'A full-time job': How a self-proclaimed swiss king's 'empire' is riling local authorities
Summary
Jonas Lauwiner, a Swiss resident, declared himself the symbolic king of Switzerland in 2019 and has acquired over 117,000 square meters of ownerless land across the country by using a legal loophole. His actions have caused disputes with local authorities, especially because some of the land includes public roads used by thousands of people daily.Key Facts
- Jonas Lauwiner crowned himself king of Switzerland in 2019 at a ceremony in Bern.
- He calls himself a symbolic monarch, not recognized by Swiss law or constitution.
- Lauwiner owns about 150 plots of land with no previous owners, totaling around 117,000 square meters.
- Swiss law allows anyone to claim ownerless land by registering it officially and paying a small fee.
- Some of the land he owns includes roads used by over 5,000 people every day.
- Lauwiner also has a royal website, an "imperial bank," a 10-person group for protection, and calls his home his palace.
- Local authorities are trying to reclaim some of the land he acquired, especially streets.
- He works full-time at a pharmaceutical company alongside his self-proclaimed monarchy activities.
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