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Monaco launches major justice reform with focus on transparency and financial crime

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
30/01/2026

Monaco is rolling out sweeping justice reforms this year aimed at restoring public trust and tackling financial crime. Secretary of State for Justice Samuel Vuelta Simon outlined the plans during a New Year speech on Thursday, highlighting a full agenda that includes modernising institutions, strengthening legal resources, and boosting transparency.

The conference comes as Monaco assumes the chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers this spring, 22 years after joining the organisation. The role will culminate in an informal conference of European justice ministers on 16th June focused on combating money laundering.

Restoring Monaco’s image

Vuelta Simon acknowledged that Monaco’s justice system faced hard judgement and unflattering perceptions at times. However, he insisted the reality was quite different.

“I quickly discovered its true face,” he said. “It is high quality justice that motivates its decisions, that knows neither uncontrolled backlogs nor significant delays, with committed actors and professionals who genuinely love the profession they have chosen to practise.”

He explained that Prince Albert II had given him a clear mandate: to restore serenity to Monaco’s justice system, maintain its independence, and modernise it to meet both national realities and international challenges.

To improve the system’s image, Monaco now publishes legal information to make it more accessible and, back in June, it launched a new journal called ‘Monaco Droit’, to make the justice system more understandable to the public.

Strengthening resources

To reinforce resources, a financial section was established within the Attorney General’s Office in September with two experienced magistrates, responding to recommendations from international evaluators. An audit of its effectiveness will be conducted in the coming weeks.

Additionally, a judicial reserve system, approved by the National Council in November, will allow around 10 experienced magistrates to temporarily reinforce courts when needed. Implementation will begin in the coming weeks.

Lastly, the attorney general’s office recruited two new prosecutors in 2025, with additional recruitments planned for 2026, focusing on candidates with experience in areas of public concern in Monaco.

Vuelta Simon also welcomed renewed interest from Monégasque students in the judiciary, calling it a “strong signal we have all been waiting for”. Recruitment processes for several new Monégasque magistrates will open within months.

Modernisation programme

To boost digital modernisation, the Justice Secretariat will launch a website in 2026, providing information about its services and activities. The department will also relocate from its current premises to free up space for judicial recruitment.

Digitalisation will continue with the modernisation of the criminal records system, with the aim of eventually connecting to those of neighbouring countries. Paper documentation was abandoned in 2025.

Reviews of the status of prison staff, magistrates, and court clerks are also planned to improve recruitment. The statuses of superior courts, including the Supreme Court, Court of Review, and Council of State, will also be examined.

Legislative reforms

Several legislative initiatives have also been launched to modernise the legal profession. Work is underway with the Bar Council on legal aid, court appointments, and regulation of the profession itself.

Similar collaboration with the Principality’s three bailiffs has resulted in updated tariffs and reforms to property sales procedures. A bill containing provisions for guilty pleas and criminal settlements is currently under examination by the National Council.

Reforms to prevent, detect, and punish corruption amongst high-ranking officials are also planned under the Council of Europe’s GRECO programme.

Samuel Vuelta Simon explained that the reforms aim for long-term sustainability rather than simply achieving international ratings. Progress with the Financial Action Task Force showed increasing improvements at each meeting, he said, with regular exchanges demonstrating Monaco’s commitment to best practices.

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Main photo credit Monaco Life.

JCI Monaco unveils new programmes to support young entrepreneurs

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
29/01/2026

The Junior Economic Chamber of Monaco (JCI) has outlined its plans for 2026, including new initiatives for students and changes to existing programmes. 

Lucas Dubois, appointed President of JCI for 2026, explained the changes at a press conference on Thursday January 29th alongside Vice-President for Entrepreneurship Julien Vivarelli and Vice-President for Attractivity Luxmaan Sellappah.

The main addition is Monaco Junior Impact, a new student entrepreneurship programme launching this year. It will connect students from the International University of Monaco with business mentors to develop community-focused event proposals over four months. Student teams working within set budgets will pitch their ideas to a jury in late April, with the winning project receiving full JCI Monaco funding for delivery in June.

“The students will experience the entire entrepreneurial journey, from finding the idea to respecting a budget, finding the right partners to deliver the event, securing suitable venues, and then executing it on the day,” Dubois said.

