German 'Count Dracula' Acts Against High Taxes And Bureaucracy

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

09 May 2002

It was reported earlier this week that an adopted descendent of the Romanian royal family, Ottomar Rodolphe Vlad Dracula Prince Kretzulesco is continuing with plans to create a low tax, anti-bureaucratic 'Kingdom of Dracula' within German borders.

Although the initiative began as a protest against the forced amalgamation of the village of Schenkendorf with seven other nearby villages in order to cut state costs, and is unlikely to represent a serious threat to the German government, the modern-day Count Dracula - a former antiques dealer - feels that there is a serious point to be made.

'We are going to take our battle for independence as far as we can,' the eccentric German told the Reuters news service. 'We're tired of the state working against us rather than for us. They have the mentality of "No, it won't work. No, we can't do that. No, that's not allowed".'

According to the Count, if he is successful in establishing his 'Kingdom', there will be no bureaucrats within the 38 acre estate and nearby village, and a maximum tax rate of 20% will be levied on residents.

Dracula (formerly known as Ottomar Berbig) also told the news service that he is considering a proposal to allow non-residents to purchase honorary citizenships, and has advanced plans for the kingdom's own stamps, passports, and car-license plates.

According to Reuters, the authorities of the state of Brandenberg, where the Count's 48 room castle is located, are not overly concerned about the possibility of an independent low tax state within their borders.

Speaking on Tuesday, Brandenberg's Interior Minister, Joerg Schoenbohm suggested that: 'Perhaps Count Dracula can be persuaded by the argument that declaring a kingdom is unconstitutional.' He added that: 'If that doesn't work, we always have garlic.'

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