In Romania, royal funeral prompts regrets
The former King Michael of Romania, who will be buried on Saturday, ruled during World War II and was exiled by the Communists. Amid political unrest today, mourners are nostalgic about what he came to represent.
Romania's former King Michael, seen here receiving flowers near a statue of the Romanian royal dynasty's founder, remained popular even in exile. His death this month has prompted many to express regret that he was not given a larger role in post-Communist public life.
Radu Sigheti/Reuters/File
Bucharest, Romania
Outside the monumental former royal palace that looms over the main square of Bucharest, mourners have been laying flowers for days in tribute to a long-deposed and exiled king whom few of them ever knew.
Rows of candles flicker in the cold, and long lines snake around the building. Crowds are waiting hours to pay their respects to King Michael I of Romania, one of the last two surviving World War II European heads of state.
He died Dec. 5 at age 96, some 70 years after being forced to abdicate by the country鈥檚 Communist government, reportedly at gunpoint, and then sent into exile.
Even from Britain and Switzerland, where he spent much of his life working, among other things, as a stockbroker, chicken farmer, and commercial pilot, the former monarch commanded widespread respect among ordinary Romanians. His death has prompted nostalgic comparisons with the nation鈥檚 present-day political leaders.
鈥淵ou can鈥檛 compare our current political leaders with him,鈥� says Livia Amzar, a middle-aged engineer, as she lays flowers outside the palace where the former king, whose body was flown from Switzerland this week, is lying in state until his funeral on Saturday. That is expected to be a grandiose affair attended by politicians and royalty from across Europe and beyond.
鈥淢aybe a few have thoughts for the country and the people, but not many,鈥� complains Ms. Amzar. King Michael 鈥渨as a man of great dignity and respect,鈥� she adds. 鈥淩omania would be a better place if he had become king again in 1990鈥� after the fall of Communism.
'A moment of dignity'
Michael鈥檚 passing comes at a time of considerable political turmoil in Romania, which joined the European Union in 2007. Despite being the fastest-growing economy in Europe, the country has seen escalating confrontations between the government and people.
In February, upwards of half a million demonstrators took to the streets to protest government moves to weaken anti-corruption efforts. Politicians quickly backed down, but subsequent efforts to amend judicial legislation have brought tens of thousands back out in anger.
Against that background, mourning for the former king provides 鈥渁 moment of dignity in a confusing and noisy political world,鈥� says Radu Magdin,聽a political consultant.聽鈥淩omania is okay from a lot of points right now, but we have all these legislative changes and protests. Having this monarch whose main messages were ones of loyalty, principles, it鈥檚 such a huge contrast, irrespective of the generations.鈥�
Michael actually ruled Romania twice: as a child between 1927 and 1930, and then again between 1940 and 1947.聽In 1944, as a 22 year-old, he played a key role in a coup that removed Romania鈥檚 pro-Nazi leadership and led to the country switching sides towards the end of World War II.
Three years later Michael was forced to abdicate by the country鈥檚 Soviet-backed regime, and went into exile. He would not be allowed back until 1992, more than two years after a bloody revolution brought Communist rule to an end.
Even then he was treated with caution by the politicians of the day, who were wary of his potential influence on聽society. Not until 1997 was his Romanian citizenship restored; he never moved back to the country.
Despite his lengthy absence, and little enthusiasm for restoring the monarchy, Michael remained popular in Romania over the years.
Reaching the flag-draped coffin on display in the ornate former throne room after a three-hour wait, Adrian Stefan, 31, puts his right hand on his heart and bows his head.
The end of an epoch
鈥淢y grandparents and great grandparents lived through those times and they taught me,鈥� he says. 鈥淢ichael was the last symbol of a proud Romania. We came to witness the end of an epoch.鈥�
Michael鈥檚 passing also likely signals the end of the Romanian royal family鈥檚 relevance. His children have little public standing; his eldest daughter, Princess聽Margareta, has already said she will not use the title of Queen, but rather Custodian of the Crown, out of respect for the fact that Romania is a republic.
Saturday鈥檚 funeral will not only be the last important royal funeral here, but also 鈥減robably the most grandiose funeral in Romanian history,鈥� says Theodor Paleologu, a historian and former diplomat, waiting in the long line of mourners with his son.
鈥淭his turnout shows the deep affection for the king, but also the consciousness that a very important chapter in Romanian history is coming to an end,鈥� he adds.
For many, Michael鈥檚 passing also feels like a moment lost, highlighting what is lacking in today鈥檚 Romania.
鈥淲e missed the chance in the 1990鈥檚 to involve the king more in our social life,鈥� says Dan Pontus, a worker in the cement industry who flew to Bucharest from his home in the country鈥檚 northwest to visit the palace before the former king鈥檚 funeral.
鈥淭he king was educated like a king, raised like a king,鈥� he says admiringly. 鈥淭hose leading our country today are just commoners with little understanding of this world.鈥