International Politics

[benji]

https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15778351/Self-declared-King-Switzerland-builds-empire-117-000-square-miles-systematically-claiming-ownerless-land-sparking-fury-politicians.html

A self-declared King of Switzerland has sparked outrage among politicians after exploiting a legal loophole to seize 117,000sq metres of land for free.

Jonas Lauwiner, 31, has built what he describes as an 'empire' by claiming 148 ownerless plots of land scattered across Switzerland - including roads now used by homeowners.

The haul, acquired entirely legally, includes 83 stretches of road, giving him significant leverage over local communities and prompting several Swiss cantons to move to tighten rules amid fears others could copy him.

Under Swiss law, land officially registered as ownerless can be claimed free of charge simply by writing to the local council.

Such plots are rare and often consist of abandoned roads, small forest areas or land rejected during inheritance disputes.

But Lauwiner, who crowned himself 'King' when he was just 24, realised the obscure rule could be turned into a property business after painstakingly combing through land registries.

One road he acquired on a housing estate had reportedly been abandoned by a developer. He now charges maintenance fees to residents who use it. 

He told Times Radio: 'I am fair. I don't shut the roads, and I do not charge much for them'.

As well as maintenance fees, he said he profits 'by selling the right to construct near my road, and I sell the right of passage if there is a new house'.

Lauwiner compared his acquisitions to a 'military campaign', adding: 'I do it digitally and without bloodshed'.

Schuler claimed Lauwiner offered to transfer the road to the council for free only if it was renamed after him.

Otherwise, he allegedly demanded around £140,700 for the road.

The councillor accused him of having 'an excessive thirst for power and an exacerbated need to put himself forward'.

 

https://en.empire-gov.com/