Checking In on Government

This last Thursday, TSH Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco stopped by to check in on the government. Of course, in Monaco, like everything other than their style, the government is quite small. The National Council which deals with legislation for the principality would be viewed by much of the world as a government for a mid-sized city but they get the job done well enough. The Sovereign Prince addressed his legislators in a special speech and Council President Jean-François Robillon also said a few words. This was a special occasion as the Sovereign Prince only rarely visits the National  Council as he has little reason to. With so small a government it is not difficult keeping him well-informed, his presence is not required for the day-to-day business and the Prince gets a far better return on his time by acting as the ambassador-at-large for his little country. Once business in the chamber was concluded the Prince and Princess signed the (Golden) guestbook and then were treated to cocktails at a special reception held in their honor where they were able to talk to the Council members and civil officials one-on-one. It is truly remarkable (and I wish more would take the lesson) that Monaco requires only a relative handfull of politicians and one Sovereign Prince to operate one of the most efficient, well-governed and prosperous countries in the world. Personally, I think more countries could benefit from following their example.

Constitutional Anniversary

Last wednesday, HSH Prince Albert II joined Princess Caroline and representatives of the government in marking the 100th anniversary of the Monegasque constitution. Minister of State Michel Roger unveiled a commemorative plaque honoring the occasion on January 5, 1911 when HSH Prince Albert I formally made Monaco a constitutional monarchy following calls for political reform by the public. The Sovereign Prince made a speech to the 'four corners of the rock' in which he said that the adoption of the 1911 constitution was an important first step in the political evolution of government in Monaco to the state that it is today; a very free and open society with representative government all under the watchful eye of the Sovereign Prince. Of course, being the sort that does not put faith in any document by any government, I cannot help but wonder on this occasion if Albert II will become the first Prince of Monaco since the adoption of the constitution to allow it to function throughout his reign without interruption. I vote "no", it is a fine thing to celebrate and all, but at some point I think he should suspend the constitution, if only for a day, just to keep from breaking tradition and just so everyone knows who's in charge!

The Monegasque Police Force

The Principality of Monaco is known as one of the safest countries in the world, due in part to having the largest police force for its size and population than any other country. In the old days, as with most of the rest of Europe, military forces ensured internal security and crime was never really a big problem for Monaco. However, as the country modernized and became more of an attraction for outsiders, some formal police force became necessary and the driving point behind the formation of the Monegasque police force was Commissioner Yves-Marie Lucas who was appointed to that position in 1858 by HSH Prince Charles III. As the establishment grew a greater level of organization was required and in 1877 Prince Charles III appointed Antoine Angeli Director of Police, followed 10 years later by Napoleon Delalonde. Finally, on June 23, 1902 HSH Prince Albert I signed Sovereign Order No. 971 which put the police force under the jurisdiction of the government Department of Public Safety.

In the ensuing years the police force continued to grow, adapt and modernize, especially with the establishment of the gaming industry and the rise in wealthy tourists coming to Monaco which obviously posed a real temptation to criminals. The greatest expansion came during the reign of HSH Prince Rainier III who was determined that Monte Carlo not become a playground for organized crime as so many other gaming resorts in the world had done. He greatly increased security and ensured that the mob elements of various countries were never able to gain a foothold in Monaco. New branches were also added to provide security in other areas, particularly on the water and so much of Monegasque life revolves around the port. Prince Rainier III also did not neglect to look for some divine protection for the protection of his people and dedicated his police force to the safekeeping of St George as their patron saint. Recently of course, HSH Prince Albert II also named his niece, Charlotte Casiraghi, the “godmother” of public safety in Monaco on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Maritime Police Force of Monaco.

The Code Louis

In December of 1678 HSH Prince Louis I enacted a four volume overhaul of the Monegasque legal system known officially as the “Statutes of the Principality” but also known simply as the “Code Louis”. Today Prince Louis I may be best remembered for his battlefield exploits and colorful personal life but for Monaco he was also a great lawgiver and his “Code Louis” merits his ranking as one of the most far-sighted monarchs of his time. In some ways the statutes were rather ordinary. They dealt with civil law, criminal law, regulations for the municipal police and rural police (in that time Monaco consisted largely of farmland) and many other items that would have been commonplace in most any legal code in Europe. However, what made the “Code Louis” stand out was that it forbade the use of torture, something which, while not as prevalent as in the past, was still considered a legitimate tool of the state at the time. Yet, Prince Louis I went even further than that and abolished all forms of corporal punishment, probably the most common of which at that time was public flogging. To give an example, Great Britain only totally abolished judicial corporal punishment in 1948 and such laws remained on the books at least in Canada until 1972. In the United States corporal punishment remained officially legal in the state of Delaware until 1952.

The "Code Louis" still exists in the archives of the Princely Palace and is a testament to the innovation of Prince Louis I. He also, in a way, looked forward to the land-reclaiming projects of Prince Rainier III. During his reign Louis I increased the territorial waters claimed by Monaco to 30 nautical miles in order to collect more shipping levies. When the French protested Louis I replied that, "My land is so small that I must take a bit from the sea". One wonders what he would have thought of Rainier III taking that idea so literally.