President Iohannis: King Michael wrote the history of Romania in capital letters
“Today is a sad day for Romania and for the Romanians, King Michael has passed away. King Michael was one of the greatest personalities of Romania and he wrote Romanian history in capital letters. It’s a great loss for Romania, for Romanians. I convey condolences to all members of the Royal House. Romania will organize all the ceremonies properly, and we will have national mourning days,” President Klaus Iohannis said when leaving the working lunch with the EU ambassadors.
The President mentioned that during the meeting with the ambassadors of the EU member states in Bucharest a moment of silence was held in King Michael’s memory.
Senate Speaker Calin Popescu Tariceanu: King Michael remains a symbol of patriotism
“I learned about the demise of His Majesty King Michael I with deep regret and pain in my soul, today is a sad day for the entire Romanian people. I had the honour to meet His Majesty King Michael, to feel his warmth, concern and love for the country and the Romanian people. During his reign, in very tough times, His Majesty showed what it means to represent the country with love and courage. King Michael remains a symbol of patriotism, of love for the country and the people. We will always remember him and we will miss him. In these difficult moments, my thoughts are with the Royal Family, to which I convey my sincere condolences. May God rest him in peace!” Senate Speaker Calin Popescu Tariceanu wrote on Facebook.
Chamber of Deputies Speaker Liviu Dragnea: The vacuum left behind by King Michael is huge
“I am deeply saddened by the news of King Michael’s death, and his long suffering can not diminish the shock of this news, which is the most palpable evidence of King Michael’s presence in our souls, of his importance to us, the Romanians. The King’s contribution to the World War II and the preservation of the Romanian destiny, King Michael fought for a complete Romania, democratic and European, which respects his own tradition and his own national values. His political will is clear and we can only follow it all, regardless of our political beliefs! May God rest his soul!” Chamber of Deputies Speaker Liviu Dragnea wrote on Facebook.
PM Tudose: A model of morality and dignity for Romanians
“The Romanian people is grievingly saying goodbye to King Michael, a model of morality and dignity for Romanians, a personality that has influenced the history of Romania. We will always miss him, especially next year when we celebrate the Centenary of the Great Union in 1918, a moment of great significance for our nation. The memory of His Majesty will always remain alive. I convey condolences to the Royal House of Romania, we are close to you and we assure you of our full support. May God rest his soul!” PM Mihai Tudose wrote on Facebook.
Deputy PM Ciolacu: King Michael has always served Romania’s interest
“Farewell, Your Majesty! I have learned with great sorrow the news about King Michael I of Romania’s demise, Romanians will always cherish him because, above all, King Michael had the gift of bringing to surface what is good and beautiful of his people. His Majesty loved the people as only a king could do and did not abandon it, no matter how many injustices he had to face. In all that he did, His Majesty always served the interest of Romania and wanted our country to regain its magnificence and the correct landmarks. I convey condolences to the Royal Family of Romania!” Deputy Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu wrote on Facebook.
Defence Minister Mihai Fifor: King Michael, a national symbol of resistance
“I was deeply saddened by the news of the death of His Majesty Michael I, the last king of Romania. In my name and on behalf of the entire Army, and I wish to convey sincere regrets and condolences to the family and members of the Royal House for this immense loss. King Michael will remain, in the history of the Romanian nation, as the national symbol of resistance, proving the uprightness and a great courage in the difficult moments for the Romanian nation. We hope that his beliefs and wisdom will strengthen our inner power to contribute from now to the building of a better world, as King Michael always wanted. We are with our hearts close to the Royal House, but also to all the Romanians who have appreciated His Majesty, King Michael I. May God let him rest!” Defence Minister Mihai Fifor wrote on Facebook.
