Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein

Hans-Adam II
Hans-Adam II smiling to the camera
Prince of Liechtenstein
Reign 13 November 1989 – present
Predecessor Franz Joseph II
Heir apparent Alois
Regent Alois (15 August 2004 – present)
Prime Ministers
Spouse Countess Marie Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau
Issue
Detail		 Prince Alois
Prince Maximilian
Prince Constantin
Princess Tatjana
Full name
Johannes Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marco d'Aviano Pius
House House of Liechtenstein
Father Franz Joseph II
Mother Countess Georgina von Wilczek
Born 14 February 1945
Zurich, Switzerland
Religion Roman Catholicism

Hans-Adam II (Johannes "Hans" Adam Ferdinand Alois Josef Maria Marco d'Aviano Pius Fürst von und zu Liechtenstein; born 14 February 1945) is the reigning Prince (Fürst) of Liechtenstein.[1] He is the son of Franz Joseph II, Prince (Fürst) of Liechtenstein (1906–1989) and his wife Countess Georgina von Wilczek (1921–1989). He also bears the titles Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, and Count Rietberg. He descends in the direct male line from merely three of the previous fourteen Princes of Liechtenstein, and of another (again from two of the above-mentioned three) in the female line.

Powers

The Prince (Fürst) of Liechtenstein has broad powers.[1] A referendum to adopt Hans-Adam's revision of the constitution to expand his powers passed in 2003.[2] The changes also included a republican option, whereby the Prince was henceforth formally barred from vetoing any bill to establish a republic. In addition, the right of each of the parishes which make up the Principality to secede was recognised. Prince Hans-Adam had announced his intention that his family and he would move to Austria if the referendum failed. Despite opposition from Mario Frick, a former prime minister, the Prince's referendum motion was carried by the electorate.

On 15 August 2004 Prince Hans-Adam II formally turned the power of making day-to-day governmental decisions over to his eldest son, the Hereditary Prince Alois, as a way of beginning a dynastic transition to a new generation. Legally, Hans-Adam remains Head of State.[3]

In July 2012 the people of Liechtenstein overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to curtail the political power of the princely family. Despite an almost year-long campaign by those who opposed the changes, 76% of those voting in a referendum said Hereditary Prince Alois should be allowed to retain his power of veto over decisions made in nationwide ballots. Matters were brought to a head in September 2012, ahead of a referendum on decriminalising abortion, in some cases, up to the 12th week of pregnancy. In Liechtenstein, abortion is strictly illegal. Women wanting to end a pregnancy have to travel to neighbouring Germany or Austria, and if found out, risk imprisonment. A few days before voters were due to cast their votes, Alois announced that he would veto any relaxation of the ban on abortion, whatever the voters decided in the referendum. The proposal was, its supporters said, fairly modest. The princely veto would be removed only for nationwide referendums; the prince would still be able to veto parliamentary decisions. In the end, though, voters overwhelmingly backed the prince's powers, with barely 24% saying the veto should go.[4] Legislators, who serve on a part-time basis, rose in the prince's defence on 23 May, voting 18 to 7 against the citizens' initiative as part of the procedure to put the referendum on the veto power before the public.[5] Prince Hans-Adam reacted to the result "It is with joy and gratitude that the Princely House of Liechtenstein has taken note that a large majority of the population would like to continue the hitherto so successful 300-year partnership between the people and the Princely House."[6]

Personal wealth

Prince Hans-Adam owns LGT banking group and has a family fortune of $7.6 billion and a personal fortune of about $4.0 billion,[7] making him one of the world's richest heads of state, and Europe's wealthiest monarch.[8] He owns an extensive art collection, much of which is displayed for the public at the Liechtenstein Museum in Vienna.

Personal life

Hans-Adam's native language is German, but he is also fluent in English and French.

On 30 July 1967, at St. Florin's in Vaduz, he married his second cousin once-removed, Countess Marie Aglaë Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau (born 1940) who, upon her husband's accession to the throne, became Her Serene Highness The Princess of Liechtenstein. Their official residence is at Vaduz Castle, which overlooks the capital.

They have four children and 15 grandchildren:

Liechtensteiner Princely Family

HSH The Prince
HSH The Princess

Photo by Erling Mandelmann, 1974

In 1969, Hans-Adam graduated from the University of St. Gallen with a Licentiate (equivalent to a Master's degree) in Business and Economic Studies.

The Prince is an honorary member of K.D.St.V. Nordgau Prag Stuttgart, a Catholic students' fraternity that is a member of the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen. The Prince donated $12 million in 2000 to found the Liechtenstein Institute on Self-determination (LISD) at Princeton University's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.[10][11] In his childhood he joined the Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins in Vaduz.[12] He is also a former member of the Viennese Scout Group "Wien 16-Schotten".[13] He is a member of the World Scout Foundation.[14]

Today he and his wife are patrons of Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Liechtensteins.

He is the 1,305th Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in Austria.

