Romania can take another step towards honouring its royal history as the hall of the parliament will be named after King Michael I. Last week, a deputy member of the Romanian National Liberal Party, proposed that the main room in the Romanian Parliament should bear the name “King Michael I of Romania’s Hall”. The proposal was voted over, and with a great majority, it passed.
In the suggestion of the new name, it is stated: “King Michael’s personality is known throughout the world as a symbol of genuine patriotism, dignity and respect for the perennial values of democracy. Through the courageous decisions made during World War II, King Mihai I became one of the most important political leaders of the last century, appreciated and honoured in all the great capitals of the world. Equally, the courage with which he opposed the establishment of communism in our country, in particularly harsh conditions, should be preserved in the collective memory of our people.”
A symbolic ceremony for the inauguration of the hall’s new name is set for 25 October, which is also the 100th anniversary of King Michael’s birth. The speech given by King Michael in the Romanian Parliament on 25 October 2011, on the occasion of his 90th birthday, represents one of the most important moments in the history of the Romanian Parliament.
King Michael of Romania ruled Romania twice, once when his father abdicated and moved to Paris with his mistress and once after his then-restored father was deposed. King Michael was forced into exile after the communists took over in 1947. In 2016, the former King was admitted to a clinic in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he received constant treatment after falling ill. Shortly before his death, the King was diagnosed with cancer. He died in Switzerland on 5 December 2017 at the age of 96.
