Romania's ex-king makes historic speech

Romania's former King Michael, the last surviving World War II leader, on Tuesday called on politicians to restore the country's dignity in a historic speech before parliament. "The last twenty years have brought democracy, freedom and a beginning of prosperity", Michael told lawmakers in his first address to parliament since he was deposed in 1947 by the Communists. Romania saw the return of democracy in 1989 with the collapse of Nicolae Ceausescu's dictatorship. "The time has come after 20 years to ... break for good with the bad habits of the past", Michael added, saying that in 2011 "demagogy, selfishness and attempts to cling to power" should not have their place in the Romanian institutions, an implicit criticism of current politicians. "All united, we have to pursue our efforts in order to become once more respected and dignified", the former king said during a special session marking his 90th birthday. "It is within our power to make this country prosperous and worthy of admiration", he added, prompting a standing ovation. The former king, who was banned from returning to his homeland for 45 years, spoke of his "long life, full of happy and unhappy events" and praised the role of the monarchy in Romanian history. "My wife and I will continue to back Romania's fundamental interests," he said. Born on October 25, 1921, a descendant of the German Hohenzollern dynasty, Michael reigned from 1927 to 1930, and again from 1940 to 1947. His second reign started when war was raging and Romania, led by marshal Ion Antonescu, had become Hitler's ally. In August 1944 he staged a coup d'etat and had Antonescu arrested, before joining the Allies. But the end of WWII marked the rise of communism and turned Romania into a satellite of the Soviet Union. The slim, blue-eyed man with an unmistakable aristocratic bearing was forced to abdicate on December 30, 1947, and went into exile in Switzerland with his wife Anne of Bourbon-Parma, earning a modest living working as an aircraft mechanic and farmer. Though labelled a "historic landmark" by analysts and historians, the former king's address was met with hostility by Romania's president Traian Basescu who did not attend the ceremony. But a lawmaker of the ruling Liberal Democrats (PDL), Radu F. Alexandru, said he was happy that parliament "paid homage to this historic moment." "It was a constructive and useful speech," former president Ion Iliescu said, stressing that he had never been Michael's political enemy, although he prevented him from visiting Romania on several occasions in the 1990s. The king's speech was the culmination of a string of festivities marking his birthday. Several crowned heads and members of former European royal families were to attend a gala concert and private dinner later on Tuesday. Queen Sofia of Spain, king Carl Gustaf of Sweden, the grand duke Henri of Luxembourg, princess Muna of Jordan and Bulgaria's ex-king Simeon will be among the guests, Michael's press officer said. Although Michael is quite popular among his countrymen, opinion polls have shown few back the restoration of the monarchy.