> As deputy prime minister, he was also a government councillor with the roles of infrastructure, economy, and sport.<ref name="official" />
He was the Patriotic Union's candidate for Prime Minister of Liechtenstein in the 2021 Liechtenstein general election.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Schädler |first=Patrik |date=22 December 2020 |title=Daniel Risch steht nur als Regierungschef zur Verfügung |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/daniel-risch-steht-nur-als-regierungschef-zur-verfuegung-art-439717 |access-date=22 August 2025 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref> During the campaign, Risch stated that he would not be a part of the next government should the party loose the election.<ref name=":0" /> The election resulted in a virtual tie between the Patriotic Union and Progressive Citizens' Party.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 February 2021 |title=Liechtenstein election: Just 23 ballots separate two biggest parties that will now form coalition |url=https://www.euronews.com/2021/02/08/liechtenstein-election-just-23-ballots-separate-two-biggest-parties-that-will-now-form-coa |access-date=7 April 2021 |publisher=euronews |agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref> As a result, Risch was appointed as prime minister on 25 March 2021 in a renewed coalition government between the two parties. As prime minister, he also held the role of finance minister.<ref name="embassy">{{cite web |date=26 March 2021 |title=New Government Sworn In |url=https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/article/new-government-sworn-in |access-date=25 July 2022 |website=liechtensteinusa.org |publisher=Embassy of the Principality of Liechtenstein in Washington D.C.}}</ref>
Risch has supported increased cooperation and integration between the European Union and European Free Trade Association, in addition to further progress to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.<ref>{{Cite news |date=31 October 2023 |title=«Grüner Wandel» der EU wird unterstützt |language=de |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/gruener-wandel-der-eu-wird-unterstuetzt-art-547666 |access-date=17 December 2023}}</ref> His government has spearheaded Liechtenstein's support for Ukraine in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, starting in February 2022.<ref>{{cite web |date=24 February 2022 |title=Liechtenstein verurteilt die russische Aggression gegen die Ukraine |trans-title=Liechtenstein condemns Russian aggression against Ukraine |url=https://www.regierung.li/de/mitteilungen/228791/?typ=news |access-date=25 February 2022 |website=regierung.li |language=de |archive-date=25 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220225204536/https://www.regierung.li/de/mitteilungen/228791/?typ=news |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=19 March 2023 |title=Risch bekräftigt Solidarität mit der Ukraine |language=de |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/risch-bekraeftigt-solidaritaet-mit-der-ukraine-art-532537 |access-date=19 December 2023}}</ref> He was a signatory of the June 2024 Ukraine peace summit.<ref name="FDFA_participating_countries_17June2024_update">{{cite Q|Q126734699}}</ref>
From November 2023 to May 2024 Liechtenstein held the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, headed by foreign minister Dominique Hasler.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presidency of Liechtenstein |url=https://www.europarat.li/ |access-date=12 March 2025 |website=Presidency of the Council of Europe |language=de}}</ref> Risch, together with Hasler, started the government-funded Book of Europe project in spring 2024, during Liechtenstein's presidency of the Council of Europe. In the book, the heads of government of the 46 members of the council were asked to write their thoughts and vision of Europe, which 33 did so. The book was published in February 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 February 2025 |title=Liechtensteins Regierung gibt Buch heraus |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/liechtensteins-regierung-gibt-buch-heraus-art-591349 |access-date=12 March 2025 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref>
During his term in office, 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> [[File:Daniel Risch an der hochrangigen Woche der Vereinten Nationen in New York (3).jpg|thumb|Risch addressing the United Nations General Assembly on 26 September 2024]] He was a prominent advocate for Liechtenstein's accession to the International Monetary Fund, and his government started the proceedings for it in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Quaderer |first=Elias |date=24 April 2024 |title=Darum unterstützt die Schweiz den IWF-Beitritt Liechtensteins |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/darum-unterstuetzt-die-schweiz-den-iwf-beitritt-liechtensteins-art-563986 |access-date=14 September 2024 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Schädler |first=Patrik |date=23 August 2024 |title=Regierungschef Risch fordert den Abgeordneten Kaiser auf, bei den Fakten zu bleiben |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/regierungschef-risch-fordert-den-abgeordneten-kaiser-auf-bei-den-fakten-zu-bleiben-art-574259 |access-date=14 September 2024 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref> Liechtenstein joined the IMF on 21 October 2024.<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> This came after a successful referendum was held the previous month.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=22 September 2024 |title=Liechtenstein tritt dem IWF bei |url=https://www.radio.li/g/News/Liechtenstein-tritt-dem-IWF-bei-7adqdm2k5Dc1XcqFJQ8p04 |access-date=22 September 2024 |website=Radio Liechtenstein |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>
