Although, with a little over two square kilometers, we are facing the second smallest country in the world - only ahead of the Vatican - Monaco is one of the places that arouses the most media interest worldwide, and its Head of State, Prince Albert II, can boast of a diplomatic activity and influence in the international sphere far superior to that of leaders of many nations infinitely larger in terms of territory. On the one hand, the fascination that the Grimaldi dynasty has aroused for decades in the glossy pages has made Monte Carlo an essential destination on the most exclusive route in the Mediterranean. But, on the other hand, the commitment of the current Monegasque sovereign to promote the presence of his small country in all multilateral organizations and turn it into an actor that exercises "soft power" with great skill is also noteworthy.
It is not surprising, therefore, the satisfaction of the Monegasques with their current monarch, who this Saturday celebrates with all of them the 20 years since his ascension to the throne in a grand popular celebration in the iconic Palace Square, with the best views of the main port. Accompanied by his wife, Princess Charlene, their two children, Princes Jacques and Gabriella, and other family members. Albert II has mingled with the crowds at a relaxed event, with free buffets of typical food and drinks and various musical performances, planned to highlight the achievements during the reign of the only son of Rainier III and the unforgettable Princess Grace.
Albert II took the reins of the Rock upon the death of his father on April 6, 2005, although his formal proclamation did not take place until July 12 of that year, once the national mourning period had passed. In his enthronement speech, he pledged to work tirelessly to make Monaco "a model society, a society model" and, among his specific priorities, declared war on black money, stating that "ethics must always underlie the actions of Monegasque authorities."
The declaration of intentions was then almost obligatory. Because Rainier III, the builder prince, had radically changed the face of the principality, turning it into a very thriving place for business, with great attraction for capital and investments, and enormous tourist appeal. However, its consideration as a tax haven at the beginning of the new millennium was clearly indigestible. With Albert II, notable progress has been made in this regard. In 2009, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) already removed Monaco from the shameful classification of non-cooperative tax havens after reforms in banking secrecy and information. And shortly after, the landmark agreement with the European Union on fiscal transparency to combat evasion was signed. However, there are still shadows in the microstate, and the 20th anniversary of the prince on the throne has been somewhat overshadowed by the recent decision of the European Commission to include Monaco on its blacklist of money laundering risk, something that was very poorly received by the authorities of Monte Carlo and is one of the obstacles that have been hindering the advancement of negotiations for an ambitious partnership agreement between Monaco and the Twenty-Seven for years.
In other matters, Albert II can truly boast. Especially in having turned his small country into a global power in environmental defense. The sovereign, one of the most active leaders in the fight against global warming, marine and ocean conservation, and sustainability, is a true reference in multilateral forums dedicated to these issues, as was demonstrated once again, for example, at the third United Nations Ocean Summit held in June in Nice. A historic expedition to the North Pole led by Albert II in 2006 was a milestone in his reign, leading to the creation of the Prince's Foundation, dedicated to vigorously implementing the green agenda.
The diplomatic prominence, clearly hyperactive, of the Monegasque sovereign is another hallmark of his reign. The remarkable "soft power" and influence he exerts are intimately linked to cultivating relationships with many of the most powerful heads of state on the planet. The large-scale invasion by Russia of Ukraine in 2022, which triggered the ongoing war, disrupted the great friendship that had been forged between the prince and Vladimir Putin. This was not an exception. The sovereign has also made efforts to approach successive occupants of the White House - he had a great rapport with Obama and, for example, was one of the first international leaders to personally congratulate Trump on his new term by sharing a box at the Super Bowl final in February. The diplomatic prince, as he could be labeled, has achieved outstanding successes such as Monaco hosting the first State visit in history by a Chinese president - Xi Jinping, in 2019.
Also on a State visit, French President Emmanuel Macron was received by the Monegasque princes at the beginning of last June. Between the Élysée tenant and Albert II, there has been a relationship more than cordial all these years, essential for the interests of the Rock. Therefore, it has caused enormous surprise the clash in recent weeks that has caused one of the most embarrassing political crises in these 20 years of reign.
The case affects nothing less than the appointment of the new Monegasque Minister of State - head of Government - which has revealed a bilateral clash whose underlying reasons are still unknown. At the beginning of June, the Prince's Palace announced that the prestigious French jurist Philippe Mettoux had been appointed to the position, vacant since the death in January of Didier Guillaume. But a week before taking office, Mettoux resigned with the release of a disturbing statement lamenting that "negative and opposing forces are already acting to perpetuate the archaic practices of the past and prevent me from successfully carrying out the mission entrusted to me by Prince Albert."
His appointment had not been to the liking of the Élysée, which maneuvered to dislodge him. Finally, after reaching a consensus with Macron, Albert II appointed Christophe Mirmand as Minister of State, a former general secretary of the French Ministry of the Interior. The matter has been handled with such little skill that it has weakened the sovereign. It is worth noting that the current treaty governing the relationship between France and Monaco establishes that the Republic "guarantees the defense of its independence and integrity" in exchange for the actions of the Rock "being in line with Paris's fundamental interests in political, economic, security, and defense areas."
Almost as a gesture of reconciliation and to ease tensions, it has been announced this week that Albert II will make a State visit to Paris in June of next year, invited by Macron. An announcement to sweeten the celebrations for the 20 years of Monegasque reign that had suddenly become tense.