Crown Council of Romania
The Crown Council (Romanian: Consiliul de Coroană) was an institution that advised the King of the Romanians. Informal between 1866 and 1938, it was formalized by the 1938 Constitution, in effect for two years. The forum met on occasions of great national importance. It had a purely advisory role, and was convoked by the King on the government's advice.[1]
Consiliul Regal a Romaniei | |
 | |
| Formation |
|
|---|---|
| Legal status | Advisory body |
Membership | Members of the Council |
Head | Margareta of Romania (Queen-in-Council) |
| Website | consiliul-regal.ro |
In 2010, the council was one again re-established by King Michael I on October 10, which succeeded the Political and Advisory Committee’ set up by the King during his exile and after 1989 Romanian Revolution.
List of Crown Councils
The Crown Councils that took place and the issues discussed were the following:
- April 2, 1877 – Romania's entry into the War of Independence
- July 21, 1914 – approval of Romania's neutrality at the beginning of the First World War
- August 14, 1916 – Romania's approval in the First World War
- February 17-19, 1918 – approval of the start of peace negotiations with the Central Powers
- December 31, 1925 – took note of the abdication of Prince Carol
- April 9, 1937 – the exclusion of Prince Nicholas from the royal family
- March 17, 1939 – discussion of the situation created by the occupation of Czechoslovakia
- September 6, 1939 – approval of Romania's neutrality at the beginning of the Second World War
- June 27, 1940 – approval of the Soviet ultimatum on Bessarabia
- August 23, 1940 – discussion of negotiations with Hungary on Transylvania
- August 30, 1940 - approval of the arbitration offer made by Germany and Italy regarding Transylvania
- August 31, 1940 - took note of the content of the Vienna Dictate.
Institutionalization of the Crown Council
At the beginning of 1938, King Carol II decided to abolish the parliamentary regime and established a regime of personal authority, enshrined in law by drafting, approving by plebiscite and then promulgating a new Constitution. Several measures were taken to reorganize the state, which included: censorship, suspension of the immovability of magistrates and the stability of civil servants, dissolution of political parties, creation of a "mass" party (National Renaissance Front), professional organization in guilds, reform administrative etc.
Against this background, on March 30, 1938, a decree-law was issued establishing the Crown Council as a distinct political organism. According to the decree-law, the members of the Council were to be appointed by royal decree, from current or former dignitaries of the state, church, army and royal court or from prominent personalities of the country, the number of members not being limited. The Council maintained its consultative status.
Members
Historical members
The members of the Council bore the title of royal adviser, and received a monthly allowance of 50,000 lei. These were the following (those for whom the date is not specified were appointed on March 30, 1938):
- Patriarch Miron Cristea, who died on March 6, 1939
- Marshal Alexandru Averescu, who died on October 30, 1938
- Marshal Constantin Prezan
- General Artur Văitoianu
- Gheorghe Mironescu
- Nicolae Iorga
- Constantin Angelescu
- Gheorghe Tătărescu
- Constantin Argetoianu
- General Ernest Ballif
- Alexandru C. Cuza, from June 16, 1939
- Victor Iamandi, from November 23, 1939
- Ion Mihalache, from April 17, 1940, resigner on June 26
- Victor Antonescu, from April 18, 1940
- Patriarch Nicodim Munteanu, from August 20, 1940
- Metropolitan of Transylvania Nicolae Bălan, from August 20, 1940
- Metropolitan of the Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic Alexandru Nicolescu, from August 20, 1940.
2010-2017
- King Michael I of Romania
- Crown Princess Margareta of Romania
- Prince Radu
- Archduke Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este
Current members
- Margareta, Custodian of the Crown of Romania
- Princess Elena of Romania
- Archduke Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este
See also
Bibliography
- Ion Mamina, Consilii de Coroană, Editura Enciclopedică, București, 1997
References
- Ioan Mamina, Consilii de Coroană, p.7-9. Editura Enciclopedica, 1997, ISBN 978-9734502-02-8