Radio România Internațional

Tag: King Michael

  • The National Bank Museum reopens

    The National Bank Museum reopens

    The Museum of the National Bank of Romania has reopened starting the end of last year. Guests can discover the new galleries of the museum, whereas temporary exhibitions observe modern presentation concepts, according to European standards. Apart from the exhibits themselves, guests will also have the opportunity of admiring the beautiful neoclassical building in the old part of Bucharest.



    Speaking about the building and the National Bank of Romania is Ruxandra Onofrei, an expert with the National Bank Museum: “The National Bank was founded in 1880. It was an element of modernity for the Romanian state at the time, as it was the 16th central bank established at global level. During its first years, the National Bank operated in a different building. In 1882, it purchased the building of the former Șerban Vodă inn from the Romanian state, on the ruins of which it started raising the current building. In 1884, the National Bank invited two well-established French architects, Cassien Berard and Albert Galleron, who suggested a mix of the neoclassical style with French-inspired eclectic elements of 19th–century and early 20th-century architecture. Our museum was set up in one of the most important halls in the building, which we call “the Marble Hall. It is currently hosting the temporary exhibition devoted to King Michael I. It used to be called “the Counter Hall in 1890, since in its early days, the National Bank also had public relations operations. Under every arch of this hall there used to be a desk, behind which a bank clerk would work. A long table was laid out in the middle of the hall, where clients could find the standard forms. The acoustics of the hall is special, allowing for the absorption of echo and thus preventing people from hearing what others are talking about close-by. Every clerk had his own safe box where he stored cash and valuables at the end of the day. Our temporary exhibition contains twelve such safe boxes. Guests can also admire various items such as coins, bills or other objects of special value and interest in our museum collection.



    Ruxandra Onofrei also talked about the permanent exhibition of the museum: “The permanent exhibition also includes, alongside the spectacular halls in the Old Palace of the National Bank which venues our museum, the history of currency circulation in Romania. The collection is made up of coins displayed chronologically, starting with some from the 5th century BC, minted at Histria Fortress, and going through all other historical periods until 186, when the Romanian monetary system was introduced. Another section of the museums permanent numismatic exhibition is the history of the Romanian Leu, the domestic currency, from 1867 until today. Also on display is a selection of the most relevant coins that have circulated on Romania’s territory.



    One of the temporary exhibitions of the National Bank Museum, entitled “100 years since the birth of King Michael (1921-2017) is displayed at the center of the Marble Hall. Ruxandra Onofrei tells us more about it: “This exhibition was put together in collaboration with the Royal House of Romania, the National Archives, the Dimitrie Gusti Village Museum and the Ferdinand I Military Museum. The exhibition dedicated to King Michael I, marking 100 years since his birth, was opened on October 25, 2021 and can be visited until May 31, 2022. Its purpose is to take visitors through the life of Romanias last monarch. His life overlaps, in fact, with many important moments in our national history, which we have included in this exhibition. There are also less conventional objects on display, such as King Michael’s birthday certificate, which has been exhibited for the first time, a number of photos of the monarch and some of his school tests. The last section of the exhibition is represented by the 500 lei gold coin, occasioned by the anniversary of 100 years since the birth of King Michael I and a proof replica of the commemorative medal “Ardealul Nostru, that has been issued in the early 1945 and is better known to the public as “Cocoșel. By putting this coin into circulation in 1945, the government was trying to protect peoples’ savings and play down the effects of inflation which everyone was anticipating once the war was over. (VP & EE)


  • October 25, 2021 UPDATE

    October 25, 2021 UPDATE

    COVID-19 – Romania on Monday reported over 9,000 new Covid cases and a further 301 related fatalities as new restrictions came into place on Monday. Face mask wearing is mandatory in both enclosed and outdoor spaces and access to most public spaces requires the Covid green pass. Night-time movement is banned for people who are not fully vaccinated and kindergartens and schools are on an unplanned two-week holiday.

    ARMY DAY – The army remains a solid landmark and enjoys public trust, contributing to maintaining the stability needed to develop Romanian society, said president Klaus Iohannis on Monday at an event marking Army Day. He thanked all those who served their country and emphasized that the professionalism and commitment shown by the military in theatres of operation contributed to Romania’s Euro-Atlantic and European path and to the consolidation of its solid Strategic Partnership with the United States. Low-key festivities were held on Monday to celebrate Army Day, including an event outside the WWII Memorial and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Bucharest, with Romanian Air Force planes conducting a flypast. Similar events are taking place at memorials in honor of Romanian soldiers in Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Russia, Poland, the Republic of Moldova and Hungary. According to defense ministry figures, more than 90,000 Romanian soldiers were killed, almost 60,000 reported missing in action and more than 330,000 wounded in combat in WWII.

    KING MICHAEL – Various events on Monday marked a century since the birth of Romania’s last sovereign, King Michael I. He was the last of the four monarchs of the House of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen to be crowned king of Romania. Born October 25, 1921, Michael ascended to the throne in 1940 after his father, the unpopular king Charles II, stepped down. On August 23, 1944, during WWII, King Michael I had Marshal Ion Antonescu arrested, the de facto ruler of Romania and ordered Romania break ties with Nazi Germany and enter the war on the side of its traditional allies, the United States and Great Britain, a decision historians say shortened the war by at least six months, helping save hundreds of thousands of lives. Three years later, when the country was under Soviet military rule, led by the communist regime, King Michael was forced to abdicate and flee the country. In exile, he supported the actions of the Romanian National Committee, seen as a government in exile, although Western democracies never recognized its status. The Monarch returned to Romania after the 1989 revolution, regaining Romanian citizenship along with part of his properties seized by the communists. King Michael I lobbied for Romania’s NATO and EU accession. He passed away on December 5, 2017. His eldest daughter, Princess Margaret, is King Michael’s successor at the helm of the Royal House and Custodian of the Crown.

    POLITICS – Monday’s round of talks aimed at securing support for a minority government made up of the National Liberal Party and the Democratic Union and Ethnic Hungarians in Romania yielded no result. Prime Minister designate Nicolae Ciucă says the governing program is ready, although he hasn’t made it public. The Liberal official met with representatives of Save Romania Union, who again refused to support a minority government. USR president Dacian Cioloş pleaded for restoring the ruling coalition with PNL and UDMR. PNL leader and acting Prime Minister, Florin Cîţu, reiterated the responsibility of overcoming the political deadlock rests with USR and PSD, which together with AUR voted the no-confidence motion against the Cîţu Cabinet on October 5. The Prime Minister has until the end the week to present Parliament with a governing program and a list of ministers.