The organisation is also planning to improve Monaco Inspire, which celebrates its third edition in late November. After feedback from previous years, organisers are going to introduce cheaper morning-only tickets to complement their full-day pass, making the event more accessible to those primarily interested in the keynote speakers.

“We want to review the ticket prices to allow us to invite a broader range of people,” Dubois explained. Three keynote speakers will address attendees in the morning, with a new feature allowing participants to book one-to-one sessions with speakers throughout the day. The afternoon retains the pitch contest and adds optional workshops.

Broader strategic shift

These changes reflect JCI Monaco’s repositioning around three core pillars: attractiveness, entrepreneurship and innovation. Meanwhile, the organisation has dropped its previous focus on personal development in order to promote innovation as “the voice of 18 to 40-year-olds” in Monaco’s business community.

In addition, training programmes are expanding beyond entrepreneurs to include corporate employees. “Until now, we had many training sessions for entrepreneurs, but Luxmaan wanted to promote this aspect and offer more training in the corporate world, with soft skills dedicated to employees,” Dubois said.

The attractiveness pillar will deliver around 15 public events this year, including four breakfast conferences with guest speakers. Vivarelli stressed that despite the organisation’s 18-40 age limit for membership, all events remain open to the public. “There’s no age requirement for attending events,” he said.

Three Pitch Night sessions will also run throughout the year, with the first on March 18th dedicated to IUM students. The free evening events at JCI Monaco headquarters give participants a platform to present their projects to mentors and audiences.

The organisation also maintains its core initiatives, including the Business Creation Competition in its 31st year and the Startup Meeting series.

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Main photo credit: Monaco Life. From left to right: Julien Vivarelli, Lucas Dubois, Luxmaan Sellappah

 

Medieval warriors to battle it out in free event at Monaco’s big top

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
28/01/2026

Armoured warriors will descend on Monaco next week to offer a unique spectacle of medieval combat at the Chapiteau de Fontvieille. 

The ‘Malizia’ tournament is set to take place on Saturday 7th February and will see elite teams from France, Italy and Spain compete in the hard-hitting sport of buhurt, where fighters wear historically accurate armour and battle with blunted weapons in full contact clashes.

Organised by the Order of Magna Carta, the event will feature seven-versus-seven matches, with each squad fielding 12 fighters. Seven warriors will enter the arena while the remaining warriors stand ready as reserves.

Magna Carta is a modern knightly order inspired by the 14th century warrior brotherhoods that were bound by shared values rather than religious devotion. It draws from traditions where warriors competed as unified teams at tournaments before celebrating victories or plotting their next challenge.

Beyond Monaco’s tournament, the organisation brings together more than 25 teams from four continents, all bound by what they call the Great Charter of Liberties: a code that encompasses the values of medieval chivalry including honour, courage, humility and justice.

Modern combat meets medieval tradition

These are not staged performances. They are real competitive battles. Fighters train extensively and deliver genuine strikes, while wearing period-accurate armour. The organisation blends the spectacle and authenticity of historical reenactment with the intensity and athleticism of modern combat sports, focusing on Western European martial traditions from the mid-14th to early 16th centuries.

The Monaco tournament serves as the opening stage for Magna Carta’s 2026 calendar.

Entry to the tournament is completely free, ensuring everyone can enjoy the experience. For those unable to attend in person, the battles will be broadcast live on Magna Carta’s official Youtube channel

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Main photo provided by Magna Carta

253 crews to tackle Alpine stages in Monte Carlo Historic Rally

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
28/01/2026

Over 250 vintage car enthusiasts from 28 nations will navigate some of Europe’s most challenging mountain passes when the Monte Carlo Historic Rally begins on Thursday 29th January.

The rally running until 7th February, marks a significant shift from tradition with 18 timed stages on traffic-free roads, a move designed to enhance safety all while preserving the event’s authentic character.

The earliest competitors leave John O’Groats in the Scottish Highlands on 29th January, facing the longest journey south. The remaining entries depart on 1st February from Bad Homburg in Germany, Barcelona, Monte Carlo, Reims in France, and Turin in Italy. All routes converge on Valence in southeastern France, where the first arrivals are expected at the Esplanade du Champ de Mars from 12:30pm on Monday 2nd February.

Then, the competition properly begins on Tuesday 3rd February with three tests run twice: Col Gaudissart to Bouvante (7.5km), Léoncel to Oriol-en-Royans (11.3km), and Col de Tourniol to Barbières (10.4km).

