Liechtenstein monarch threatens to leave country
Liechtenstein's monarch has told the principality's parliament his opponents could impose a dictatorship if they succeed in stripping him of his powers.
Prince Hans-Adam II issued the warning in a speech to mark the opening of the parliamentary session.
Hans-Adam also repeated his threat to move his family to Austria if he doesn't get his way in the perennial battle over changing the constitution.
He said: "The history of the 20th century unfortunately has all too many examples of self-styled democrats getting rid of a monarchy, without the approval of the people, and then setting up a dictatorship.
"Do not let yourselves be used by a small group, for whom the parliament is nothing but a piece on a chessboard that can be sacrificed over a constitutional argument."
The fight over changes to the constitution has been going on for 10 years in Liechtenstein, an affluent mini-monarchy of 32,000 people between Switzerland and Austria.
Following a change of government, the prince and the governing Progressive Citizens Party reached an agreement last year on changes to the constitution that the monarch claims will give more powers to the people.
But critics argue the changes would actually give more power to the prince.
Under the 1921 constitution, the prince has the final say on any law, and he can dissolve parliament and call early elections. The public can challenge laws by gathering 1,500 signatures to force a referendum.
