Parliament pays homage to King Mihai I

Parliament paid a last homage to King Mihai I in Mondays plenary session

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Bogdan Matei, 12.12.2017, 13:55

History has seen few figures who have upheld democratic values, much to the aversion of both Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. King Mihai I was one of these few illustrious figures. Born on October 25th, 1921, Mihai ascended to the throne in 1940, after his unpopular father, Carol II, stepped down.

He spent his early years in the shadow of the de facto leader, the pro-German Marshal Ion Antonescu. On August 23rd, 1944, King Mihai had Antonescu arrested and broke Romania’s alliance with Hitler’s Germany and struck a deal with Romania’s traditional allies, the United States, Great Britain and France.

Many historians agree this decision shortened the war by at least six months and helped save hundreds of thousands of lives. Three years later, at a time when Romania was under Soviet military occupation, steered by a puppet communist government, the King was forced to abdicate and live in exile in the West.

He oversaw the activity of the Romanian National Committee, which many saw as a democratic Government in exile. After the anticommunist revolution of 1989 King Mihai I supported Romania’s NATO and EU accession with the other royal houses and governments in Europe. Commentators say it was normal for Parliament to pay one final tribute to his life of excellence in a solemn plenary session attended by high-ranking officials in Bucharest.

King Mihai stood for the hope of a reborn and free Romania, and will be remembered as a great political figure, President Klaus Iohannis said, addressing Parliament. In turn, Prime Minister Mihai Tudose has expressed confidence that the King will become an important part of Romania’s history, while his vibrant personality will continue to inspire Romanians for generations to come.

I lost a father, as did the entire nation, said the King’s first-born daughter, the Custodian of the Royal Crown, Her Royal Highness Princess Margareta. The Royal House will continue to do everything in its power to help the country move forward, together with the state’s underlying institutions, Princess Margareta promised.

The Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church Daniel also honored the King’s memory, calling him “a staunch believer” who never refrained from overtly upholding his religious convictions. The King, the Patriarch went on to say, also showed a great deal of reverence towards the other religious denominations, as he “advocated “peace between ethnicities and religions”.

The chairman of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania, Aurel Vainer, also eulogized the former monarch, describing the King as “a man of the people”. Also on Monday the Choral Temple in Bucharest played host to a commemorative ceremony devoted to the King. During the Holocaust, King Mihai and the Queen Mother Elena took action to support and save Jews in Romania.