Viewpoints and book

Prince Hans-Adam II has written the political treatise The State in the Third Millennium (ISBN 9783905881042), which was published in late 2009. In it, he argues for the continued importance of the nation-state as a political actor. He makes the case for democracy as the best form of government, which he sees China and Russia as transitioning towards although the path will be difficult for these nations. He also declared his role in a royal family as something that has legitimacy only from the assent of the people. He stated that government should be limited to a small set of tasks and abilities, writing that people "have to free the state from all the unnecessary tasks and burdens with which it has been loaded during the last hundred years, which have distracted it from its two main tasks: maintenance of the rule of law and foreign policy.”[15]

Prince Hans-Adam II. and Princess Marie on a state visit to Vienna in 2013

In an interview, recorded in November 2010, Hans-Adam said that he saw certain problems with aspects of the US Constitution, such as the lack of direct democracy. He also said, "I am sitting here and that's because Americans saved us during World War II and during the Cold War. So I am very grateful to them."[16]

Prince Hans-Adam II. offered a major contribution to the study of self-determination in the Foreword to a "Sourcebook, on Self-Determination and Self-Administration," edited by Wolfgang F. Danspeckgruber and Sir Arthur Watts, ISBN 1-55587-786-9, 1997; and in the Encyclopedia Princetoniensis <http://lisd.princeton.edu/projects/encyclopedia-princetoniensis-princeton-encyclopedia-self-determination-pesd>.

Titles

According to their House Laws,[17] the Reigning Prince (Fürst) shall bear the title:

Reigning Prince von und zu Liechtenstein, Duke of Troppau and Jägerndorf, Count Rietberg, Sovereign of the House von und zu Liechtenstein

Honours and awards

National honours
Foreign honours
Awards

Ancestry

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 S.D. Fürst Hans-Adam II. (titled "Fürst"), Note: There is a distinction between the German titles of a reigning "Fürst" and non-reigning descendants (children) of a "Fürst" who are titled "Prinz", in German- use the English and French translated versions with due caution.
  2. ↑ Liechtenstein prince wins powers BBC News Online, 16 March 2003. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
  3. ↑ Country profile: Liechtenstein – Leaders BBC News, 6 December 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
  4. ↑ Foulkes, Imogen. (1 July 2012) BBC News – Liechtenstein referendum rejects curbs on royal powers. Bbc.co.uk.
  5. ↑ The Prince vs. the 'Paupers' – By Michael Z. Wise. Foreign Policy (29 June 2012).
  6. ↑ http://www.fuerstenhaus.li/_news/attachments/2012_07_01_PM_Volksinitiative-JA---damit-DEINE-Stimme-zaehlt_2012-07-01_ENGLISCH.pdf
  7. ↑ Fleck, Fiona (17 March 2003). "Voters give billionaire prince new powers". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 23 October 2009.
  8. ↑ Liechtenstein redraws Europe map BBC News Online, 28 December 2006. Retrieved 29 December 2006.
  9. ↑ Countly House of Kálnoky. Angelfire.com.
  10. ↑ Bloom, Molly. (12 December 2000) Opening of Liechtenstein institute draws international dignitaries. The Daily Princetonian
  11. ↑ Liechtenstein Institute on Self-Determination at Princeton University Mission & Outreach: The Liechtenstein Institute (retrieved 23 January 2015)
  12. ↑ Fürst Hans-Adam II. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
  13. ↑ Brósch-Fohraheim, Eugen (October 2008). "Schwedischer König als Pfadfinder in Wien-Zusammenkunft der "Weltpfadfinderstiftung" in Wien 2008". 29 live (in German): 21.
  14. ↑ Seine Majestät Carl XVI Gustaf König von Schweden zu Gast in Wien Retrieved 29 October 2008.
  15. ↑ "H.S.H. Prince Hans-Adam II – The State in the Third Millennium". Uncommon Knowledge. 22 November 2010. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  16. ↑ Chiefa Coins, Nov. 2010, retrieved 13 Nov. 2014
  17. ↑ "Liechtenstein House Laws". Fuerstenhaus.li. Retrieved 17 May 2012.
  18. ↑ http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/Tais419/sophiebayern2.jpg
  19. ↑ http://polpix.sueddeutsche.com/bild/1.986928.1355815197/860x860/kieber-liechtenstein-steuercd.jpg
  20. ↑ http://www.kommunikation.steiermark.at/cms/beitrag/11693611/374565/
  21. ↑ Military Collection
  22. ↑ Geneall
  23. ↑ https://cbsminnesota.files.wordpress.com/2011/04/71425084_10.jpg
  24. ↑ Parliamentary question, page=903. (PDF)
  25. ↑ http://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i152/Tais419/sophiebayern2.jpg
  26. ↑ http://www.uibk.ac.at/public-relations/presse/archiv/2012/062201/index.html.de
  27. ↑ http://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/principele-suveran-de-liechtenstein-omagiat-la-cluj/

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein.
Hans-Adam II, Prince of Liechtenstein
Born: 14 February 1945
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Franz Josef II		 Prince of Liechtenstein
1989–present 		Incumbent
Heir apparent:
Alois