    MOLDOVA – The Republic of Moldova will call on Russia to set a fair tariff for natural gas imports, Moldova’s deputy Prime Minister, Andrei Spânu said on Monday, adding that negotiations would continue in Saint Petersburg on October 26, when he is to meet the head of Gazprom, Alexey Miller. Russia too says the dialogue with the Republic of Moldova in the field of energy must continue, although president Vladimir Putin has no intention of continuing discussing this topic with the current administration in Chişinău, the Kremlin spokesman, Dimtry Peskov said. Gazprom has threatened the Republic of Moldova of suspending its natural gas deliveries to this country starting December 1 unless the government in Chişinău pays in full its debt, which now stands at 709 million USD, including penalties. Chişinău has called for an extension of the contract with Gazprom, although at a lower price. Moldova currently pays 790 dollars per 1,000 cubic meters of gas, give times higher than the average paid last year.

    TENNIS – Romanian tennis player Simona Halep, former world no. 1, went up 1 place in WTA standings, now ranking 18th as of this week. Romanian-born Emma Răducanu, this year’s winner at US Open, also climbed up 1 spot to 23rd place. Sorana Cîrstea is ranked 38th, Irina Begu is now in 57th place, while Gabriela Ruse is ranked 85th. In women’s doubles, Raluca Olaru is ranked 36th, Monica Niculescu 39th and Irina Begu 65th. Raluca Olaru and Nadia Kicenok may qualify to the women’s WTA finals, now ranking 11th in WTA Race. (CM & VP)

  • December 30, 2018 UPDATE

    December 30, 2018 UPDATE

    EU Romania takes over the rotating presidency of the EU Council on January 1, for the first time since its accession in 2007. The priorities of the Romanian presidency focus on 4 areas: Europe of convergence, A Safer Europe, Europe, a stronger global actor, and Europe of common values. During its term, Romania will have to manage several complex issues like Brexit, the 2021-2027 budget, a coherent strategy on migration and increasing the Unions global role. The official web page of the Romanian presidency of the EU Council has been launched. The page, available at românia2019.eu, in Romanian, English and French, provides useful information for journalists, the general public and European affairs experts. The calendar of the Romanian presidency will be posted on this website after January 15th.




    POLICE Over 25,000 Interior Ministry personnel are on duty during the New Years holiday. Some 9,000 police with more than 3,000 vehicles are in charge of preventing and handling events that might jeopardise public safety and security. A helicopter of the Aviation Inspectorate General, with a policeman also on board, will monitor the most crowded areas. Special attention will be paid to the protection of the participants in the 125 large-scale public events expected to bring together a total of 300,000 people. The largest shows will be organised in Bucharest, Brasov, Sibiu and Cluj Napoca. Meanwhile, the Police continue searches for the Brasov robbery perpetrators, who on Friday night blew up an ATM containing over 30,000 euros. The door and front window of the respective bank unit were shattered and pieces were scattered on the sidewalk and in the street.




    MONARCHY Romania Sunday commemorated 71 years since monarchy was abolished and the country was declared a “peoples republic. On December 30th, 1947, with the country under Soviet military occupation and headed by a communist puppet government, King Mihai I was forced to relinquish power and to leave the country. Previously, on August 23rd, 1944, during WW2, the King had ordered the arrest of the countrys de facto leader, Marshall Ion Antonescu, Romanias withdrawal from its alliance with Hitlers Germany and joining its traditional allies, the USA and Britain. Historians say this decision shortened the war by at least 6 months and saved hundreds of thousands of lives. King Mihai I was only allowed to return to Romania after the 1989 Revolution, when he regained his Romanian citizenship and some of his properties. The King lobbied for Romanias accession to NATO in 2004 and EU in 2007. He passed away on December 5th, 2017, at 96 years of age. His first born, Princess Margareta, is custodian of the Crown and the Kings successor as head of the Royal House of Romania.




    TOURISM Over 2 million foreigners checked in during the first 9 months of this year in Romanian hotels and boarding houses. According to the National Statistics Institute, they spent more than 1 billion euros. Foreign tourists came to Romania for business, congresses, conferences, courses, trade fairs and exhibitions. Close to half of them used travel agencies to arrange their trips to Romania, and most of them travelled by plane.




    MEDAL A Romanian woman born in Timişoara (west) and currently the owner of a bar in Rome was decorated by the President of Italy, Sergio Mattarella, for her courage of informing against 2 members of a mafia family. According to Radio Romanias correspondent in Italy, Roxana Roman, 34, was granted the title of Knight of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, for her contribution to upholding the law. Roxana Roman owns a bar in Romanina neighbourhood in Rome, where on Easter day 2 members of the Casamonica mafia family attacked her husband, Marian Roman, and a client with disabilities. Although the mobsters ravaged the bar and warned them not to report the matter to the police, the Romanians were not intimidated and informed against them. It was the natural thing to do, said Roxana Roman. “The neighbourhood has been living in fear for a long time. There are lots of people willing to change things, but we need a new attitude, and this begins with ourselves, she told Italian mass media.




    MIGRANTS Romanian border police in Nadlac (west) found 41 foreigners attempting to cross the Hungarian border on foot, illegally. The Border Police Inspectorate announced on Sunday that during an operation to combat illegal migration they arrested 22 people who were trying to cross illegally into Hungary. They notified the Hungarian authorities, who searched the area and found another 19 illegal migrants. Of the individuals found on the Romanian side of the border, 21 are Iraqis and 1 Afghan, 15 adults of 19 to 40 years of age and 7 children, most of them seeking asylum in Romania. They said they were trying to get into Western European countries to find jobs.




    TENNIS The Romanian player Sorana Cîrstea (84 WTA) Sunday qualified into the eighth-finals of the WTA tournament in Shenzhen (China), after beating Magda Linette of Poland, cu 6-3, 6-3. Cîrstea is to play next against Pauline Parmentier (France). Also on Sunday the Romanian Irina Maria Bara and the Georgian Oksana Kalashinkova moved up into the quarter-finals of the Shenzhen doubles.



