Liechtenstein, where gambling had largely been illegal until 2010, now has more casinos per capita than Macau or Monaco. Some critics worry that it’s more than the principality can handle.
Home / Europe / In Liechtenstein, 38,378 of the world’s wealthiest people go to the polls
In Liechtenstein, 38,378 of the world’s wealthiest people go to the pollsEurope 2021-02-08, by Editor Comments Off 4
Europe’s most powerful monarch still lives in a towering hilltop castle and has the power to dissolve parliament and veto legislation. He is referred to as His Serene Highness.
Decades, or indeed centuries, after Europe’s kings and queens were forced to relinquish their political power to national parliaments, Liechtenstein’s Prince Hans-Adam II and his son, Crown Prince Alois have only seen their grip on the tiny Alpine nation tighten.
Europe’s most powerful monarch still lives in a towering hilltop castle and has the power to dissolve parliament and veto legislation. He is referred to as His Serene Highness.
Decades, or indeed centuries, after Europe’s kings and queens were forced to relinquish their political power to national parliaments, Liechtenstein’s Prince Hans-Adam II and his son, Crown Prince Alois have only seen their grip on the tiny Alpine nation tighten.
And the people of Liechtenstein, for the most part at least, seem to love them for it.
In 2003, after a series of disputes between Prince Hans-Adam II and Liechtenstein’s parliament, a referendum was held - not on whether to reduce his power over parliamentary politics, but to increase it. Liechtenstein’s 40,000 people voted overwhelmingly in favour.
Deal or no deal: How five non-member states handle EU relations
Like Switzerland, Iceland – whose leaders are pictured here with German Chancellor Angela Merkel – is not a member of the European Union and has no current plans for a future membership. Keystone / Str
With Brexit done, Switzerland is hoping it can restart negotiations on its framework agreement with the European Union. The experience of other non-member states offers some valuable lessons on how it can engage with Brussels, though no blueprint exists. SWI swissinfo.ch looks at how five other non-member states have negotiated with the EU.
This content was published on January 29, 2021 - 09:00