HSH Prince Hans-Adam II, the ruling Prince of Liechtenstein, has angered European Jews through comments he made during an interview published this past Monday in the Liechtensteiner Volksblatt.

The 64-year-old Prince stated that it was the tiny alpine nation’s banking secrecy laws which allowed “some Jews to buy their safety during the Holocaust by using money they had deposited in Liechtenstein or Switzerland.” He also claimed that the laws helped citizens of Europe’s former communist countries, and are still “saving the lives” of those currently living in Third-World countries run by “bloodthirsty dictators.”

The comments were escalated by the current feud between Liechtenstein and their northern neighbour, Germany. Germany has been pressuring the government of Liechtenstein to clamp down on their confidential banking laws that it claims allows wealthy Germans to avoid paying taxes. German authorities last year paid a former LGT Group employee (the Liechtenstein national bank owned by the Princely Family) to obtain the names of Germans who are believed to be tax cheats.

Hans-Adam also fired a shot at Germany themselves, stating: “Germany and many other countries have an unbelievable mess with their state finances…Germany should clean up its own act, and think about its past.”

The Prince’s comments were heavily criticised by the German Central Council of Jews; with their General Secretary Stephan Kramer telling Bild newspaper that “the comments are a mockery of the Holocaust and its survivors.” As Liechtenstein was a mainly neutral player in World War II, Kramer claims it is “historically incorrect” for the Prince’s portrayal of Liechtenstein as the “merciful helper of the Jews” to be voiced.

Kramer ended his interview by commenting on the Prince’s reigning status: “His Highness would be better off retiring.”

Information about the Liechtenstein Princely Family can be found in this forum.

JessRulz Liechtenstein Royals Finances, Germany, Hans-Adam II, Holocaust, LGT Group

Liechtenstein has agreed to address its tax haven status by adopting international standards on tax cooperation.

The Prime Minister and Ruling Prince have agreed to talks with other countries in an attempt to remove the distinction between tax fraud and tax evasion.  Hereditary Prince Alois confirmed that this decision had been agreed to between the government, business leaders and the royal family. The princely House of Liechtenstein owns the LGT Group, Liechtenstein’s banking entity, which is the largest family-owned private wealth and asset manager in Europe.

Last year German intelligence agents accused LGT Group of tax evasion, an action which included accusations against Liechtenstein’s Prince Maximilian (as noted in this blog entry and this thread).

NotAPretender Liechtenstein Royals Finances, Government, Hereditary Prince Alois, LGT Group