    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • The Year in Review (II)

    The Year in Review (II)

    Two governments, the same ruling coalition 2017 was the year when the government headed by Sorin Grindeanu was installed and also the year when he was sacked following a no confidence vote. Oddly enough, the same majority that put him in the prime minister post, namely, the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (PSD-ALDE), was the one that tabled the censure motion. Sorin Grindeanu was sacked for political disobedience to the Social Democrat leader Liviu Dragnea. It was Mihai Tudose that replaced Grindeanu, in the second half of the year. “I’m expecting you to do everything in your power to support an independent justice system in Romania”, President Klaus Iohannis told the government last January. The new leftist Government inaugurated its mandate with the infamous Ordinance 13 that partially decriminalized the abuse of office, which would have triggered the pardoning of a number of politicians guilty of various offenses. This would have also been the case for Liviu Dragnea. However, the largest post-communist protests, in support of justice and against PSD followed, forcing the government to withdraw the emergency decree and prompting the resignation of its initiator, justice minister Florin Iordache. In spite of the fact that Sorin Grindeanu was replaced with Mihai Tudose, the battle for changing the justice laws continued and was taken over by Parliament, with the same Florin Iordache in the forefront. Shortly before the winter holidays, the PSD-ALDE majority, little impressed by the almost daily protests, passed, with the support of the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania (UDMR), a package of laws regarding the status of magistrates, the judicial organization and organization of the Higher Council of Magistracy (CSM). This is, perhaps, the quickest and most controversial legislative process in the history of the Romanian Parliament. Through this action, the Power neutralized the right-of-center Opposition and ignored the concerns voiced by the country’s foreign partners as well as the criticism leveled against it by the judicial institutions and the magistrates’ associations. In an unprecedented move, judges in Bucharest and other Romanian cities protested in front of tribunals. Embassies of seven EU states voiced their concern at the risk of the new laws affecting the independence of the judiciary and the battle against corruption. Also, some of these laws were challenged as unconstitutional by the High Court of Cassation and Justice and by the National Liberal Party (PNL). PNL, UDMR, The most controversial stipulations refer to the magistrates’ responsibility in case of judicial errors, to limiting the role of the country’s president in appointing the Prosecutor General and the heads of the main prosecutor’s offices and the setting up of a special division for the investigation of magistrates. The Power continues to defend these laws, saying they bring order to the justice system and leave less room for abuse.


    Salaries, economy and taxation


    Promised by the Social democratic Party (PSD) in the election campaign of 2016, the unitary pay law in the public system became reality by mid-2017. Promoted by its initiators as a means to put order in a salary system that dominated the public sector years on end, the law was criticized, however, by some trade unions, for failing to reach one of its main purposes, namely that of bridging the gap between the salaries of public servants. The law also provided for significant pay rises in the public system.



    The risk of major state budget imbalances was big, so the government came up with the solution of transferring from employers to employees the responsibility of paying most of the social security contributions. As a result, the civil servants’ real salaries go up by very little, if any, while those of the private sector employees end up going down, unless employers increase gross salaries to cover the contributions’ increase. Except for the ruling coalition, everybody, from employees to employers, is criticizing the so-called fiscal revolution.



    Mayors have their share of discontent, as the new fiscal code stipulates smaller income taxes, which results in fewer funds for local budgets. The debate around the pay law and fiscal changes overlaps a more comprehensive one, regarding the 6% economic growth that makes Romania number one in the EU in this respect. Experts, however, fear that an economic advance generated mostly by consumption of imported goods is unhealthy and that it should be supported by public investment.



    The death of King Michael I


    December 5, 2017 was the day when Romania’s last sovereign, King Michael I, died in Switzerland aged 96. The coffin was flown to Romania and, on December 16, King Michael was laid to rest in Curtea de Arges, in the royal necropolis at the Medieval Christian Orthodox church there. At final rest there are also his wife, Queen Anne, who passed away in 2016, as well as his three predecessors, Carol I, Ferdinand, and Carol II.



    King Michael’s funerals were attended by royal figures, heads of state and government and foreign politicians. The late king was paid homage to by thousands of people, in an emotional show of respect for his extraordinary personality. Spectators, against their will, of the public show displayed by an immoral and incompetent political class, Romanians understood that, with King Michael’s death, Romania’s reserve of dignity decreased dramatically, which makes the sovereign’s death irretrievable.



    By way of conclusion


    2017 was a complicated year. The leftist power ruled the country on behalf of a majority, who is now silent, who had given it their vote in 2016 and whom it did not hesitate to invoke every time the measures it promoted, especially the ones regarding the justice laws, were contested vehemently in the street by the Opposition and the President, by relevant institutions and by Romania’s main partners. Independent commentators emphasised again, in 2017, the political majority’s total lack of transparency in passing their laws.



    The rude and offending behaviour became an informal legal instrument in 2017, a year when Parliament was the least credible and most unpopular state institution. 2018 does not look like an easy year either. The same commentators anticipate that, after having amended the justice laws in the sense of imposing political control over the justice system, the Power will try to operate changes in the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code, something that will make the battle against offenders much less effective. Will 2018 be the year of a Romania without justice? Probably not. It will surely be, however, Romania’s first year without its King. (Translated by Elena Enache)


  • December 29, 2017 UPDATE

    December 29, 2017 UPDATE

    DIALOGUE NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that he expects the Alliance to have a stepped-up dialogue with Russia in 2018 both at the political level as well as through the military communication channels. The statement came after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had said that an intensified dialogue with Russia didn’t mean the normalization of relations. Russia’s relations with NATO have been at their lowest ebb since the cold war, mainly after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in early 2014 and the support it provided to the pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine. After two years of frozen relations, NATO and Russia resumed talks in 2016 at embassy level and held their first high-level military talks in 2017.



    POLL 75% of Romanians believe that things are going the wrong way, according to an opinion poll run by the Romanian Institute for Evaluation and Strategy. Only 17% of respondents are content with the way in which the country is going. 7% believe that things are going neither in the right, nor the wrong way, 2% said they do not know. 40% of Romanians said they were not quite content with the way things are going, 36% said they were quite content, 19% said they were unhappy with the way things are going, 4% said they were very happy, with 1% saying they could not tell or not answering at all. 45% are of the opinion that 2017 was worse than 2016, 30% said it was the same, 24% said it was better, with a 1% undecided option. The most important events of the year are considered the death of King Michael I, on 5 December, the anti-government protests of January and February, with 8 percentage points each. In terms of confidence, Romanians trust the EU the most, 38%, their mayor, 31%, and the media, 31%, with the lowest confidence figures going towards Parliament, 11%, and political parties, 8%. They also believe that Romania should have a better relationship with Germany, 64%, and with the US 57%. The poll ran between December 6 and 8, and has a margin of error of 2.5%.



