The Speech of Fürst Hans Adam II
In name of the princely house as well as my own name I want to thank you once again with all my heart, that you have spoken out your trust in the princely house and also in me personally at the elections about the question of the Constitution .
With that the people and princely house together have created a solid base for a continuation of the successful partnership at the beginning of this third millenium. A partnership, that now already can look back at three centuries, and that especially has made possible an unheard economical recovery to the country and its people in the past decennia. Because of that social, sportive and cultural areas can be generously supported.
Yesterday I have signed the changements in the Constitution, who with its publication become legal. Because of the reformation of the Constitution it was necessary to adjust an amount of laws. Together with the government and the support of experts in the meantime the most important changements could be worked out. Several revisions of the law were after profound research postponed to a later date. Now it is important, that the Landtag (diet) quickly decides about the necessary changements of laws, to prevent that some laws won't be abolished because they are in violation of the Constitution.
For the period of my government I had intended on foreign affairs to insure the sovereignty of the country and the right of self-determination of the people, and on home affairs to extend the self-determination of the people by extending the direct democracy. It also seemed important to me to strengthening of the constitutional state, that had been critizised over the past decennia locally as well as abroad. I have succeeded in all of this in the past 20 years in a way, I hadn't dared to hope for. Therefore I would like to thank everybody who has supported me in these 20 years, also when they were attacked by my political opponents because of that over and over again. But I would also like to thank my political opponents, because with their critics at the monarchy in the constitution they have very decisively contributed to the fact that those important changements of the constitution were possible. Now it is important, that we all work together to keep our small native country also for future generations.
The missions in foreign and home affairs for which I have fought, are or closed or are about to be closed successfully. New missions must be solved, with which the hereditary prince has already been kept busy with intensively. With that for me slowly has come the time to withdraw from political life. Next to that we, in the princely house, are already long of opinion that the Fürst (Prince) hands over the political powers to his heir when this one is willing to take over.
So has my grandfather renounced in favour of my father, and has my father handed over political powers to me when I had largely closed the reorganisation and the reconstruction of the Princely Finances. The Hereditary Prince and I have decided that the delegation of political powers will take place in one year at the next Staatsfeiertag (national day).
Can I invite you for a refreshement in front of the castle after the speech of the president of the Landtag (diet) and on this road also thank everybody who co-operate on this feastday. I wish you a nice feastday and God's blessing.
Photos: Netty Leistra