The prince, the people and the pig's nose

The Daily Telegraph ^ | March 15, 2003 | Fiona Fleck

[MadIvan]

The people of Liechtenstein went to the polls yesterday to decide whether their ruling prince should become Europe's last absolute monarch, after a bitter campaign that shattered the Alpine calm with threats, insults and a dead cat.

The referendum is the climax of a 10-year row between Prince Hans-Adam II, a billionaire entrepreneur who owns the largest bank in the tiny state, and his political foes.

Mud-slinging and intimidation has divided families and friends. Many fear the peace and tranquility of their affluent, 62-square-mile tax haven squeezed between Switzerland and Austria has been shattered for ever.

The 58-year-old prince, a man unaccustomed to making compromises, has threatened to abandon his subjects and retire to his palace in Vienna if they reject his package of constitutional amendments.

"Many people will support the prince not because they agree with him but because they don't want him to leave - that's blackmail," said Mario Frick, a former prime minister who opposes the prince's proposals.

Few Liechtensteiners are as outspoken as Mr Frick, not surprising since he recently found a pig's nose nailed outside his office, a reference to the German expression "keep your snout shut".

An MP who voted against the princely proposals in parliament found a skinned cat in his back garden, while other opponents have received anonymous threats.

The prince, who lives in a medieval castle overlooking the capital, Vaduz, has neither condemned such intimidation by his supporters nor condoned it. At the recent opening of parliament he called his political opponents "enemies of the principality" and "Nazis".

He and his son, Crown Prince Alois, declined to speak to The Telegraph. A spokesman said they were tired of "distorted" reports in the foreign press.

Not only is Prince Hans-Adam Europe's richest royal - he owns LGT banking group and has a personal fortune of more than £2 billion - but he is Europe's most powerful monarch with the unique distinction of having a country named after his family.

No government or parliamentary decision in Liechtenstein is possible without the approval of the Princely House, the granting of which is not a formality. The prince wants to increase his powers, claiming the right to dismiss the government, even if it retains parliamentary confidence, and individual ministers subject to approval by MPs.

He wants to be able to over-ride the constitution and give the royal family the right to choose the princely succession, but would grant the people the option of calling a referendum to abolish the monarchy.

Alternative reforms, which would render the prince a mere constitutional monarch, have been put forward by the Citizens' Initiative for Peace, a cross-party group that includes Mr Frick. "He's very rich and he's very powerful," said Mr Frick. "And the crazy thing is he wants even more power".

Constitutional experts from the Council of Europe agreed. They severely criticised the prince's proposals as "a serious step backward" that could isolate Liechtenstein.

Prince Hans-Adam and Crown Prince Alois argue that their family and private wealth have been vital in making Liechtenstein one of the world's most affluent nations but that the constitution, drawn up in 1921, prevents them from fulfilling their duties.

"For 300 years the princes of Liechtenstein have done their best to secure the interests and sovereignty of the land," the crown prince said in a television address to the 33,000 population. "A vote for our initiative means a vote for our country and our children."

The 17,000 voters can choose the princely proposal, the counter option, or reject both. The polling stations will be open again tomorrow and the result should be known in the evening.

[MadIvan]

Just another little item to fling into the Continentals faces if they dare suggest they are more sophisticated than Americans.

For the record, Liechtenstein is the world's largest manufacturer of false teeth. How that came to be and why I remember that little fact, is beyond me.

Regards, Ivan

Flag of Liechtenstein, in case anyone asks

[MadIvan]

Bump!

[LibKill]

The people of Liechtenstein went to the polls yesterday to decide whether their ruling prince should become Europe's last absolute monarch

Sorry but you're not an absolute monarch unless you can have people beheaded out of hand with no repercussions.

[MadIvan]

Sorry but you're not an absolute monarch unless you can have people beheaded out of hand with no repercussions.

Well theoretically he could, if this passes. Liechtenstein is not a member of the EU, if I remember correctly.

Regards, Ivan

[basil]

Ivan, I've told this story before, but I'm going to repeat it here.

I was visiting Lichtenstein back in the 90's, and went for lunch in a restaurant in Vaduz. The Prince, his wife and two then teen-aged children were with him. He strolled up to every table and shook hands and spoke with all the patrons. When he realized that we were Americans, he had some very nice things to say to us.

I have to admit, I thought he was very nice.---(and handsome to boot!)

[LibKill]

Well theoretically he could, if this passes.

I always knew I was in the wrong line of work.

Are there any countries who need an absolute monarch? I'm available. :)

[PhilDragoo]

"A vote for our initiative means a vote for our country and our children."

Of course, for the children.

[MadIvan]

Sadly, that's one of the few ones left available. It's the last remaining part of the Holy Roman Empire, actually.

Regards, Ivan

[yankeedame]

Liechtenstein is not a member of the EU, if I remember correctly

LOL! More the loss, I'm sure!

[Hank Rearden]

They didn't have much of a flag-design budget, did they?

High-school-volunteer chesspiece clipart design.

[Willie Green]

I believe San Marino has been an independent republic since the 4th Century.
They're less than half the size of Liechtenstein and doing just fine.
Time to give the prince the boot.
No need to actually chop his head, and he should be welcome to stick around as a tourist attraction. But other than that, he shouldn't get so uppity.

[MadIvan]

Depends on your definition of "just fine". San Marino at one point was the only country in Western Europe to have the dubious distinction of electing in a Communist government.

Regards, Ivan

[Cicero]

Well, I'll make the theoretical argument for absolute monarchy. If you own the country, then you work for its long-term future, so you can pass it on to your children. If you are a political leader who serves four years in office, then you think mainly of the short term. You milk the country for what you can get and you postpone difficult problems for your successors to deal with. Clinton is the quintessential example of the politician who always took the popular and easy way and left a bunch of messes for his successors to clean up.

Not all politicians to that. But an awful lot of them do. It's one of the downsides of representative government.

[Khepera]

Why aren't there a pair of dentures on their flag or am I just missing it?

[LonePalm]

I can fully appreciate how bitter an election like this can be. Liechtenstein has about 500 more voters than my township in NJ.

Small town politics, like academic fights, are bitter because the stakes are so low.

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)