History
The Republic of Jamtland was founded in 1963 (recalling the former 10th-century republic) in reaction to emigration from the county. The event that triggered its foundation was the centralist plan of Swedish officials to merge Jämtland County with Västernorrland County. The founders organized an association, The Liberation Movement, and mobilized the people through the "freedom festival" Storsjöyran. TV entertainer Yngve Gamlin was "elected" president, and Jamtland was proclaimed a republic in its own right, within the Kingdom of Sweden.
The Liberation Movement's goal is to restore Jamtland's ancient freedom and independence. However, the second president, the comedian Moltas Eriksson, described the Liberation Movement as "51% in jest and 49% in earnest". It is largely seen as a humorous hoax, and actual support for an independent state among the local population is low. The movement's main focus is to preserve and promote the Jamtlandic culture, language and way of life.
The current president (the third overall) is Ewert Ljusberg, a man again from show business. Once a year he makes a popular speech at the city festival Storsjöyran in Östersund where he agitates against and mocks the "Big-Swedes", the Swedish government and the European Union, in a simultaneously serious and joking manner.
Read more about this topic: Republic Of Jamtland
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