How is the Principalities Union Day celebrated? Top officials missed outdoor ceremonies

Military and religious ceremonies are held countrywide on Wednesday to celebrate the Principalities Union Day.

Wreath laying ceremonies took place in Bucharest in the morning at the Statue of ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the mastermind of the Union of the Romanian Principalities in January, 1859.

A historical military event is hosted by the “King Ferdinand” National Military Museum in the Capital, with participants recasting the age of Alexandru Ioan Cuza, through uniforms, arms and drillings.

More flower wreaths are laid at the monuments of the personalities who are the symbols of the small union.

A military and religious ceremony is also held in Iasi, at the monument of Alexandru Ioan Cuza in Unirii Square, with the famous Union Hora ending the events.

None of the high ranking officials of the Romanian state, the President, interim PM or the ruling coalition’s leaders have announced their presence to attend the events commemorating the Principalities Union in Iasi or Focsani, considered landmark cities in the union process back then.

“We sent invitations to all, but we haven’t too many confirmations. The Presidency will send at least one presidential adviser. We couldn’t contact anyone at the Government, for we don’t have a prime minister yet. Senators, deputies from Iasi and other counties will attend, the mayor of Chisianu, next to 300 Moldovan citizens. If the authorities from Bucharest will want to come, they are welcome,” the mayor of Iasi Mihai Chirica said, as quoted by ziare.com.

However, the Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu have confirmed their attendance, being the first royal visit in the country in the Centennial Year of 2018.

Chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Ludovic Orban, and several Liberal members have attended the celebrations in Iasi. They wore white armlets, in support for the construction of A8 highway Ungheni-Iasi-Targu Mures. Orban argued that by linking Moldavia by the rest of the country through highways will stimulate investments and the region’s economic growth.

A special train was also available from Bucharest to Iasi on this day, symbolically entitled the Union Train.

A tricolor engine is attached to the train, which made stops in Ploiesti (06:30), Buzau (07:40), Focsani (08:50), Tecuci (09:30), Barlad (10:25), Vaslui (11:15), Barnova (11:55), Iasi (12:20).

The ceremonies in Focsani, in the city’s Unirii Square start at 4 p.m, with the Drill Team exercise, with military, religious and artistic events in store. The Guard of Honour and the “Mihai Viteazul” Guard 30 Brigade will march, while ceremonies will end by the Union Hora and the moment when military from the Focsani Garrison will withdraw with lit torches.

UK Ambassador in Bucharest, Paul Brummell, has announced on Twitter he is in Focsani “to commemorate the establishment in 1859 of the United Principalities”.

Although the principalities union was masterminded in 1859, it was on January, 1862 when the Principality of Moldavia and the Principality of Wallachia formally united to create the Romanian United Principalities. In 1866 a new Constitution came into force, which also gave the country’s current name, Romania. Transylvania joined Romania after WWI.

Alexandru Ioan Cuza was not only the main personality behind the Small Union, but he is famous for laying the foundations of the Romanian modern state. He started the unification of the administrations of the two Romanian Principalities. Cuza also adopted several reforms, including the secularization of the church lands, introduction of free primary education, a French-inspired civil code and criminal code, as well as the agriculture and army reforms.

A locality in R. of Moldova voted the union with Romania

A locality in northern Republic of Moldova has voted a Declaration of union with Romania, “Action 2012” unionist platform announced.

The document was adopted by the mayor of commune Parcova in district Edinet, and by the local councilmen on January 23. They say the declaration was adopted “in the name of the inhabitants of eastern Moldova in general and of the locals of villages Parcova and Fantana Alba in particular, in the name of the historical truth, based on the principle that people can decide their own fate from now on and forever”. The decision is that Edinet district to join “the Motherland, Romania”.