Liberland: A new self-proclaimed “state” just south of Hungary

A group of young Czech libertarians planted a flag on a 7 square kilometer tract of land, nestled between Croatia and Serbia, which has been abandoned, uninhabited and disputed since the Yugoslav wars of the 1990’s. The heart-shaped plot of land, located along the shores of the Danube, is considered to be a terra nullius, although according to an agreement between the Serbs and the Croats, Croatia enjoys de facto controls over any territory along the border that is unclaimed by either side. That’s probably why Croatian officials removed the flag that libertarian Czech politician Vít Jedlička,  hoisted onto a poll in a land that he now calls the Free Republic of Liberland.

The self-proclaimed Free Republic of Liberland is born. Photo: Liberland/Facebook.

The self-proclaimed Free Republic of Liberland is born. Photo: Liberland/Facebook.

Liberland is situated a mere 35 kilometers from the Hungarian village of Kölked (population 1,038), in Baranya county. To the east, this self-proclaimed “state” is bordered by Serbia’s Vojvodina region, home to a large Hungarian minority. But the young men and women behind the creation of this libertarian social experience are mainly Czechs, and as such, Liberland’s two official languages are Czech and English. Mr. Jedlička, who declared himself president of the new “republic” and his partner as the “first lady,” is a eurosceptic municipal politician in the Czech Republic, who models many of his economic beliefs off of Ron Paul, a prominent former Republican congressman.

The banks of the Danube, in Liberland. Photo: Liberland/Facebook.

The banks of the Danube, in Liberland. Photo: Liberland/Facebook.

Mr. Jedlička’s Liberland, according to its own mission statement, will “create a society where righteous people can prosper without state regulations and taxes.” Taxes in Liberland will essentially comprise voluntary contributions on the part of citizens, and since utilities and infrastructure will be outsourced to private companies, the founders believe that the costs of running the state apparatus will be very low. Liberland will use the US Dollar as its primary currency. Thus far, 200,000 staunch libertarians from all over Europe have expressed an interest in immigrating to Liberland and it would appear as though almost all are welcome, except for Nazis, fascists and communists.

Forests in Liberland. Photo: Liberland/Facebook.

Forests in Liberland. Photo: Liberland/Facebook.

One hiccup in the plans for mass immigration may be the fact that Liberland, according to a calculation published by the Business Insider, can hold no more than 120,000 residents, and even then, only if they built skyscrapers on the 7 square kilometers of land. At the moment, the only structure in Liberland is a decrepit, abandoned home. The area is, however, quite scenic, with a mix of lush forests and white, sandy beaches along the Danube.

Mr. Jedlička is certainly keeping busy in promoting this new “state.” Liberland’s Facebook page recounts daily lunches in Zagreb, with “future citizens,” trips to Vienna, for meetings with the local media and interested parties in Austria, as well as a myriad of interviews with bewildered and amused journalists. “The model citizen of Liberland would be [American founding father] Thomas Jefferson, which is why we established the country on his birthday. Citizens will be able to pursue happiness and this is the place where we can make this happen,” noted Mr.  Jedlička when speaking with The Guardian. “We have decided to start from scratch and show how little state is needed to make society work. The media calls us rightwing but we are not: we are not here for the rich; we are not here for the poor; we are here for everybody. This project has something for everybody and that’s the fantastic thing about it. We are a nation of people who are not happy with the recent status quo, with state interference and high taxation,” he added.

Mr.  Jedlička (left) meets with Austria's ambassador to the Czech Republic, Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff. Photo: Facebook.

Mr. Jedlička (left) meets with Austria’s ambassador to the Czech Republic, Ferdinand Trauttmansdorff. Photo: Facebook.

Meanwhile, Liberland’s representatives have handed over a diplomatic note to the Croatian embassy in Prague and launched a so-called “Free Market Road Show” in Zagreb. Liberland has also launched a website, complete with a citizenship application form. Mr. Jedlička has met with the owner of a company that — apparently — is interested in constructing piers in Liberland. They also have support from a few Members of the European Parliament, most notably Petr Mach. The 40 year old Mr. Mach is vice chair of the Europe of Freedom and Direct Democracy Group. Serbia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, however, has called the project “frivolous,” while Croatia thinks it’s a joke.

Some suggest that the Liberland initiative is a pretty impressive publicity stunt. Others believe that it’s a pipe dream supported by fans of the late Ayn Rand’s philosophy of objectivism. Either way, I suggest that for those with an interest in the region, it’s worth watching what transpires over the next weeks and months a mere 35 km south of the Hungarian border.

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