Former President Ion Iliescu: King Michael made important decisions for the country in difficult conditions
“I have learned with sadness the news of the demise of the former Romania’s Sovereign Michael I. His life, during an agitated century, full of violence and dramatic changes, was not simple and easy. He did his duty of honour, made important decisions for the country in difficult conditions. King Michael has patriotism during the hard years of exile and was Romania’s supporter in view of European and Euro-Atlantic integration. (…) The courageous decision made on August 23, 1944 to arrest General Antonescu and to turn the weapons against the forces of the Axis and to join the United Nations, was necessary following the situation on the frontline, the only possible decision given the situation in order to ensure the survival of the Romanian Army and the continuity of the Romanian state. I recall the talks we had, after 1989, in Versoix and in Bucharest. Our relationship was not simple, during the agitated times of transition. The reason and the serving of public interest were stronger and, together, we managed to send a strong message to our partners of assuming the common European values. By King Michael’s demise, a dramatic chapter of modern Romania is coming to an end, a complex history, nevertheless Romania found its place in Europe and in the contemporary world. May God rest his soul!” former President Ion Iliescu wrote on his blog.
Former President Emil Constantinescu: His Majesty will remain a model of morality
“His Majesty King Michael has left us in the same way he lived, with dignity and at peace with history and with himself, at the end of a destiny marked by two world conflicts, the rise and fall of fascism and communism, which allowed him to get involved with loyalty, faith and love to bring back our country to the great European family. Faithful to the principle of ‘truth and honesty’ he was, during his last part of his life, an active participant to the rebuilding of respect for our history and traditions, to restoring the national dignity. By observing the principles of constitutional monarchy, he dedicated his life to serving the high interests of the Romanian nation. He did not get involved in polemics and kept the elegance and moderation of his superior political speech at all times. His Majesty King Michael will remain a model of morality needed by the contemporary society and by future generations. Condolences to the Royal Family and to all those who stood beside him,” former President Emil Constantinescu wrote in a message on Tuesday.
Former PM Dacian Ciolos: King Michael, a symbol of dignity, nobility and balance
“King Michael will remain in my memory, most likely as for most Romanians, as a symbol of dignity, nobility and balance, due to the way his destiny intertwined with the evolution of modern Romania. The King has always been truthful to the Romanian people, he faced with dignity the humiliations of time, all for the reason of not failing to serve the country where he was born and the people he was destined to lead for a while,” former Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos wrote on Facebook.
Former PM Victor Ponta: King Michael, a character who influenced Romania’s history
“My sincere condolences to the Royal Family and to all Romanians, for this huge loss! His Majesty King Michael was a character that influenced Romania’s history for almost a century. I consider myself privileged for having had the opportunity to meet him personally and to express my respect and admiration. May God rest his soul!” former Prime Minister Victor Ponta wrote on Facebook.
Patriarch Daniel: King Michael – an example of courage, wisdom and devotion
“The Church prays for the rest of the King Michael’s soul. I learned with sadness about the demise of His Majesty King Michael I of Romania, news that has mourned and grieved all Romanians in the country and abroad. King Michael I of Romania remains in history as a symbol of the unity and dignity of the Romanians everywhere and as an example of courage, wisdom and devotion to the service of the homeland and the Romanian nation during the difficult times of the World War II and in the beginning of the Communist regime in Romania,” Patriarch Daniel says in a message from the Press Office of the Patriarchate.
“In the name of the Holy Synod, the clergy and the faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Church, we address sincere condolences to the Royal House of Romania and we pray for our Saviour Jesus Christ to place the soul of His Majesty King Michael I of Romania in the Light, Peace and Love of the Holy Trinity and to grant relief to all those grieved by his way out of this life. In all the churches of the Romanian Patriarchate prayers will be said for the rest of King Mihai’s soul!”, reads the message from Patriarch Daniel.
Nicholas Medforth-Mills: A mourning that will leave Romania without tears
Nicholas Medforth-Mills, grandson of King Michael, says that his grandfather’s death brings along “a mourning that will leave Romania without tears.”
“Your Majesty, easy way,” he wrote on Tuesday on Facebook.
British Ambassador Paul Brummel: King Michael was a very important character in our common history
“My condolences to the Romanian Royal Household and the Romanian people on the death of His Majesty King Michael I. His Majesty stood up to Nazism and Communism and played a major role in the shaping of modern Romania. Our thoughts are with His Majesty’s family and the Romanian people,” British Ambassador Paul Brummell said after the meeting of ambassadors of EU member states with President Klaus Iohannis.