Risch opposed the privatization of Radio Liechtenstein in an referendum on the topic in October 2024.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Sele |first=David |date=9 October 2024 |title=VU-Parteivorstand überstimmt Chefkandidatin Haas und Regierungschef Risch |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/vu-parteivorstand-ueberstimmt-chefkandidatin-haas-und-regierungschef-risch-art-578890 |url-access=subscription |access-date=22 August 2025 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref> Despite this, the Patriotic Union voted to support the privatization and the subsequent referendum was accepted by voters.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=27 October 2024 |title=Abstimmung über die Privatisierung von Radio L, 27.10.2024 |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liveticker/liveticker-abstimmung-271024-213/ |access-date=27 October 2024 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref> Radio Liechtenstein was subsequently closed in April 2025 due to a lack of a concrete plan regarding the privatization as well as no political decision being made regarding an extension of the deadline to do so.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 April 2025 |title=Radio Liechtenstein muss eingestellt werden |url=https://vorarlberg.orf.at/stories/3299510/ |access-date=2 April 2025 |publisher=ORF Vorarlberg |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2 April 2025 |title=Radio L wird am Donnerstag, um 18 Uhr, abgeschaltet |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/radio-l-wird-am-donnerstag-um-18-uhr-abgeschaltet-art-594942 |access-date=2 April 2025 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref>
In February 2024, Risch announced that he would not be running for re-election in the 2025 Liechtenstein general election.<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=19 February 2024 |title=Alle drei VU-Regierungsräte kandidieren 2025 nicht mehr |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/aus-diesen-gruenden-tritt-das-bisherige-vu-regierungsteam-2025-nicht-mehr-an-art-557856 |access-date=19 February 2024 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Quaderer |first=Elias |date=19 February 2024 |title=Aus diesen Gründen tritt das bisherige VU-Regierungsteam 2025 nicht mehr an |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/aus-diesen-gruenden-tritt-das-bisherige-vu-regierungsteam-2025-nicht-mehr-an-art-557856 |url-access=subscription |access-date=19 February 2024 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref> He was succeeded by Brigitte Haas on 10 April 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 April 2025 |title=Neue Regierung ist im Amt |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/neue-regierung-ist-im-amt-art-595778 |access-date=10 April 2025 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref>
== Later life == In October 2025, Risch founded ''t minus 5 GmbH'' based in Triesen, and has served as its CEO since.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vogt |first=Desiree |date=10 October 2025 |title=Ehemaliger Regierungschef macht sich selbständig |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/gesellschaft/ehemaliger-regierungschef-macht-sich-selbstaendig-art-619164 |access-date=14 October 2025 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref> In February 2026, he was elected to the board of trustees of the Swiss United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 February 2026 |title=Daniel Risch in den Stiftungsrat von Switzerland for UNHCR gewählt |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/gesellschaft/daniel-risch-in-den-stiftungsrat-von-switzerland-for-unhcr-gewaehlt-art-709421 |access-date=23 March 2026 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref>
== Personal life == Since 2009, Risch has been a member of the Founding Committee, Organising Committee and Patronage Body of the FL1.LIFE festival in Schaan.
Risch married Jasmin Schädler and they have two children together. He lives in Triesen.<ref name="lexikon">{{Cite web |last= |date=27 April 2021 |title=Risch, Daniel |url=https://historisches-lexikon.li/Risch,_Daniel |access-date=7 April 2021 |website=Historisches Lexikon des Fürstentums Liechtenstein |language=de}}</ref>
== Honours ==
* {{Flag|Austria}}: Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold (2024)<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 September 2024 |title=Regierungschef Risch erhält Goldenes Ehrenzeichen |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/regierungschef-risch-und-regierugsraetin-marok-wachter-in-wien-art-576390 |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 September 2024 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref> * {{Flag|Liechtenstein}}: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein (2025)<ref>{{Cite news |date=23 December 2025 |title=Erneut wurden heute Persönlichkeiten zur Ordensverleihung auf Schloss Vaduz eingeladen |url=https://www.vaterland.li/liechtenstein/politik/erneut-wurden-gestern-persoenlichkeiten-zur-ordensverleihung-auf-schloss-vaduz-eingeladen-art-693572 |access-date=25 December 2025 |work=Liechtensteiner Vaterland |language=de}}</ref>
== See also ==
* Politics of Liechtenstein * Daniel Risch cabinet
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{commons category}} *[https://www.regierung.li/members-of-government/daniel-risch/ Daniel Risch] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230729013428/https://www.regierung.li/members-of-government/daniel-risch/ |date=29 July 2023 }} at the official website of the government of Liechtenstein.
{{LiechtensteinPrimeMinisters}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Risch, Daniel}} Category:1978 births Category:Heads of government of Liechtenstein Category:Living people Category:Patriotic Union government councillors Category:Economy ministers of Liechtenstein Category:Finance ministers of Liechtenstein Category:Infrastructures ministers of Liechtenstein Category:Sports ministers of Liechtenstein Category:University of St. Gallen alumni Category:University of Zurich alumni Category:LMU Munich alumni Category:University of Freiburg alumni Category:Politicians from Triesen Category:Deputy heads of government of Liechtenstein Category:Liechtenstein economists Category:Recipients of the Grand Decoration for Services to the Republic of Austria Category:Daniel Risch Category:21st-century heads of government of Liechtenstein Category:21st-century deputy heads of government of Liechtenstein Category:Recipients of the Order of Merit of the Principality of Liechtenstein