Since 2003, no longer an indivisible and inalienable whole.The right of the Liechtenstein municipalities to initiate a secession procedure

Abstract

This article subjects the right of the Liechtenstein municipalities to secede to a constitutional analysis. It takes into account Hans-Adam II’s comments on the right to self-determination, the legal opinions obtained in 1999 and Opinion No. 227/2002 of the Venice Commission. The investigation concludes that by introducing Article 4 paragraph 2, Hans-Adam II disregarded Article 1 of the Constitution of 1921 (“The Principality of Liechtenstein constitutes [...] an indivisible and inalienable whole”), which dates back to the Constitution of 1862. Furthermore, he did not respect the declaration to maintain the integrity of the Principality, which every successor to the throne has to make prior to receiving the oath of allegiance.