    RESHUFFLING Liviu Dragnea, the head of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the main party of the leftist ruling coalition, has announced that next month he will discuss with their partners, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) about a possible government reshuffle. Dragnea has pointed out that personally, he is satisfied with the activity of the ministers and of PM Mihai Tudose. The Social Democratic leader has also said that he is against an extraordinary parliament session summoned to discuss amendments to the Criminal Codes, and he also opposes the issuing of an emergency decree on this matter. He believes that these bills must also be passed following debates, but emphasises the fact that by April 2018 the EU directive regarding the presumption of innocence and the right to fair trial must be included into the Romanian law. Other amendments to the Criminal Codes are generated by rulings of the Romanian Constitutional Court and European Court of Human Rights. The righ-of-center opposition, civil society and the media are harshly criticising the government coalition’s plan to amend the justice laws, and accuse them of trying to subordinate magistrates and put an end to the battle against corruption. Last week, embassies of seven EU member states called on all parties involved in the reform process of the Romanian justice system to avoid any action that might compromise the independence of the judicial system.







  • December 26, 2017

    December 26, 2017

    CHRISTMAS — In Romania, Orthodox and Greek-Catholic Christians celebrate today, on the second day of Christmas, the Synaxis of the Theotokos, which is a celebration of Mary, the Mother of God. This is one of the oldest feast days devoted to Virgin Mary, dating back to the 5th Century. The Synaxis of the Theotokos is the assembly of believers to honour the one through whom the incarnation of God was possible. Also today, Roman Catholic Christians celebrate St Stephen, the first martyr.





    HOLIDAYS — Thousands of Romanians are spending their winter holidays in the mountain resorts in Valea Prahovei region in the south, in Maramures in the north-west of the country and in Bucovina, in the north-east. Sinaia and Buşteni, on Prahova Valley, are among the most popular resorts in the country at this time of the year. In Bâlea Lac, in Făgăraş Mountains, at over 2,000 m altitude, the new Ice Hotel, the only one of its kind in Romania, was opened on Sunday. Most of the tourists having booked a room here come from abroad.




    ROYAL HOUSE — The Royal House of Romania attended on Tuesday the Christmas service held at the Orthodox church in Săvârşin, the west of Romania. The royals are on 40-day mourning after the death of Romania’s last king, Michael I. He passed away on December 5, aged 96, and was buried on December 16, in Curtea de Arges, southern Romania, where the other 3 monarchs of Romania are also interred. Tens of thousands of people took part in the national funerals of the one they regard as a model of dignity, honour, devotion and love for the country.




    CONSULTATIONS — The PM of Romania, Mihai Tudose, has agreed to hold talks tomorrow with representatives of over 40 NGOs involved in the street protests against the controversial changes in the justice laws. The organisations had sent the PM an open letter expressing their willingness to contribute to dialogue, consultation and solutions, in full compliance with the rule of law, democratic principles and fundamental human rights. They say there have been major deficiencies in the dialogue and consultations between lawmakers and society with respect to the justice laws and the changes of the criminal codes. On Friday, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Thorbjorn Jagland, sent a letter to President Klaus Iohannis, urging him to request an official opinion from the Venice Commission with respect to the legislative reform endorsed by Parliament. Previously, the embassies of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Netherlands and Sweden to Bucharest issued a joint letter calling on all stakeholders in the judiciary reform process to avoid measures that would weaken the independence of the judiciary and the fight against corruption. In response, the Foreign Ministry said strengthening the rule of law and fighting corruption are among the priorities of the Government of Romania. In turn, the leaders of ruling coalition made up of the Social Democratic Party and the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Romania, Liviu Dragnea and Calin Popescu Tariceanu, respectively, promised that the Justice Minister Tudorel Toader, and Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu would inform embassies properly with respect to the legislative changes in this field.




    EU — The German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said that if the EU managed to get a smart deal with Britain that governs relations with Europe after Brexit, it could be a model for other countries. The German diplomat added that Turkey and Ukraine are not likely to get full EU membership very soon, which is why the EU should consider alternative forms of closer cooperation. Gabriel also suggested that such an approach could take the form of a closer customs union with Turkey. Although the current situation proves that that country is still rather far from joining the EU, recent moves by Ankara indicate willingness to improve relations with Brussels, the German official also said. Shortly before Christmas, Turkey decided to free a German pilgrim after nearly 9 months of detention, and a German journalist who had spent 7 months in custody over alleged ties with a terrorist organisation.


    (translated by: Ana-Maria Popescu)

  • Romania bids farewell to King Michael 1st

    Romania bids farewell to King Michael 1st

    A Romanian historian has these days said the counterfeit history should be re-written, to completely wash away the propagandistic rubbish the communists made use of in order to stain the reputation of the monarchy and of the country’s former sovereign, King Michael 1st. In people’s souls, the history has already started to be re-written as thousands waited patiently in endless queues that lasted up to eight hours to pay their respects to King Michael I lying in state at the Royal Palace in Bucharest.



    “King Michael led a life of sacrifice. He was forced to leave the country and was threatened with the killing of 1,000 young people unless he accepted to leave. Do you realize what that meant?”



    “I’ve learnt what he was like quite late; I didn’t know that he was a kind, caring and deeply religious man…It would have been better if things had been different, you know…



    “Unfortunately I’ve learnt about our king quite late, in the past few years. I have this regret of having known him too late in life. In school they taught us very little about him and not exactly in positive terms.”



    “If I were to describe him in a few words, I would say he personifies decency something, I haven’t seen in any other political leader in our country.”



    Decency, dignity, love and sense of duty, unaltered by ego or resentments, not even after the post-communist authorities had brutally denied his right to return to the country and pay his respects at the graves of his parents in the early 1990s. That was His Majesty King Michael I and these were the reasons that prompted Romanians to brave the endless queues late at night for a final and respectful farewell.



