Romania finds herself in the biggest political, social and moral crisis of the last 26 years. “The Street,” the engine of the changes that occurred over the last week, continues to ask for profound reform, the changing of the way things are being done in Romania and the replacement of people who have managed a disastrous system.
In this context, one of the options expressed publicly is the return to constitutional monarchy. Crown Princess Margareta declared herself ready to serve her country, and King Mihai addressed a message of encouragement to the young people that took to the streets.
“I was raised by a democratic person. I am absolutely ready for the return to monarchy, I am here. I want to serve. We are ready, we want to serve the Country however we can, just as we do now, just as the King did in exile, and just as it can be done in the future. But it is not up to us alone: it is up to Romanians and political will,” Crown Princess Margareta stated in an interview for the public television channel.
Romania’s Crown Princess Margareta, former Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, is 66 and is the first daughter of former Romanian King Mihai I and his wife Princess Ana de Bourbon-Parma. Margareta is 82nd on the British Crown’s line of succession. She is the cousin six times removed of King Felipe VI of Spain, of former Bulgarian King Simeon II, Grand Duke Henri de Luxembourg, Archduke Karl of Austria, Duke Carlos of Parma, Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia and Yugoslavia, and Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece.
Radu Duda: “The monarch will certainly not have prerogatives that would overlap those of the country’s political leader”
Crown Prince Radu Duda added in his turn that if monarchy is reinstated in Romania it will be reinstated through a constitution that will no longer be ambiguous. “If monarchy is instated in Romania it will be instated through a constitution that will no longer be ambiguous. The monarch will certainly not have prerogatives that would overlap those of the country’s political leader, of the Premier. Take a look at the United Kingdom: when a new Premier is elected, the result of the parliamentary majority, he is considered the country’s political leader. Nobody has the idea of considering the Queen as the country’s political leader,” Radu Duda states.
King Mihai’s message for protesters: The time of your Romania has begun
King Mihai has sent a message to the Romanians who are protesting these days following the tragedy at Club Colectiv. His Majesty also mentioned the protests that took place on November 8, 1945. “Democracy and freedom is not won forever. No victory is eternal,” the King writes in a letter published on Sunday.
“When I placed the country back on the Allies’ side, in order to save the existence of the Romanian state, I was 22. I was of the same age of those who were gathering in the Royal Palace Square exactly 70 years ago, on November 8, 1945, in order to defend their freedom. The same age of those who have taken to the streets these days.
Something I learned in my youth was that friends can let you down more than enemies. Another thing I learned back then was that in crucial moments you are left alone.
Democracy and freedom is not won forever. No victory is eternal. Man earns every day the right to have “a tomorrow.” With each generation, the country regains its privilege to exist.
To have good laws is a significant thing. To make people respect them is even more valuable. But the fundamental thing is for people to believe in them. Today’s Romania is yet to reach that point.
The proper functioning of State institutions is the condition of our freedom and steadfastness. Institutions cannot function without respect for laws, without competence and ethics. But, as you yourselves have recently noticed, the most advanced legislation and civic attitude is not, unfortunately, sufficient to obtain and guarantee solid institutional life. I am confident the young generation will know how to find, in its Romania, the right balance between civic attitude and State institutions.
Through its unique relation with the nation, the Crown remains the fountain of pride, confidence and love. It protects and represents the national being. It is a bridge between communities, faiths, between the citizens and his fellow man.
The Romanian Crown will be 150 years old several months from now. It has continued to exist, for a century and a half, despite unimaginable unlawfulness and hardships. I have personally lived almost 100 of the Crown’s 150 years. All of this justifies me in telling our youngsters: the time of your Romania has begun,” King Mihai wrote in his letter.
An option during the current political-social crisis: Constitutional monarchy in 5 steps
The Youth Organization of the National Alliance for the Restoration of Monarchy presents on its own blog a five-step plan for the return to monarchy. It all starts from a gesture that has to be made by Parliament and is, obviously, dependent on the will of the people, stiripesurse.ro reports.
Constitutional monarchy in 5 steps:
1. A null act: Parliament notes the null character of the abdication of His Majesty King Mihai I on December 30, 1947, and of the proclamation of the Republic on the same day, an action taken by a “Parliamentary bunch” of 20-30 persons that broke all laws and constitutional norms in force at that moment. The 1965 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Romania was abrogated only on 8 December, 1991, when the national referendum on the adoption of the current Constitution took place. The continuity between the illegal action taken on December 30, 1947, and the current regime is noted.
2. Return to legality: Parliament becomes a Constitutional Assembly, revises the 1923 Constitution (in force until December 30, 1947) and adopts its revised version, subjecting it to popular abrogation.
3. National will: the Constitution is validated through national referendum, with the question asked being: “Do you agree with Romania returning to constitutional monarchy through the adoption of the revised version of the last monarchical constitution?” Failure to validate the referendum allows the Constitutional Assembly to propose a new Republican Constitution.
4. Legitimate sovereign: Parliament notes that, in line with the Constitution, King Mihai I is the King of Romania.
5. Royal will: Mihai I presents to Parliament the new Statute of the Royal Family of Romania (which includes the new succession rules) and Parliament approves it. Margareta of Romania is thus accepted as Crown Princess and Custodian of the Romanian Crown (exercising the King’s prerogatives until the death of his His Royal Majesty Mihai I).
