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In a development that has sent shockwaves through the Swiss political establishment, 31-year-old entrepreneur Jonas Lauwiner has amassed an incredible 117,000 square meters (29 acres) of land by systematically claiming ownerless plots across the country. Lauwiner, who has proclaimed himself the ‘King of Switzerland,’ has acquired 148 such plots, including 83 stretches of road, sparking fury among politicians and forcing several Swiss cantons to re-evaluate their land registration rules.
Under Swiss law, land officially registered as ownerless can be claimed for free by simply writing to the local council. This obscure provision has proven a goldmine for Lauwiner, who has meticulously combed through land registries to identify suitable plots. The majority of his acquisitions consist of abandoned roads, small forest areas, or land rejected during inheritance disputes.
One notable example of Lauwiner’s strategy is a road on a housing estate that was abandoned by a developer. The entrepreneur has begun charging maintenance fees to residents who use the road, providing him with a new source of revenue. Lauwiner defends his actions, arguing that he is fair and only charges minimal fees.
“I am fair. I don’t shut the roads, and I do not charge much for them,” he stated in an interview with Times Radio. The entrepreneur also claims to profit from selling the right to construct near his roads and by selling passage rights to homeowners.
Critics, however, argue that Lauwiner’s actions constitute “abusive exploitation,” with some politicians calling for tighter rules to prevent similar situations in the future. Lawyer Loris Fabrizio Mainardi launched a lawsuit against Lauwiner, but the case was later dismissed.
Lauwiner, who initially denied claims of being a monarch, now fully embraces the title. He cites the German media’s initial declaration of him as the ‘King of Switzerland’ as the basis for his own title. The self-proclaimed monarch has gone to great lengths to develop his image, donning military-style royal uniforms and launching an ‘official website’ for the “King of Switzerland.”
The Lauwiner’s organization also boasts an ‘Order of Merit,’ an ‘imperial bank,’ and decommissioned military vehicles on display, including an amphibious tank displayed outside a building he refers to as his ‘palace’ in Burgdorf. While Lauwiner insists he has done nothing wrong and believes critics are missing the point, the controversy surrounding his actions continues to simmer.
As the Swiss government weighs options for amending land registration rules, Lauwiner remains committed to his vision. “It’s more than just a joke,” he said. “I have created something new.” Only time will tell whether the self-declared ‘King of Switzerland’ will be able to maintain his vast land empire.