Josef Ospelt


Josef Ospelt was the first Prime Minister of Liechtenstein from 2 March 1921 to 27 April 1922.

Early Life

Joseph Ospelt was born in Vaduz, the son of Julius and Mary. He attended elementary and country school in Vaduz and came after the latter as Regierungskanzlist provincial administrator under Carl von In der Maur in the civil service one.

Political Career

In 1911 he was appointed secretary to the government. In 1918, Ospelt joined the founders of the Progressive Citizens' Party and was later elected chairman and longtime manager of the newspaper Liechtenstein Volksblatt.
On 23 March 1921 he was the prince to succeed the provincial administrator, Dr. Joseph Peer, while the royal appointed Council. He participated in the preparation of a new constitution. When this new Constitution of 5 October 1921 took effect, he was appointed on the recommendation of Parliament head of government. He was in this transitional period, Liechtenstein's last provincial administrator and first head of government as prime minister, succeeding the last Governor.
After his resignation as Prime Minister on 27 April 1922, he moved with his family to Vienna. From 1918 to 1922, he served as treasurer and the royal domain administration. After 1922, he established a legal and insurance agency in Vaduz. In 1925 he was a representative of Zurich Insurance. After the renewed political upheaval in 1928 Ospelt held several important public offices. He was among the founding members of the Historical Society in Liechtenstein, which he headed from 1928-1955 as chairman and for many years on the Board of the Vintners of Vaduz. From 1930 to 1932 he was elected to the Landtag of Liechtenstein.