    “I’ll stay here for as long as it takes with the huge regret that we missed another chance, by not honoring him enough while we still had him. So this is the least I can do, spend a couple of hours in the queue for the chance to pay my last respects. I want to do at least that.”



    “I came here to pay my respects to His Majesty.”



    The European civilization also owes a lot to King Michael who bravely stood his ground against the Nazi and the Bolsheviks. We recall that on August 23rd, 1944, the king arrested fascist dictator Ion Antonescu, the country’s de facto leader, denouncing his alliance with Nazi Germany. According to historians, the king’s move shortened the war by six months, sparing hundreds of thousands of lives. The king later tried to prevent the Sovietization of Romania but he failed to do so, due to the lack of international support.



    On December 30th 1947, under the pressure of a Soviet-controlled puppet government, the king was forced to abdicate and go on a painful exile with his family, while Romania entered one of its most sinister periods, the communist era, which ended in a blood bath in December 1989. The king died after a brave life, which he led during a ruthless century. He will be buried in Curtea de Arges, in southern Romania, close to his wife, Queen Ana and his ancestors Carol 1st, Ferdinand and Carol 2nd.


  • The Nation Mourns for King Michael I

    The Nation Mourns for King Michael I

    King Michael I has finally returned home for good. One week after his death at his residence in Switzerland, the body of the last sovereign of Romania was brought back to his country on Wednesday morning, and was laid in state for a few hours at Peles Castle, the royal residence in Sinaia mountain resort, in the Southern Carpathians. The kings acquaintances said that the king was very much attached to the palace, the place where he was born, on October 25th, 1921.



    Ceremonies at the palace were reserved for state officials. President Klaus Iohannis, members of Parliament and Government from Romania and the neighboring Republic of Moldova were the only ones present there to present condolences. Everyone wishing to pay homage one last time to the king may do so at the Royal Palace in Bucharest, where his coffin will lie in state until Friday night, in what used to be the throne room.



    Thousands have already brought flowers and lit candles in front of the palace, which became a veritable place of pilgrimage as of Tuesday, December 5th, when the kings death was announced. King Michael will be laid to rest on Saturday, December 16th, in Curtea de Arges, in the royal necropolis at the Medieval Christian Orthodox church there.



    At final rest there are his wife, Queen Anne, who passed away last year, as well as his three predecessors from the Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen dynasty, Carol I, Ferdinand, and Carol II. This line came to the throne in 1866, laying the foundations of modern Romania. They achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1877, and brought together Greater Romania as a country in 1918, when, at the end of WWI, they gathered under the authority of Bucharest all provinces with a majority Romanian population.



    According to the Royal House, the funerals in Curtea de Arges are expected to be attended by about one hundred foreign politicians, royal figures and heads of state and government. The authorities in Bucharest have decreed three days of national mourning for the 14th, 15th and 16th of December. Parliament already held a solemn session on Monday, paying homage to the last sovereign, who took the throne in 1940. He was forced to abdicate and go into exile seven years later under pressure from the communist government and Soviet troops.



    In 1944, a young King Michael had already written history by taking the country out of its alliance with Nazi Germany and bringing it alongside its traditional allies, Great Britain and the United States. President Klaus Iohannis said that King Michael symbolized the hope of a reborn and free Romania, and he would be remembered as a great statesman.



    The kings first born, Crown Princess Margaret, Custodian of the Crown, said that she and the nation have lost a parent. She promised that the Royal House would continue to support all the fundamental institutions of the state in order to help the country progress.

  • December 6, 2017 UPDATE

    December 6, 2017 UPDATE

    KING MICHAEL – Around 100 personalities from all over the world, including heads of state and government and members of royal families, are expected to attend the funeral of Romania’s former king Michael I, who died on Tuesday at his residence in Switzerland, aged 96. King Michael’s body will be flown to Romania on Wednesday, December 13, and placed in the Hall of Honour of the Peles Castle in Sinaia, the Romanian Royal House has announced. On the evening of the same day, the coffin will be brought to Bucharest and placed in the Throne Hall of the Royal Palace, to lie in state until the 15th of December. The King will be buried next Saturday in Curtea de Arges, in the south, where all of Romanias kings are interred. The Bucharest Government declared three days of national mourning on December 14, 15 and 16. On Monday, December 11, Parliament will convene in plenary sitting to pay homage to the former monarch. King Michael of Romania was credited with pre-emptively saving thousands of lives in World War II when, at 22, he had the courage to arrest the pro-Nazi leader, Marshal Ion Antonescu, which took Romania into the war on the side of the Allies. Historians say the monarch’s action might have shortened the war by months, saving tens of thousands of lives. King Michael ruled Romania from 1940 to 1947, when he was forced by the communists to abdicate and flee. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis said that King Michael was one of Romanias greatest figures and his death is a great loss for the country. In his turn, the European Commission President, Jean Claude Junker, conveyed condolences on his behalf and on the behalf of the European Commission saying “I would like to pay tribute to King Michael’s role when, in 1997, he undertook a tour of European capitals to promote Romanias entry into the European Union. Twenty-two years later, his beloved country will, for the first time, in the first half of 2019, hold the presidency of the European Union. This will be an important moment for Romania and an important moment for the future of our Union.”




    STATE BUDGET — Romania’s Government approved on Wednesday the 2018 budget bill centred on health, education and investment. According to a Government release, the budget has been built on a 5.5% economic growth, an average inflation rate of 3.1% and a budget deficit of less than 3% of the GDP. The budget bill also provides for the resources needed to increase the net minimum and average salary in the public and private sector and to also increase pensions. One of the objectives for the next year is a 4% decrease in the unemployment rate. Also, 2% of the GDP is earmarked for defence in 2018 as well. Parliament will have the final say on the 2018 budget bill and social security bill.




    MOSCOW – President Vladimir Putin, who has been ruling Russia for 18 years, announced on Wednesday that he would seek a new six-year term in March. If he wins what would be a fourth presidential term, he will be eligible to serve another six years until 2024. Opinion polls show him as the clear winner, in the absence of a contender able to win public support. In spite of economic difficulties and tense relations with the West, Vladimir Putin has managed to remain widely popular in his country. His critics, however, say that during his rule the country has regressed in terms of observance of human rights and freedoms.




