Vít Jedlička, the self-proclaimed president, celebrates a year and a half of Liberland. “His” small plot of land between Serbia and Croatia
For the 32 year-old Vít Jedlička, who has been interested in politics for many years – Czech politics first and then European – the bet made on April 13th, 2015 to found from scratch the youngest state in the world, is now becoming a reality.
As President of Liberland, he is extremely busy, going on diplomatic missions, attending conferences, forums and interviews and is ever more certain that the dream of a small group of people, all of them of Czechs, except for a French person, is now taking form: the creation of a country with free and voluntary taxation, great respect for other people’s rights, including direct democracy.
Liberland, in fact, whose motto is: “Live and let live”. It is a small piece of land of about seven square kilometres, between Serbia and Croatia, which is uninhabited at the moment, and that would become the third smallest state in the world, after the Vatican and the principality of Monaco (0.44 and 1.95 square kilometres respectively). A small plot of land of which Belgrade and Zagreb have not claimed ownership and on which Jedlička has already hoisted a flag and proclaimed a new state, his own state.
He defines himself as an anarcho-capitalist and euro-sceptic, and has often stressed the substantial difference between a free market and a domestic one. He has repeatedly criticized both the recent European Stability Mechanism and the supporters of socialism: “Socialism is the false belief that the state will spend your money more efficiently than you would…”, he has stated.
Jedlička has thus put into practice what he had been saying for years as a candidate, first with the ODS and then with the Party of free citizens (of which he is President of the regional section in Hradec Králové). Profoundly dissatisfied with the EU and the European institutions and a strong supporter of extreme liberalism, the neo-president is certain that Liberland will be an example of how respect for other people’s rights is not only desirable but also feasible. “Before having the idea of guiding an ultra-liberal society, I was involved in European politics”, he has recently stated in an interview. “As leader of the Free citizens Party, I was able to gain a first-hand experience on how governments abuse of their powers to the detriment of society. I have been trying to change this state of affairs”. According to Jedlička, in fact, in modern democracies “our rights are unjustly sacrificed because there is a barrier between us and the politicians” – a wall that will never exist in Liberland, just as “the glut of regulations”. For this reason “I have set up the Liberland project”, where government functions “will be limited to issues of diplomacy, security and infrastructure”, with focus on direct citizenship and constitutional changes by means of direct voting.
It seems that the idea of ultra-liberalism, that has been put forward by the president of the small state, is supported by many. Also because, underneath the dictates of direct democracy against the suffocating number of norms and regulations, many people suspect that the young politician also aims to create a tax haven. To become a citizen of Liberland, in fact, it is sufficient to show your credentials: a clean criminal record is one of the necessary conditions. From almost all over the world more than 400 thousand applications for citizenship have been received. “What inspires me every day – Jedlička has stated – is the number of people in favour of Liberland. It is as if part of the world had just been waiting for us. In just a year, we have opened 60 representative offices”. Economic resources do not seem to be an issue, and the strong marketing “winks” to the incoming business. However, a more pressing issue, and no less important, is the legal status of the micro-country, in a region that – as far as territorial conflicts are concerned – has been rather problematic. When Jedlička and his “government” tried to gain access to the seven square kilometres of land, they were arrested by the Serbian police, even if just for a short period. Because of that, they hope to be able to occupy this small, practically deserted area, between Serbia and Croatia, during the summer festivals that will take place starting in June. On that occasion, the Czech politician explained, nobody will be able to stop “the thousands of supporters that will gather there to celebrate Liberland”.
Even if almost everything is still on paper, from the urbanization project to the ownership of the territory, Liberland already has its own national airline, Air-Liberland, with one four-seater and one six-seater aircraft, from Prague to Osijek, the nearest Croatian airport. You may also put forward your name as a candidate for the state’s football team. Furthermore, there are already some who sail using the flag of Liberland: in Sardinia, three young Czechs were saved after going adrift on board of their eco-catamaran, made with recycled material (Pet bottles).
by Daniela Mogavero
