Editing Absolute monarchy (section)

=== Liechtenstein ===
[[Liechtenstein]] has moved towards expanding the power of the monarch—the [[Prince of Liechtenstein]] was given vast expanded powers after a [[2003 Liechtenstein constitutional referendum|referendum]] to amend the [[Constitution of Liechtenstein]] in 2003, which led [[BBC News]] to describe the prince as an "absolute monarch again".<ref name="Liechtenstein">{{cite news |title=Liechtenstein prince wins powers |date=2003-03-16 |website=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2853991.stm |access-date=2015-10-26 |archive-date=2015-12-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151215091943/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/2853991.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> The referendum granted the monarch the powers to dismiss the government, nominate judges and [[veto]] legislation, among others.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Osborn |first1=Andrew |title=European prince wins new powers |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/mar/17/andrewosborn |website=The Guardian |access-date=20 March 2024 |date=17 March 2003 |archive-date=20 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240320073725/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/mar/17/andrewosborn |url-status=live }}</ref> Just prior to the referendum, the [[Venice Commission]] of the [[Council of Europe]] published a comprehensive report analysing the amendments, opining that they were not compatible with the European standards of democracy, effectively making Liechtenstein a ''[[de facto]]'' absolute monarchy.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Henrik Zahle |author2=Pieter Van Dijk |author3=Jean-Claude Scholsem |title=On the amendments to the constitution of Liechtenstein proposed by the Princely House of Liechtenstein |url=http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2002)032-e |website=venice.coe.int |publisher=[[Venice Commission]] |access-date=6 May 2024 |location=Strasbourg |date=16 December 2002 |archive-date=28 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200228150407/http://www.venice.coe.int/webforms/documents/default.aspx?pdffile=CDL-AD(2002)032-e |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Prince Hans-Adam II]] had also previously threatened to leave the country and move his assets out of Liechtenstein if voters had chosen to restrict his powers.<ref name="Liechtenstein"/>