    BUDGET DEFICIT – The Romanian finance minister Ionut Misa has told the EUs Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) that met on the 4th and 5th December in Brussels that Romania is committed to taking the necessary steps so as not to exceed the recommended 3% budget deficit of the GDP. In a press release published after the meeting, the EU Council said Romania failed to take efficient measures to address a significant budget deviation. The Council thus issued a new recommendation revising its previous one. The Council established the deadline of 15th April 2018 for Bucharest to present a report on the actions taken in response to the revised recommendation. According to the autumn forecast published by the European Commission, the budget deficit is to reach 3% of the GDP in 2017 and is predicted to grow to 3.9% in 2018 and 4.1% in 2019.




    HANDBALL – The Romanian womens handball side defeated Spain 19 -17 in a Group A match on Tuesday to secure their qualification for the round of last 16 at the World Championships in Germany. In the other group matches, Slovenia defeated Angola 32-25, while France defeated Paraguay 35-13, thus also making it to the next round. Russia, Germany and Serbia have also qualified. After three wins, Romania, who also defeated Slovenia and Paraguay, top the group with 6 points followed by France, Spain and Slovenia with 4 points each, and Angola and Paraguay with no points. Romania will next face Angola on Thursday and France on Friday before the knock-out round. (Translated by E. Enache)

  • Romanian Armed Forces Day

    Romanian Armed Forces Day

    73 years ago, on 23rd August 1944, Romania broke its alliance with the Axis powers and declared war on Nazi Germany and Horthyst Hungary. In these difficult circumstances and through immense national effort, the Romanian Army began fighting to liberate the country’s entire territory. In the autumn, general Gheorghe Avramescu, the commander of the Fourth Romanian Army, decided to begin an offensive to liberate the town of Carei, the last bit of Romanian land still under Hungarian occupation since 1940.



    The victory was dedicated to King Michael, who was to turn 23 on 25th October. This day is therefore also directly linked to Romania’s last sovereign, the only living Romanian to hold the title of marshal and who was the supreme commander of the Army in 1944. The Romanian troops also fought alongside Allied troops outside of Romania, leading to the great victory of 9th May 1945 that marked the end of the Second World War. In 1959, after the withdrawal of the Soviet troops from Romania, 25th October was officially declared Romanian Armed Forces Day, which meant that the communist authorities ironically continued to celebrate the birthday anniversary of the king they had driven out of the country at the end of 1947.



    Today, the Romanian Army is constantly adapting to the changing security environment in the region. Chief of Staff, general Nicolae Ciuca: “The Romanian Army has prepared and implemented a series of processes aimed at the transformation and structural adjustment of its units, for all types of forces. We have been carrying out a wide-scale training process together with our strategic allies. Also, we have increased our presence and participation in exercises on our territory and outside it, activities that improve both the level of training and in particular our interoperability, which we need to keep as balanced as possible in terms of the compatibility of combat capabilities.”



    Romania is a strong ally and a frontier state in the face of Russia’s aggression, says a message sent by the Pentagon on Romanian Armed Forces Day. According to the officials of the US Department of Defense, Romania is an example for the other NATO member states, and the United States fully respects its security commitments as its strategic partner. The United States also noted Romania’s contribution within the Alliance, its efforts to modernise its army and the sacrifice of the Romanian military in the theatres of operation.


  • August 13, 2016 UPDATE

    August 13, 2016 UPDATE

    ROYALTY FUNERAL– Romania and the Republic of Moldova on Saturday observed a day of national mourning in memory of Queen Anne, the consort of Romanias last sovereign, Michael I. The ceremonies started on Saturday morning in front of the Royal Palace in Bucharest, with a burial service in the Catholic rite, as Queen Anne was a Catholic believer. The remains were laid to rest, in Curtea de Arges, Southern Romania, which hosts the final resting places of the Romanian Royalties. A burial service was celebrated in the Orthodox rite, the faith of the Romanian Royal House and of most Romanians. Among those attending the funeral were Romanian high officials as well as members of the Imperial Families of Russia, Austria and Germany, of the Royal Houses of the Netherlands and Belgium, of Luxembourg, Baden, Württemberg and Bourbon-Parma. Aged 94, and himself severely ill, King Michael could not attend the funeral of his wife, whom he visited every day in the Swiss hospital where she died of cancer, on August 1. Born in Paris, in 1923, Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma met King Michael in London, in 1947. The same year, on December 30, at a time when the country was practically under Soviet military occupation and was led by a puppet communist government, King Michael was forced to abdicate and into exile. The Royal Family returned to the country only after the Anti-communist Revolution of 1989 and regained Romanian citizenship, withdrawn by the communists, as well as some of the properties.



    OLYMPIC UPDATE – Romania’s women’s eight rowing crew on Saturday won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Ranking first was the US, followed by Great Britain. This is the fourth medal grabbed by Romania at Rio 2016. On Friday, the Romanian tennis pair, Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau, won a silver medal and weightlifter Gabriel Sincraian got bronze in the 85-kilo category. Earlier, Romanias womens epee team had grabbed a gold medal, after defeating the current champion, China, in the finals, 44 – 38. “Through their talent, their stamina and after thousands of hours of training, Simona Gherman, Ana Maria Popescu, Simona Pop and Loredana Dinu have managed to bring Romania a gold medal, making an entire country proud of their performance, Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis, wrote on his Facebook page. In turn, PM Dacian Ciolos congratulated the Romanian athletes who won medals for Romania in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. “Such an extraordinary performance is impressive, unites us and brings us a lot of joy, says Dacian Ciolos.



    BEIJING BOOK FAIR– Romania, alongside other central and east European countries is guest of honour at the International Book Fair in Beijing, which runs between August 24 and 28. Over 1,200 albums and books, brought out by 20 Romanian publishers will be put on show, as well as translations of various Romanian authors into foreign languages, published with the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute. The program of the fair also includes book launches, among which the volume “Step by Step by Romanias President Klaus Iohannis and “The Grammar of the Contemporary Romanian Language, by Dong Xixiao. The presentation of Romanian books will be accompanied by recitals given by the traditional folk vocalist Grigore Lese and violinist Andrei Mihail. A show after Matei Visniecs play “Old Clown Wanted is also performed at the fair, in the attendance of the well-known Romanian playwright settled in France.



