MICHAEL‘s TRIUMPH: Romanian Parliament Welcomes Former King on 90th Birthday

The former king of Romania addressed the parliament in Bucharest for the first time since his forced abdication in 1947. The Parliament’s invitation appears as a direct rebuttal of the current President’s harsh critics against the monarch.

EURONEWS: The King’s speech highlights rifts in Romania

Sixty-four years after his last speech to the Romanian parliament, the country’s former King Michael has addressed the chamber again.

But the 90-year-old’s presence has highlighted splits that still exist about Romania’s past.

He criticised what he called the “contempt for ethics and the central role of state institutions, as well as the personalisation of power in modern Romania”.

(Reuters) – Officially Invited by the Romanian Parliament, The Former King’s Presence is also seen as a triumphant rebuttal by Romanians at large beyond political and ideological affiliations including by it’s political elite of the current President of Romania’s slandering assessments towards the former Monarch. Indeed Romanians were shocked and angered at the controversial (and what many historians believe as being widely ignorant) comments by President Traian Basescu (See Article : Shock and criticism after president’s statements on king’s abdication ). The President was himself the center of another contorversy a few years ago and threatened by impeachment in 2007.

The former king of Romania addressed the parliament in Bucharest for the first time since he was forced to abdicate in 1947. Romania’s aged former King Michael delivered his first speech to parliament Tuesday since Soviet-backed communists forced him to abdicate more than 60 years ago, highlighting deep divisions overthe country’s past.

While opinion polls show most Romanians do not want the monarchy back, post-communist leaders have tried to limit Michael’s influence, fearing he could erode their own power if given a platform.

“We cannot have a future without respecting the past,” Michael, 90 and looking sprightly in a suit and striped tie, told a packed parliament on his birthday. The king whose current heir is Crown Princess Margarita still has many supporters — thousands wished him happy birthday on his website — and some gathered Tuesday outside parliament, a huge marble palace built in central Bucharest by Ceausescu. (Related News)

More Photos Here and Concert Photos in Presence of European Royalties Here

Full Speech As Aired On Romanian TV:

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SPECTACULAR PROTEST SIGNALS DECEPTION
WITH POLITICAL ESTABLISHMENT (2010)

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In 2010 a Romanian citizen makes a desperate gesture of Protest (by throwing himself from a Balcony into the Parliament Seats) against the current political establishment and the Prime Minister’s Policies which he accused of “destroying the nation’s children’s future”. The man, a tv technician, and father of two children fortunately survived with a broken leg and fractures in his head.

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ROYAL HEIR’s

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Crown Princess Margarita heir to the Throne of Romania:

Crown Princess Margarita and husband Prince Radu:

At a gathering in London with the Romanian Diaspora

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KINGDOM OF ROMANIA

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Trailer : «The Crown of Romania»

This is a trailer from the documentary film entitled “Coroana Romaniei” (“The Crown of Romania”),directed by Marian Baciu from Sahia Studios in Bucharest, produced in 2010. The director presents the reigns of King Carol I, King Carol II, and His Majesty King Michael, together with the historian Valentin Mandache. King Ferdinand and his achievements are likewise surveyed. DM

Romanian Kings and Rulers –Romania

King Carol II of Romania & Prince Michael in the UK 1938

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Romania’s former King Michael I addresses parliament

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Romania’s former King Michael I addresses parliament (bbc)

The former king of Romania has addressed parliament in Bucharest for the first time since he was forced to abdicate in 1947.

Speaking on his 90th birthday, King Michael I called on politicians to strengthen democracy in Romania and restore the country’s dignity.

He received a standing ovation from many MPs.

However, some government ministers, and President Traian Basescu, refused to attend the event.

Members of Europe’s royal families were joining him for his birthday celebrations, attending a gala concert at the Romanian Opera before a private dinner.

But officials say there are no plans for Romania to revert to a monarchy.

“We want to honour and to celebrate an important person of our history and of contemporary history,” Romania’s Liberal Party leader Crin Antonescu – whose party invited the former monarch to speak – was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency.

“It is a symbolic gesture that has no connection to the idea of changing Romania’s status as a republic,” Mr Antonescu added.

Test pilot

The king, who sat on a throne-like chair in parliament, said since the collapse of Nicolae Ceausescu’s dictatorship in 1989: “The last 20 years have brought democracy, freedom and a beginning of prosperity.”

“The time has come after 20 years to break for good with the bad habits of the past”, such as “demagogy, selfishness and attempts to cling to power”.

“It is within our power to make this country prosperous and worthy of admiration”, he added, prompting a standing ovation.

King Michael I reigned from 1927 to 1930, and again from 1940 to 1947.

In December 1947, Romania’s new Communist leaders threatened to carry out mass executions if he refused to abdicate.

In an interview with the BBC’s Nick Thorpe, the former monarch described how the authorities had blackmailed him: “If you don’t sign this thing now, we’re going to have to shoot or kill 1,000 people that are already in prison.”

“What do you do in a case like that?”

The king was then banned from returning to Romania for nearly half a century.

The Romanian royal family settled near Geneva in Switzerland, and the former king had to find work.

He said one of his favourite jobs was as a test pilot on private aeroplanes in Europe and the United States.

He met his future wife, Anne of Bourbon-Parma, at the wedding of the future Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in London in 1947.

King Michael’s Romanian citizenship was restored in 1997.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY YOUR MAJESTY

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A glittering birthday celebration was held at the National Opera with members of reigning and non-reigning royals attending. They included the King of Sweden, Queen Sofia of Spain, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, and Grand Duchess Maria and her son Giorgi of the House of Romanov, as well as Bulgaria’sformer King Simeon. (Concert Photos in Presence of European Royalties Here)

Concert Held for 90th Birthday of Romania’s Last King:

MICHAEL‘s TRIUMPH: Romanian Parliament Welcomes Former King on 90th Birthday

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