Ardèche mountains to put drivers to the test

On 4th February, the route ventures into the Ardèche département, featuring two new stages: Saint-Pierreville to Issamoulenc (10.8km) and Lachamp-Raphaël to Burzet (15.4km).

Competitors will then stop at Antraigues-sur-Volane, where the Jouanny family garage has become a Monte Carlo Rally institution over recent decades. The day concludes with two further stages before crews return to Valence at 17:36pm.

On 5th February, the itinerary takes to the Vercors and Diois massifs with three stages, including the climb to Col de Menée at 1,457 metres and the Col de Carabès (1,261m), which marks the border between the Hautes-Alpes and Drôme départements.

Following on 6th February, three more Alpine tests await via the Col de Pennes (1,040m) and Col des Garcinets (1,185m) before crews descend towards Monaco, entering parc fermé at 16:30pm.

Night finale

The rally concludes with a dramatic overnight stage departing Monaco at 21:00pm on Friday 6th February. Competitors face two of the event’s most iconic tests: La Bollène-Vésubie to Col de Turini (15km) and La Cabanette to Col de Braus (13.7km). Cars are expected back at Monaco’s Port Hercule from 00:25am on February 7th.

A gala prize-giving is scheduled for the evening on Saturday at the Sporting Monte-Carlo’s Salle des Étoiles.

Now with an expanded eligibility window covering any car that competed in the Monte Carlo Rally between 1911 and 1986, the Monte Carlo Historic Rally has attracted cars spanning seven decades. Organisers have also introduced three different target average speeds for the event, with competitors classified according to which speed category they choose.

Additionally, C.E approved helmets are now mandatory on all closed road sections promoting tighter safety standards

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Main photo credit: Automobile Club de Monaco 

Monaco’s Ice Party returns to Port Hercule

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
28/01/2026

Teenagers in Monaco can look forward to an unforgettable evening on ice as the Ice Party returns to Port Hercule’s ice rink on February 7th. 

Organised by la Mairie de Monaco, the event, running from 7pm to 11:30pm, offers young kids between 12 and 17 a chance to enjoy four and a half hours of skating to the beat of the music.

Entry is restricted to students enrolled at Monaco schools or young residents of the principality, with proof of identity or a school record presented at the entrance. It is to be noted that organisers maintain the right to refuse admission.

Tickets cost €20, and include not only access to the rink, but also a happy meal: a hot dog, chips, a brookie desert, and a soft drink or water, ensuring young skaters are properly fuelled for the energetic evening on ice.

For bookings and additional details, residents can contact organisers on +377 93 15 06 09

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Main photo credit: Monaco Life

Monaco celebrates Saint Dévote with Pontifical Mass and traditional procession

by: Kyriaki Topalidou
28/01/2026

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène attended a pontifical mass at Monaco Cathedral on January 27th for the celebrations of Saint Dévote.

The service was presided over by Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, with Mayor Georges Marsan, members of the municipal council, and representatives from Monaco’s twin towns of Lucciana in Corsica and Dolceacqua in Italy in attendance.

The procession leaving Monaco’s Cathedral, photo credit: Stéphane Danna, Government Communications Department

Following the mass, a traditional procession carried the saint’s relics through the streets of Monaco Ville.

A large crowd of residents followed the procession as it made its way towards the Prince’s Palace.

The procession arriving at the Prince’s Palace, photo credit: Stéphane Danna, Government Communications Department

The Prince and Princess watched from the palace balcony as the procession passed below, before the relics were carried towards the side of the Rock overseeing the port for the blessing of the sea, a centuries-old tradition.

During the blessing of the sea, photo credit:photo credit: Stéphane Danna, Government Communications Department

After the procession, Mayor Georges Marsan hosted a reception at the town hall, bringing together officials and delegates from the twin towns to mark the occasion.

The two-day celebration had begun on Monday evening with the symbolic burning of a boat on Port Hercule, re-enacting the saint’s arrival by sea.

The festivities concluded with a candlelit spiritual concert at the Cathedral, featuring the Choir of Sartène, the Choir of the Papal Chapel of Assisi, and the Children’s Choir of the Rainier III Academy.

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Main photo credit: Stéphane Danna, Government Communications Department