    SKY NEWS REPORT – The three men featured in the report broadcast by the British Channel Sky News on alleged gun running in Romania have been taken into temporary custody. Initially, they were taken into custody for setting up an organised criminal group, violating the regime of arms and ammunition and circulating false information. Justice minister, Raluca Pruna, said the Romanian state should react to the issue. Earlier, PM Dacian Ciolos had termed the report as unacceptable and said a country cant be denigrated without proof. According to the Romanian prosecutors, the report was re-broadcast by mass-media institutions in Romania and other countries, and the facts presented in the report generated bad sentiment towards the Romanian state, as well as insecurity among Romanians. The inquiry shows that in reality, the so-called journalistic investigation was not based on real facts and circumstances, but staged by the journalists, who presented false data and information as true. The three alleged smugglers were requested, on July 31st, when the report was filmed, to speak the Romanian language, although their native language is Hungarian.


    (Translated by Diana Vijeu)

  • August 13, 2016

    August 13, 2016

    ROYALTY FUNERAL– Romania and the Republic of Moldova are observing a day of national mourning in memory of Queen Anne, the consort of Romanias last sovereign, Michael I. The ceremonies started on Saturday morning in front of the Royal Palace in Bucharest, with a burial service in the Catholic rite, as Queen Anne was a Catholic believer. The remains were laid to rest at Curtea de Arges, in Southern Romania, which hosts the final resting places of Romanian Royalties. A burial service was celebrated in Curtea de Arges,in the Orthodox rite, the faith of the Romanian Royal House and of most Romanians. Among those attending the funeral were Romanian high officials as well as members of the Imperial Families of Russia, Austria and Germany, of the Royal Houses of the Netherlands and Belgium, of Luxembourg, Baden, Württemberg and Bourbon-Parma. Aged 94, and himself severely ill, King Michael couldn’t attend the funeral of his wife, whom he visited every day in the Swiss hospital where she died of cancer, on August 1. Born in Paris, in 1923, Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma met King Michael in London, in 1947. The same year, on December 30, at a time when the country was practically under Soviet military occupation and was led by a puppet communist government, King Michael was forced to abdicate and leave the country, to live in exile. The Royal Family returned to the country only after the Anti-communist Revolution of 1989 and regained Romanian citizenship, withdrawn by the communists, as well as some of the properties.



    OLYMPIC UPDATE – Romania’s women’s eight rowing crew on Saturday grabbed a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. They were outperformed by the US (gold) and Great Britain (silver). Also, the Romanian tennis pair, Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau, won a silver medal and weightlifter Gabriel Sincraian got bronze in the 85 kilo category on the seventh day of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. In the finals, Mergea and Tecau lost to the Spanish pair Rafael Nadal-Marc Lopez 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. Sincraian was outclassed by the Chinese Tiao Tan and Iranian Kianoush Rostani, but his medal is considered an extraordinary performance, given that he was not among the favourites of the event. Earlier, Romanias womens epee team had grabbed a gold medal, after defeating the current champion, China, in the finals, 44 – 38. “Through their talent, their stamina and after thousands of hours of training, Simona Gherman, Ana Maria Popescu, Simona Pop and Loredana Dinu have managed to bring Romania a gold medal, making an entire country proud of their performance, Romanias President, Klaus Iohannis, wrote on his Facebook page on Friday. In turn, PM Dacian Ciolos congratulated the Romanian athletes who won medals for Romania in the Olympics in Rio. “Such an extraordinary performance is impressive, unites us and brings us a lot of joy, says Dacian Ciolis. With a gold medal, one silver and one bronze, Romania is currently ranking 23rd in the classification of the 206 countries taking part in the Olympic Games in Rio.



    BEIJING BOOK FAIR– Romania, alongside other central and east European countries is guest of honour at the International Book Fair in Beijing, which runs between August 24 and 28. Over 1,200 albums and books, brought out by 20 Romanian publishers will be put on show, as well as translations of various Romanian authors into foreign languages, published with the support of the Romanian Cultural Institute. The program of the fair also includes book launches, among which the volume “Step by Step by Romanias President Klaus Iohannis and “The Grammar of the Contemporary Romanian Language, by Dong Xixiao. The presentation of Romanian books will be accompanied by recitals given by the traditional folk vocalist Grigore Lese and violinist Andrei Mihail. A show after Matei Visniecs play “Old Clown Wanted is also performed at the fair, in the attendance of the well-known Romanian playwright settled in France.



    SKY NEWS REPORT – The three men featured in the report broadcast by the British Channel Sky News on alleged gun running in Romania have been taken into temporary custody. Initially, they were taken into custody for setting up an organised criminal group, violating of the regime of arms and ammunition and circulating false information. Justice minister, Raluca Pruna, said the Romanian state should react to the issue. Earlier, PM Dacian Ciolos had termed the report as unacceptable and said a country cant be denigrated without proof. According to the Romanian prosecutors, the report was re-broadcast by mass-media institutions in Romania and other countries, and the facts presented in the report generated bad sentiment towards the Romanian state, as well as insecurity among Romanians. The inquiry shows that in reality, the so-called journalistic investigation was not based on real facts and circumstances, but staged by the journalists, who presented false data and information as true. The three alleged smugglers were requested, on July 31st, when the report was filmed, to speak the Romanian language, although their native language is Hungarian.

    (Translated and updated by Diana Vijeu)

  • Queen Anne, the last homage

    Queen Anne, the last homage

    Deep silence fell upon the imposing Throne Hall of the Royal Palace in Bucharest, with the motto of the Royal House, ”Nihil Sine Deo”, (Latin for ”Nothing Without God”) shining above the doorframe. Women make a reverence at the catafalque of Queen Anne, some of the men kneel down, children make the sign of the cross, and some of the elderly who lived, part of their lives during the monarchy, shed a tear of grief.



    Romanians come to the Royal Palace to bid a final farewell to the wife of Romania’s last sovereign, Michael I, Queen Anne, who died on August 1, in Switzerland. They pay floral tributes, light candles and leave messages of condolences in front of the Royal Palace and then enter the Throne Hall to pay their respects.



    A funeral wreath of white lilies has been placed on the coffin, veiled in the royal flag and guarded by military of the “Mihai Viteazul” Honour Guard Regiment. “The royal family is a symbol”, “Monarchy is normality”, “She was a great lady”, “Her passing leaves a gap in our hearts”-are only some of the words expressed by those who come to pay their last respects.



