At first sight, Seborga is a small, charming and quiet Ligurian village of just over 300 inhabitants, nestled on the heights of Imperia. But behind the small streets and nice and tidy medieval squares hides an unexpected restlessness, the fire of autonomy: in Liguria, on the border with the Principality of Monaco, Seborga has proclaimed “Principality” after a national referendum in 1995. The inhabitants of this town have their own currency, the Luigino, of about 6 US$ exchange rate value, have an emblem and the cars have their license plate. Obviously this is not recognized by Italy neither the EU.
Despite the complete lack of recognition, in 2010 the 320 inhabitants, who still pay taxes to Italy, elected Prince Marcello, aka Marcello Menegatto, originally from Brianza. But then these days to disturb the sleep of the elected Prince and to throw into chaos the Principality came, as a bolt from the sky, a sudden “coup d’état”: a French national, such Nicolas Mutte, introduced himself as “Nicolas I, true Prince of Seborga”. A real “coup”, which threw into turmoil the small village, now became a battleground for the crown and governed by two Princes.
After the self-proclamation, Nicolas I wasted no time and started to do all the things that belong to a real sovereign: organization of diplomatic meetings, conferring honorary citizenship based on merit and appointment of Consuls and other officials of the Principality.
Mutte has also put online a website, principautedeseborga.com, all in French language, complete with a list of ministers and secretaries of state, all French people, a copy of the Constitution, dated 22 February 2016, and a description of the new policy of the Principality.
Menegatto, aka Marcello I, who at that time was on holiday in Dubai, before trying to rush back into his kingdom, in response distrusted formally Mutte aka Nicolas I not to use logos and captions of the “Principality that are protected by international legislation on trademarks and put offline the website within seven days.”
On the website of the Principality of Seborga, the pre-existing and in Italian version, under “Coup underway in the Principality of Seborga: updates“, was published a statement in which is pointed out that “there cannot be another Prince of Seborga without the legitimation of the Seborgans, who reject unanimously with conviction and firmness all those who show interest in the Principality with the sole purpose of exploiting a title and pursue mere personal interests”.
“These people are serious. It is necessary that you react in a compact and decisive way, and if possible quickly”, thundered Princess Nina, wife of Menegatto, awaiting the arrival of her husband.
Meanwhile, from Seborga and perhaps from other parts of World, many are still awaiting the return of the elected Prince and his next moves to retake the Principality.
Source: Seborga, “colpo di stato” nel borgo ligure che vuole essere principato
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