    Some of those who bid farewell to Queen Anne have shared their thoughts:


    “A pious thought and feelings of regret that Romania didn’t return to monarchy. It is one of the simplest things that a true Romanian can do.”



    “I had war veterans in my family, who fought in the Royal Army. Out of respect for them, if not out of greater respect for Their Majesties, we should be here”.



    “I think this is a gesture that each person should make, each Romanian who has the possibility to come here should pay their respects to this Lady of Romania and think of what she has accomplished or what she tried to achieve in her lifetime”.



    Apart from numerous common citizens, prominent personalities of the Romanian political and public life have paid their last respects to the departed Queen, whose remains were brought to Bucharest on Wednesday evening, from Peles Castle in Sinaia, Southern Carpathians.



    After a two-day public vigil in Bucharest, the coffin with Queen Anne’s remains will be brought into the Palace Square, and the bells of all Orthodox churches and of the “Saint Joseph” Roman-Catholic Cathedral will be tolling. Afterwards, the coffin will be taken to Curtea de Arges Monastery, the final resting place of Romanian royalties, in Southern Romania.



    Among the personalities who have announced their presence at Queen Anne’s funeral there are members of the Imperial Families of Russia, Austria and Germany, and of the Royal Families of the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, of Baden, Württemberg and Bourbon-Parma. A painful absence will be that of King Michael, who is severely ill and who will be praying in Switzerland for the soul of the woman who stood by his side, far away from the country, in exile, for 68 years.



    A day of national mourning has been decreed for Saturday in Romania and the neighbouring Republic of Moldova.

  • August 11, 2016 UPDATE

    August 11, 2016 UPDATE

    QUEEN ANNE – Members of European royal families will attend the funeral of Queen Anne, the Press Office of King Michael I announced on Thursday. So far, members of the Russian, Austrian and German imperial families and of the royal families of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg have confirmed their presence. The casket will be in the Throne Room of the Royal Palace in Bucharest until Friday. On Wednesday, at the former summer residence of Romanian royalty, Peles Castle, in Sinaia, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Moldovan President Nicolae Timofti, and Romanian PM Dacian Ciolos were among the many officials paying their respects. The funeral is scheduled for Saturday in Curtea de Arges. King Michael will be unable to attend the funeral due to ill health. The queen died on August 1st aged 92 in Switzerland, after a battle with cancer.



    REPORT – The PM of Romania Dacian Ciolos Thursday rated the Sky News story on alleged weapon smuggling in Romania as unacceptable. He emphasised that a country should not be shed negative light on without evidence, and announced that Romanian authorities had taken a stand on the matter. The Prosecutors Office Investigating Terrorism and Organised Crime (DIICOT) has started an investigation. Several house searches were conducted in northern Romania, which identified the individuals featured in the story, and the weapons were seized. The DIICOT head prosecutor Daniel Horodniceanu has said that so far the report appears to have been staged. On Thursday the institution ordered the prosecution of 3 of the Romanians appearing in the report, including the one who introduced the British journalists to the alleged smugglers. One of the 3 has been detained, said his lawyer. They have been accused of aiding in giving false information, of setting up an organised crime group and of breaching weapon regulations. The British tv channel stands by its report, although the British broadcasting regulatory body has received several notifications regarding the Sky News story. The British journalists argue that, after two months of negotiations, they were pointed to an isolated area in Romania, where they met weapon smugglers who allegedly brought in weapons from Ukraine to be sold in western Europe and the Middle East.



    CRIMEA – A new escalation of tensions between Ukraine and Russia is in the focus on attention of the international community. The UN Security Council is to discuss the growing tension between Moscow and Kyiv over Crimea, after Russias accusations that Ukraine plotted attacks in the disputed Black Sea peninsula. NATO also expressed concerns with a new escalation of tensions between the two countries. The President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, Thursday put all military units near Crimea and the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk on alert, for fear of a military conflict with Russia. The announcement came after on Wednesday his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, accused Kyiv of using “terror tactics so as to reignite conflict and destabilise Crimea. Russia annexed this Black Sea Peninsula in 2014. The conflict in east Ukraine, between government forces and pro-Russian insurgents, has so far killed 9,500 people.

  • Funeral Ceremonies for Queen Anne

    Funeral Ceremonies for Queen Anne

    Queen Anne of Romania returns to the country that she always loved, but that she only got to know in her old age. For five days, ceremonies will be held in all the key geographic landmarks of Romanian royalty. Queen Annes body will first be taken to Peles Castle, built in the 19th Century in Sinaia, in the Carpathians, by the founder of the Romanian dynasty, King Karl I, and then brought to Bucharest, in the Throne Room of the Royal Palace. The public will have access to the Palace on Thursday and Friday, and the burial is scheduled for Saturday, in Curtea de Arges, the first capital of the medieval principality of Wallachia.



    Doctors did not allow King Michael to attend the funeral. He will stay at his residence in Switzerland, accompanied by close friends and two Orthodox nuns. “This decision was made with deep sorrow, reads a news release issued by the Royal House. Aged 94 and very ill himself, King Michael visited his wife every day at the Swiss clinic where she was hospitalized before dying on August 1.



    Born in Paris in 1923, Princess Anne of Bourbon-Parma met King Michael in London in 1947. Later the same year, on December 30, when Romania was under Soviet military occupation and led by a communist puppet government, the Sovereign was forced into exile. From the USA, Britain or Switzerland, he endorsed the activity of the Romanian National Committee, presented as a government in exile, although Western democracies never recognised it as such.



    In Bucharest, the communist regime constantly fuelled an aggressive anti-monarchy propaganda, whose toxic effects are yet to fully recede. King Michael was only permitted to return to Romania after the anti-communist Revolution of 1989, when he also regained his Romanian citizenship, withdrawn by communists, and part of his property. As a special ambassador, he lobbied for Romanias NATO accession in 2004 and EU accession in 2007.



    At home, the Royal Family undertook constantly, after repatriation, various charity and art patronage projects, thanks to which Romanians were finally able to know their deposed sovereigns. In an interview to Radio Romania in 2008, Queen Anne said that while in exile she had heard a lot from her husband about his homeland, but that a one-month journey across the country, from Dobrogea, in the south-east to Banat in the south-west and Transylvania, in the centre, had exceeded her expectations. She said she had found impressive cities, villages and landscapes, and met outstanding people.